Eli stood up to stretch his legs and walked to the small waiting area with windows facing the parking lot. Outside, a few pickup trucks were parked as if they too were waiting for news. Next to the vending machine, he saw Ray leaning against the wall. He had quit smoking ten years earlier, but he held an unlit cigarette in one hand like a charm. In the other, he held his old leather wallet.

His grandfather saw him and nodded for him to come over.