Frank nodded once, set his tea mug down on the corner of the reception table outside, and walked off down the hall toward the stairs.

I looked down at the photo one more time, running my thumb over the dusty corner of the glass where the yellow hard hat caught the sun.

Then I laid the frame face down in the bottom desk drawer, right next to the green cloth binder.

I turned the brass key in the lock until the bolt clicked, pulled the key out, and slipped it into my vest pocket.

I switched off the desk lamp, leaving the office in the pale blue glow of the streetlamps outside the window, and walked out into the quiet hallway.