“The new bank’s open.”

“Already?”

“Oh yeah.” He reached under the counter and pulled out a blue canvas bag. “Check it out,” he said drily. “They’re giving these away free. Even if you don’t open up a new account.”

“For their grand opening?”

“Yep.” There was a weird pause. “Oh, and Gary’s working there now.”

She frowned, confused. “What?”

He shrugged, tried to smile, but she could sense his uneasiness beneath the gesture. “I don’t understand it, but when I got here this morning, the store was closed—Gary was supposed to open—and when I went to check out the bank, there he was, all dressed up in a brand new suit, greeting customers and handing out these.” He raised the bag. “You know he’s been applying at different places because of our…financial situation. With my blessing. He even put in an application at the Costco in Sirena. I’ve been hoping he’d catch on somewhere—there’s not really enough work for two here right now, and it’d be a load off my shoulders if I knew he had a steady job—but he didn’t tell me anything about the bank. Hell, just yesterday we were both wondering how many weeks or months it would be until it even opened.”

There was another weird pause.

“What is it?” Anita asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“He didn’t seem to recognize me. When I went over there. He gave me my bag.” Kyle held it up again. “But he didn’t know who I was.”

“What do you mean, he didn’t know who you were?”

“He didn’t know who I was.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know. I’m just telling you what happened. It was the damnedest thing.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t just trying to act professional?”

“I’m not sure of anything.” He pulled his wrapped eggroll burrito out of the bag.

“I’m going to see for myself.”

“Go right ahead. I’ll just be here eating my lunch.” He took a bite and made a satisfied face. “Mmmm. You’re right. These things are good.”

“Told you.” Giving him a quick wave, Anita walked outside and headed next door. The First People’s Bank. That was the name? It seemed like they were opening themselves up for false advertising charges right off the bat. Out of all the banks in the country, could this really be the first people’s bank?

She opened the glass door and stepped inside. Cool air greeted her, cool air and a pleasant soft scent that reminded her of something she’d smelled in childhood, something she’d liked. The new bank was tastefully decorated and free from the generic formality of most financial institutions. It seemed welcoming, comfortable.

A friendly well-dressed young woman she didn’t recognize met her just inside the door and offered her a tote bag as well as some informational pamphlets. Anita looked around, trying to find Gary, but saw no sign of him. Another man approached her, however, emerging from a small group of potential customers gathered around a snack table at the opposite end of the lobby. He was clearly management level, and he directed the actions of a few other employees by hand motions as he walked.