“Elektra?!”

Lex felt heat crawl up her neck. “Yeah.”

“As in the Greek Elektra? Or the comic book villain?”

“The original Greek mythological character,” Lex sighed.

She hadn’t wanted to tell Mary her real first name. But Mary kept asking the weirdest questions. Like ‘Is Lex short for something?’ Lex appreciated the effort to break the ice but would have preferred to talk about work.

“That’s interesting,” Mary continued, managing to keep her voice more or less neutral.

Lex caught a glimpse of her own hair in the window. She ran her hand through it out of habit.

“Why did your parents name you that?” Mary asked. Lex should have known she wouldn’t let this go.

“Gosh,” she replied, her tone light, “You sure are the curious type, aren’t you?”

Mary lifted her shoulders, smiling. “I guess I am.”

Lex glanced around the train. The toilet sign above the door of their carriage had switched on.

“My dad picked the name,” she explained. “He likes the mythological character.”

Mary’s eyes widened. “He wanted to name his daughter after a crazy woman?!”

Lex chuckled at Mary’s honest surprise. “Yeah, I guess he did.”

“Sorry,” Mary said, shaking her head, “I know I’m repeating myself, but … Why?!”

The train slowed down a little. It was easier to study the row of houses next to the track. Lex couldn’t imagine living in one of them. So noisy and so crowded. Plus, everyone on the train could see into your backyard!

Mary cleared her throat, a subtle way to probe Lex for an answer, Lex was sure.

“He likes Elektra because of her obsession to avenge her father’s murder,” she explained. Her hands were getting clammy.

“Really?” Mary shrieked, then pressed her lips together, as if she realized she had let the words slip out.