“His mom works nights at the nursing home, so his uncle picks him up late.”

“His uncle, huh,” I said.

“Principal Vance.” Noah went back to his scrubbing.

“He sits with Arthur in the office till six.”

Irene put down her toothbrush and didn’t pick it up again for a while.

There was the other half of the Friday deadline, standing right there at my counter with wet hands.

At six I drove over to Heckert’s with the repair manual I’d found under the seat of my truck.

The light over the parts counter was still on.