The restaurant manager had stopped near the door.
Two servers hovered by the drink station.
A little boy at the next table stared openly, fries forgotten in his hand.
I could have left.
I could have smiled, paid my bill, hugged my mother, and disappeared back into the classified life Tyler resented because he could not inspect it.
But then Madison’s phone lit up on the table.
Just once.
A text preview flashed before she snatched it.
Unknown Number: Did he make her say it yet?
My eyes moved from the phone to Madison’s face.
Her skin went white.
Tyler saw me see it.
And there it was.
The first real crack.
Not anger.
Fear.
I smiled faintly.
“Tyler,” I said, “who is waiting for me to say it?”
His throat worked.
Nobody breathed.
Maddox looked from Tyler to Madison.
“Staff Sergeant?”
Tyler pushed back from the table.
“This is insane.”
“Who sent Madison that text?” I asked.
Madison whispered, “I don’t know.”
But she did.
Her thumb covered the screen too fast.
Her pulse jumped in her neck.
My mother’s voice trembled.
“What text?”
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