believe there may be an illegal payment-card device inside the restaurant. We need officers to investigate.”
Kyle froze.
His confidence disappeared.
Amber stared at me.
“Wait. You’re Frank Delgado?”
I removed my gray knitted cap.
“Hello, Amber. I’m very glad to meet you.”
Kyle turned and hurried back into the restaurant.
I followed.
When I reached the hostess desk, Madison was holding the small black device.
Kyle was demanding that she give it to him.
“Madison,” I said firmly, “put it on the counter.”
She looked between us.
“The police are coming,” I continued. “Don’t make this worse by hiding anything.”
Slowly, she placed the device beside the reservation tablet.
Right beneath my mother’s photograph.
Within minutes, police officers arrived.
And the real investigation began.
An officer took my statement while Amber sat nearby with an ice pack against her shoulder.
Luis emerged from the kitchen and looked stunned when
