Claire paused and let out a slow, steady breath before answering.

She didn’t look at the folded bills in his outstretched hand.

“I’m not making today about anything but the academic finals,” Claire said.

She stepped all the way to the left, putting herself flat against the wall.

She pushed Eli and Owen forward into the open aisle.

Daniel looked right at them and did not know them.

He saw two thirteen-year-old boys in simple, unlined blue jackets.

He scanned their faces with zero recognition, seeing only two random public school students standing in his way.