Back at the shop, I opened the steel lockbox in the service van.

The old van loan statement lay on top, paid in full, 38,400 dollars.

I laid the blue ledger next to it.

Then I shut the lid.

The lock clicked closed.

Ray was already seated at the round table in the private room when Diane and I came in, and he got up with both hands held out.

He shook my hand first, then Diane’s, holding hers a second longer than he needed to.

“You look good,” he said.