“It does.”

The young man closed the folder and looked at Eli and Owen standing quietly in their cheap blue jackets.

He looked back at Claire, noticed the firm set of her shoulders, and nodded once.

He turned around and walked quickly toward the judges’ holding room at the far end of the hall.

Claire watched him disappear through the heavy wooden door.

The trap was set in motion before Vanessa could even realize what was happening behind the curtain.