She found Arthur in holding room four.

He sat at a small plastic table with his vintage leather briefcase open.

His tie was slightly crooked.

Claire sat down across from him and rubbed the fabric of her worn cardigan.

She told him exactly what Daniel had said out by the courtyard benches.

“He offered you money,” Arthur said.

“He handed me a pastry and a check for five hundred dollars.”

Arthur took off his wire-rimmed glasses and polished them on his tie.