Carol felt awful about it, but she just couldn’t find Mr. Jankowski anywhere.

“I’m sorry,” she said to his son and his son’s wife.

Mr. Jankowski’s son slid a hand across his balding head and down to his eyebrows. His children – two teenagers – were sprawled across the lobby couch, disinterestedly tapping at their phones.

“How did you lose him?” he asked. “Again?”

Mr. Jankowski’s son sighed. They all knew where he’d gone.

“Should I call the prison?” asked his wife.

The son nodded. Carol went in the back to fetch her coat.

— Excerpt