Then, in a stroke of luck, a couple vacated two seats on the far end, and Alexa beelined toward them, just edging out two guys in their late twenties. She didn’t make eye contact, because she knew that when you are taking something from somebody you just have to go for it. No hesitation.

Alexa wondered if they might try to get served, and she perused the cocktail menu just in case. There was a summer lemonade with vodka that looked good. But Cam ordered a Coke so she ordered a seltzer, figuring that he was probably being smart. In general, the bigger the chain the more stringent the ID policies. The seltzer arrived in a cup big enough to do the backstroke in, and as she removed the paper hat from the straw she said a silent apology to Morgan, who had joined the Straw No More campaign this summer.

The Sylvan menu was bigger than the book of Job. Alexa skipped straight to the salads and chose the chicken spinach, dressing on the side. Cam was really taking his time, frowning at the menu, reading through the wraps and combos and pasta and seafood dishes like his first language wasn’t English. Finally he said, “I think I’m going to have the scallop pie. And maybe Mama Louanne’s Brickle Pie for dessert.”

“Big pie night,” said Alexa. Scallop pie sounded like something her grandmother would order, but she didn’t get the sense that Cam was in a joking mood so she refrained from adding that. She said only, “I’ve never understood brickle. I mean, what is it?”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” said Cam. He looked at the TV closest to them. It was the top of the seventh, and the Yankees had pulled ahead by one. The guys that Alexa beat out for seats found some after all and they seemed to be taking the score personally.

“I did some reading,” Cam said once they’d ordered. His expression was grave. “Online.” He leaned closer to Alexa so she leaned into him a little bit too. “About the Witness Protection Program.”

“Oh!” said Alexa. “Oh. Now I understand why we’re eating here instead of somewhere in town—this is an undercover operation.”

Cam ignored that. “How much do you know about it?” he asked.

“Enough,” said Alexa.