Though the large panes of glass making up the storefront of Ping’s Bakery had been replaced, a large sign was taped to the front door, indicating that the business would not reopen until Thursday. Mara pushed on the front door, but it was locked. Since tape was still along the edges of the glass in the door, she decided to jog around to the back of the building and knock on that door instead. When she got to the back alley, she found the metal door ajar and knocked on it. Ping, dressed in bakery white, pushed open the door and waved her in.
“I just finished making our sandwiches. Have a seat.” He pointed to a small table in the corner of the kitchen across from his office. Two paper plates waited with hoagies stuffed with ham and cheese.
Mara sat her laptop case on the floor next to her
