Mr. Justice Reflects

Morning light settled across the mahogany tabletop, revealing unfamiliar terrain beyond the envelopes. I advanced four paces. Half-propped against an upright ceramic coin bowl stood a small circular pocket mirror, angled toward the corridor. I halted. A figure stood directly before me, matching every posture, stance balanced and shoulders squared. I lowered my center of gravity and shifted one boot half an inch to the flank. The figure mirrored the exact displacement. I raised one hand, fingers splayed. Glass contact. Cool, perfectly rigid, smooth under my knuckles. No threat. A faithful optical reflection. I stepped back, confirming the perimeter remains clear under my watch.