Lizzie continued with her appraisal of the law office. The office was clean, old, and exceptionally tidy. Everything looked worn but comfortable. The walls were covered with framed photographs of Bell with several presidents and various dignitaries. Lizzie was not impressed. She had twice as many stuffed in cardboard boxes. Lizzie Fox never blew her own horn, preferring to let others do it on her behalf.

She made a mental note of the old-fashioned safe and where it was located. She pointed to it and said, “So that’s the famous safe I’ve read about.”

Bell beamed and nodded, but he failed to elaborate. “Coffee, tea, perhaps a soft drink?”

Lizzie wondered if the battle-ax out front would be the one to fetch the drink or if there was a bar inside this office. She needed time to snap some pictures and could do that only if Bell’s back was toward her. “How much trouble would that be, Mr. Bell?”

“No trouble at all. I have a minibar there behind you. I like to wait on myself and my clients and not impose too much on Harriet. Having the minibar right here is extremely convenient and less taxing on Harriet. As I said, she can be feisty at times.”

Lizzie offered up a radiant smile and replied, “Then yes, coffee. Two sugars and light cream.” She was off her chair and within seconds had pictures of everything in the office, including the man’s Christmas gear hanging on the door. Ted Robinson would be so proud of her; she’d even gotten a shot of the floor under Bell’s desk and was on her way to her chair when Baron Bell set a heavy-looking mug down in front of her.

“I do love that safe,” she told him.

“I cannot tell you how many offers I’ve had from people and clients to buy it. It’s probably three times as old as you are, my dear.”

Lizzie smiled.

“I understand congratulations are in order. You must be excited about your appointment. Is it true you’re serving the president pro bono? Commendable. I wish more people would do that. I’m in and out of the White House several times a week. I can put in a good word for you if you like.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, but thank you for the offer. Marti and I are personal friends. We go way back. Even though my official title is Chief White House Counsel, I’m going to be more of a personal confidante to the president.”

Lizzie loved the spark she was seeing in Bell’s eyes.

It took Lizzie only a minute to realize just how much she disliked the man sitting across from her. She decided to take a jab at him. “Can you believe they came up with an office for me with a window, and my hours are nine to five?”

Baron Bell twitched in his seat.