What a contrast between the dragon-like raging of Deacon Spivey and the smooth sibilant notes of the new caller!

“Good afternoon,” said a pleasantly matured baritone voice.  “My name is Robert Lee Braxton, financial chairperson of Cornish Memorial Episcopal Church in North Eagletop.  It has come to my attention through a flyer that the Good Neighbors Fellowship is seeking help from fellow Christian fellowships to make up for the losses suffered in a robbery of public storage in Tinyville.  

“I am calling both as an individual willing to assist, and on behalf of Cornish Memorial Episcopal, which would be delighted to hear more about the Good Neighbors Fellowship and the work that it is doing for the very least of these in Lofton County.  We do recognize our privilege and our responsibility in that area as well.  I will also be speaking with our sister churches in the North Eagletop neighborhood, and, if a time can be arranged that is amenable to all parties, I can arrange a meeting with the leadership of all seven churches and the local prelate.”

Mr. Braxton left both the church's number and his personal cell phone and the times he could be reached that week – he had multiple philanthropic engagements to navigate – while Lieutenant O'Reilly looked him and the church up.

“Well, sir,” he said with a shake of the head, “if the churches aren't willing to budge, don't worry about it – convince Mr. Braxton to do what he can, and you can serve 20 times as many children.  Get a few of his friends on board, and you can serve maybe 200 times as many.”

“Oh, snap, man,” Lieutenant Duncan said.  “How much is he worth?”

“No figure appears for the public, but look at the things he is involved in – he has access to billions of dollars in the Upper South – mostly good progressive stuff, too,” Lieutenant O'Reilly said.

“What a breath of fresh air after that last caller!” Lieutenant Duncan said.

In their enthusiasm, the two younger men did not notice that their captain did not look particularly refreshed, although he was looking over their shoulder.  Neither did Captain Lee, who likewise had gone to his computer and looked the matter up, and neither did Mr. Worley or Mrs. Slocum-Lofton.  Mr. Worley and Captain Lee looked like someone had given them a choice of ten bugs to eat, and there were several cockroaches among the choice.

“Be careful,” Mrs. Slocum-Lofton said after a few minutes.  “If you had problems with some well-to-do individual wanting to shut you down before Mr. Braxton became interested, you may be sure that you will certainly have trouble if you let it get around that he may, if you will, give you the access to solve the entire problem.”

Captain Lee gave his grandmother a quick side-eye while she wasn't looking.

“Be careful,” he added, “because the price may be high indeed to get that access.”
Mrs. Slocum-Lofton didn't know about what the map of North Eagletop said to the Tinyville police department.  Captain Lee did.

“I've got both well in mind, Captain Lee and Mrs. Slocum-Lofton,” Captain Hamilton said.  “Mr. Worley – thoughts?”

“Remember what I said at the beginning of the call, Captain Hamilton,” he said.  “I don't have anything else to add.”

Mrs. Slocum-Lofton now looked concerned, but, she could always just walk across the hall and ask, and so held her peace until the call wound up.