Now and Then

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He came into my office carrying a thin briefcase under his left arm. He was wearing a dark suit and a white shirt with a red-and-blue-striped tie. His red hair was cut very short. He had a thin, sharp face. He closed the door carefully behind him and turned and gave me the hard eye.

“You Spenser?” he said.

“And proud of it,” I said.

He looked at me aggressively and didn’t say anything. I smiled pleasantly.

“Are you being a wise guy?” he said.

“Only for a second,” I said. “What can I do for you?”

“I don’t like this,” he said.

“Well,” I said. “It’s a start.”

“I don’t like funny either,” he said.

“Then we should do great,” I said.

“My name is Dennis Doherty,” he said.

“I love alliteration,” I said.

“What?”

“There I go again,” I said.

“Listen, pal. You don’t want my business, just say so.”

“I don’t want your business,” I said.

“Okay,” he said.

He stood and walked toward my door. He opened it and stopped and turned around.

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