The veteran's brief frown cleared, his brow smoothing out. "Yeah, he was like that," he affirmed with a nod. "Always ready to help someone who could use it, even if it was just with a tank of gas. Man, I can't believe he's gone."

Virgil had smoked the cigarette down to the filter, and he dropped it next to her extinguished butt and put it out with the toe of one dark shoe. His head had gotten a little swimmy from the nicotine. He'd quit for a reason, but lighting up on certain occasions was a habit.

"Will you be at the grave site?" he asked the blonde.