“I’m releasing the equipment claim tonight.”

Arthur stared at the brass key lying among his socket wrenches for three seconds before he spoke.

“Why would you do that after what I did to your project books?” Arthur asked.

“Because the company name on those invoices is Whitmore,” Nathaniel said, turning back toward his truck.

“And I have to live with how I run it.”

He drove straight from the Strasburg yard to the Route 30 Diner, where the yellow neon sign hummed against the gathering dusk.

Brenda was already sitting in the corner booth by the window, watching Daisy color the edge of a paper placemat with a blue crayon.