that smile remained with him until he realized his bus pass had expired overnight. He bought a single ride instead of the weekly pass he intended to renew on payday, quietly moving another amount out of his grocery budget. He made a mental note to walk home if the weather improved.
At work, Harold Bennett was sitting at the security desk with his shoulders drawn inward. His usual jokes were missing, and he seemed not to hear Daniel until the younger man addressed him by name. Harold said he had been awake most of the night because his sister, who helped with transportation on difficult days, had been taken to the hospital. His old car had broken down, and he had arrived on an early bus after borrowing money from a neighbor. Daniel asked whether there was anything he could do.
"It's nothing, professor," Harold said. "Just one of those weeks when everything costs something." Daniel studied his face and did not press him in front of the other guards.
He placed a spare packet of oatmeal on the counter and told Harold he would be working in the west wing if anything needed fixing. Harold looked at the packet, then at Daniel, and managed a tired smile. "You look after everybody in this building," he said. "Who looks after you?"
Daniel answered with the joke he always used when a question came too close to the truth. "I've got an eight-year-old supervisor at home. She keeps the operation running." Harold laughed, but Daniel noticed his hands shaking slightly as he opened the oatmeal. He wanted to stay and ask more. A message from Owen arrived before he could, directing him to inspect a ventilation unit above the second-floor conference rooms.