Daniel saw Benjamin.
The inventory box slipped from his arm.
It struck the floor hard enough to split one corner.
Boxes of cleaning patches rolled across the tiles.
The sandwiches fell beside them.
No one moved.
Daniel stared at the elderly man sitting near the window.
His face changed.
The casual expression disappeared. His shoulders straightened, his chin lifted, and both arms came precisely to his sides.
Kyle looked from Daniel to Benjamin.
“What’s wrong?”
Daniel did not answer.
He walked across the store with a deliberate military stride.
When he reached the folding chair, he stopped two paces away.
Then he stood at attention.
“Colonel Mercer,” he said.
His voice was rough with emotion.
“Sir, it’s an honor.”
The store became completely silent.
Benjamin looked up from the notebook.
Recognition slowly entered his eyes.
“Daniel Ross.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You were thinner the last time I saw you.”
A strained laugh escaped Daniel.
“That was twenty-two years and about fifty pounds ago.”
“At ease, Marine.”
Daniel remained at attention for several more seconds.
His eyes shone.
Finally, he relaxed slightly.
Kyle stared at the old customer.
“Colonel?”
Daniel turned toward his employees.
The reverence disappeared from his expression, replaced by something colder.
“Did one of you help Colonel Mercer?”
No one answered.
Benjamin closed the notebook.
“I came to look at something for the house.”
Daniel returned his attention to him.
“You should have called me.”
“I didn’t know this was your store.”
“It is.”
Daniel pulled another folding chair across and sat facing Benjamin.