Outfox

The door swung open. Locke and Menundez rushed in, looking harried and put out. Mike shushed them before they could barrage them with questions. In a low voice, and with an economy of words, he informed them of what was going on.

Singh’s manners were faultless, his deference admirable, but impatience was driving Drex nearly out of his skin. Eventually, with Talia’s tactful prodding, the tailor related his story.

The short of it was that Jasper had asked him to save all the buttons that he’d replaced. Mr. Singh had put them in an envelope, sealed it, and had given it to Jasper when he’d picked up the clothes.

The following day, which would have been Saturday, the day the Fords were to have gone to Atlanta, Mr. Singh had been sweeping up his shop at closing time and had found one of the buttons on the floor.

“Behind the counter,” he said woefully. “It was my terrible mistake. I must have dropped it when I was placing them in the envelope.”

He continued lamenting and apologizing until Talia diplomatically coaxed him back on track. “Where is the button now, Mr. Singh?”

Immediately after making the “unfortunate discovery,” he had called Mr. Ford, but got his voice mail. He’d left a message of profuse apology, but Mr. Ford hadn’t responded. The next morning, Singh heard the news about his disappearance. He’d been anguishing ever since. Believing that Talia would want the button, especially now that it would have greater sentimental value if Mr. Ford was never found, he’d gone to their home earlier today to return it personally.

“But no one was there, so I dropped the envelope with it inside into your mail slot.”

Menundez high-fived the air in front of him. Locke blew a gust of breath up toward his forehead. Mike harrumphed in satisfaction. Drex closed his eyes and hoped to God he wasn’t dreaming. The squeeze Talia gave his hand assured him that he wasn’t.

“Mrs. Ford?”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Singh, I’m here and overwhelmed by your kindness. I can’t thank you enough for calling me. I will be very happy to get the button back.”

As he launched into another litany of apology, Drex motioned for her to get a description of the button. To do so, she took Singh off speaker.

The four men huddled. Drex said, “If Jasper asked to have those buttons back, they must’ve been his trophies. This is one of them.” He gave the group at large a broad grin. “Let’s go.”

“Hold on,” Locke said. “In under half an hour, you’ve got to appear in court.”

“And you have got to be kidding!” Drex shouted. “I want my hands on that damn button!”

With reasonable calm, Mike said, “I’ll go get it.”

“I’ll go with him.” Talia had ended the call. “I recognize it immediately from Mr. Singh’s description. Brass, round, with an embossed anchor. It was the single button on a navy blue blazer. One of Jasper’s favorite jackets.”

“An anchor. Nautical motif,” Drex said. “Jesus. If it matches a button found in Marian Harris’s makeshift coffin, it’ll be hard evidence, not circumstantial.” He turned back to Locke, but the detective was shaking his head.

“We’re taking you to be arraigned.”

Talia laid a hand on Drex’s arm. “Mike and I will get it and bring it to you. Even if you’re in jail.”

He had no choice. “Okay. As evidence goes, it’s compromised,” he said to Mike. “But treat it like evidence. Safeguard it. No matter what happens to me at the courthouse, that button needs to be turned over to the FBI.”

“You got it.”

Drex gave Talia a meaningful look, but because they had an audience, neither said anything. With an uncustomary show of gallantry, Mike opened the door

and stood aside for her to go ahead of him, then both walked quickly down the hallway.

Locke asked Drex if he still wanted to change clothes.

Drex nodded. “I won’t take long.”

“Five minutes.”

It took him only two. He hoisted the duffel back to his shoulder and opened the door. “I’m ready,” he informed the cop on guard.

“Locke said for you to cool your heels until he comes to get you.”

Drex backed into the room and closed the door.