“Once this is logged,” he said, “the commission can’t release a dollar on that ticket until the signature on the back is verified against the claimant’s identification.”

“What does that mean for Gary?”

“It means he walks into a room and stands still.”

“And if he doesn’t go?”

“He’ll go.

He filed for divorce on Friday and took out a loan the same afternoon.

A man in that much of a hurry doesn’t mail a ticket in.”

Arthur signed the notice with a black pen and slid it into a manila folder.