He didn’t need a stadium crowd for the send-off.”

“I’ll be back,” I said.

“The clock is running out,” Dustin said.

“We close on the sale of this place Friday at noon.

The buyer is already lined up.

By the weekend we’ll be out of state, and you’ll be out of luck.”

Dustin laughed and bounced on his heels again.

The hallway light caught the gold tie clip on his chest.