Miles looked across the table, and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. “Oh-you mean the teacher? Sarah. Sarah Andrews.” Miles took a drink. “Is she a good teacher?” he asked. “I guess so. Brenda says she’s great and that the kids adore her, but then Brenda thinks everyone is great.” He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. “But she did say that Sarah was attractive. A real looker, if you know what I mean.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“She also said that she was single.”

“And?”

“And nothing.” Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. He shrugged. “I’m just letting you know what Brenda said.” “Well, good,” Miles said. “I appreciate that. I don’t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda’s latest evaluation.”

“Oh, take it easy, Miles. You know she’s always on the lookout for you.”

“Tell her that I’m doing fine.”

“Hell, I know that. But Brenda worries about you. She knows you smoke, too, you know.”

“So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?”

“Actually, I did. But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don’t blow your stack.”

“What are you talking about?”

As he asked, the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side, their usual order, and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. After deciding there was no easy way to say it, he just came out with it.

“Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson.” Harvey Wellman was the district attorney in Craven County. He’d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles, but Charlie had decided it would probably be better if he handled it.