“Did Daniel come into this office earlier in the week?” I asked.

Captain Thomas looked past my shoulder at the frosted glass door.

“He came by yesterday morning asking whether your command transfer orders had been entered in the regional system,” Thomas said.

At 1:00 p.m.

I parked my sedan near the auxiliary plaza lot and met Mr.

Henderson outside the door of his repair shop.

The old jeweler came out into the cold afternoon carrying a padded velvet display box.

“The balance wheel on your father’s pocket watch was bent out of line, but the silver case held up fine,” Henderson said, lifting the velvet lid.