Vance drew the document across the table and checked the date line with his thumb.

“I’ll file this with the court clerk before four o’clock,” Vance said.

Pendelton shut his leather briefcase with two sharp metallic clicks.

“I’ll let the holding facility bailiffs know the transfer paperwork’s been signed,” Pendelton said.

At four twenty p.m., Claire Johnson came through the glass double doors of the central emergency dispatch center on Jefferson Street.

She had her brown cardboard box tucked under her right arm, with the brass desk clock sitting on top of her folded blue sweater.

Wayne Owens stood behind his desk in the supervisor’s office, holding a new blue administrative file.