I asked him whether he could repay me if something happened to him.

He looked me in the eye and said yes.”

“Then write that down while it’s clear.”

I did.

Later, Sam asked whether I had copies of any tax documents showing payments he’d claimed to make on my behalf.

I opened the old address book and found receipts tucked behind the page marked D.

A habit from my factory days: I stored important papers wherever I thought I’d be most likely to find them again.

Nina laughed when she saw the pile.