pointing to two rockers

"Did you like him?" "Nice enough, I guess, in spite of the history." He took her arm and led her up the steps, though Claudia was fit and could climb hills, in spite of the two packs a day. "I remember when he was fresh out of law school," she said. "Didn't know a plaintiff from a defendant. Reuben could've won that race, you know, if I'd been around." "Let's sit here," Ray said, pointing to two rockers. "You've cleaned up the place," she said, admiring the porch. "It's all Harry Rex. He's hired painters, roofers, a cleaning service. They had to sandblast the dust off the furniture, but you can breathe now." "Mind if I smoke?" she said. "No." It didn't matter. She was smoking regardless. "I'm so happy you called," she said again, then lit a cigarette. "I have tea and coffee," Ray said. "Ice tea, please, lemon and sugar," she said, and crossed her legs. She was perched in the rocker like a queen, waiting for her tea. Ray recalled the tight dresses and long legs of many years ago as she sat just below the bench, scribbling elegantly away in her shorthand while every lawyer in the courtroom watched. They talked about the weather, as folks do in the South when there's a gap in the conversation, or when there's nothing else to talk about. She smoked and smiled a lot, truly happy to be remembered by Ray. She was clinging. He was trying to solve a mystery. They talked about Forrest and Harry Rex, two loaded topics, and when she'd been there for half an hour Ray finally got to the point. "We've found some money, Claudia," he said, and let the words hang in the air. She absorbed them, analyzed them, and proceeded cautiously. "Where?" It was an excellent question. Found where, as in the bank with records and such? Found where, as in stuffed in the mattress with no trail? "In his study, cash. Left behind for some reason." "How much?" she asked, but not too quickly.