At half past two, the Route 30 Diner was quiet except for the hum of the dessert case.

Evelyn Vance set a white ceramic mug of hot tea on the counter in front of Nathaniel and wiped the stainless steel trim with a damp cloth.

“Arthur left three boxes of old site files in my back storage room three years ago,” Evelyn said, looking toward the empty front booths.

“He said he was clearing space in his truck.”

“Did he ever come back for them?” Nathaniel asked.