"Every time we turned our heads, they were talking," he said.

Both were almost identical in age: Nellsen was 31 and Mennes was 32, and they almost always worked the same shifts. Nellsen lived in Palatine, but little else was known about the man, co-workers said.

Delpage was unaware of any family Nellsen might have had in the area, and police did not release any details of his life. Despite their age difference, Nellsen befriended Delpage. Nellsen's sense of humor helped make the time pass quickly, Delpage said.

"We never knew each other before, but the first day at work we were laughing," said Delpage, who had not been working Friday night.