Tori entered the Blonde Shallot and decided to try something different and bought a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato, and pesto on a ciabatta roll. She grabbed a bottle of water and carried her lunch to one of the high-top tables in the atrium. She found a seat where she could keep an eye on the café, hoping the woman would be free to talk at some point. She watched the first woman leave. She was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and had a large piece of paper rolled under her arm. Tori couldn’t tell if she was crying or trying to be incognito. Within minutes, another woman walked into the café. She watched them shake hands, then the braided woman motioned toward the table next to the easel. Tori thought she might have the wrong person. Maybe she was simply a sketch artist. Then she saw the braided woman sit across from the customer, who took off a piece of jewelry and handed it to her. The braided woman clasped the piece and closed her eyes for several minutes. She began to write something. The customer kept nodding. Then the braided woman got up and went to the easel and began to sketch. It was a very odd interaction. At least from Tori’s point of view. Several people stopped midway and blocked her from seeing what was happening next. Tori tried not to be conspicuous by craning her neck when the people finally moved away from her line of sight. At that point, the braided woman tore off the paper, rolled it up, and handed it to the customer. Both women nodded and shook hands again. Tori was now convinced that the braided woman was the one she needed to speak to and wondered if this would be a good time to approach her. But before Tori could wrap the remains of her sandwich, the braided woman slid the glass door shut, put up a sign, and disappeared through a connecting door into the restoration showroom. Tori sighed and decided she should finish her lunch and walk around the rest of the center. Maybe by the time she had completed her first lap, the woman would be returning to the café. A few minutes later, a young college-age woman entered the café and removed the sign. It became more confusing as the minutes went on. Maybe she was the person?

* * *

Luna entered Cullen’s workshop and yawned. “I am exhausted, and I still have two more people to meet with today.” She pulled up a chair and rested her head on the long worktable.

“Did you have any lunch?” Cullen asked.

“Not yet. I asked Sabrina to cover for me for a half hour. I needed a break.”

“I’ll go grab something and bring it back. You can hide out here for a while. Roast beef?”

“With cheddar please. Thanks.”