And waited.
Carol came over with the coffee pot.
“Coffee?”
Dale nodded.
She poured.
Her hands were steady now.
Dale wrapped both hands around the mug.
He looked toward the counter.
Carol wiped the surface in front of him.
“Corner booth,” she said quietly.
Dale did not look.
“Two men,” Carol continued. “Young woman between them.”
A pause.
“She hasn't touched her food.”
“How long?”
“Almost an hour.”
Dale turned the mug slightly.
“How is she?”
Carol glanced toward the booth without moving her head.
“She looked at me.”
Dale waited.
“Really looked at me.”
His hand stopped.
“Anyone else know?”
“No.”
Dale took a sip.
“Keep doing your job.”
Carol nodded.
“Give me a minute.”
She walked away.
Dale remained at the table.
From a distance, he looked like an ordinary customer finishing coffee after a long week.
But he was watching everything.
The room.
The exits.
The staff.
The two men.
Most importantly, he was thinking about Maya.
The goal was not confrontation.
The goal was to get her away from them safely.
A few minutes later, Dale stood.
He carried his coffee mug toward the corner booth.
Frank noticed him immediately.
His shoulders changed.
Dale stopped beside the table.
He looked at Frank.
Then Roy.
Then Maya.
Only for a moment.
Long enough to confirm what Carol had seen.
“Mind if I sit?”
Before Frank could give a meaningful answer, Dale slid into the open side of the booth.
The atmosphere changed.
“My name's Dale,” he said.
Frank stared at him.
“I've been coming here most Fridays. Don't think I've seen you two before.”
“Passing through,” Frank replied.
Dale nodded.
“Sure.”
He picked up the unused menu.
“You know what I like about this place?”
Nobody answered.
“Carol's been here nine years.”
He placed the menu down.
“She knows almost every face that comes through that door.”
Dale paused.
“Pays attention.”
Frank's expression hardened slightly.
He put his phone face down.
“Something we can help you with?”
Dale leaned forward.
“I think there's been a problem tonight.”
“We haven't done anything.”
“Then you'll have every opportunity to explain that.”
Dale's voice remained calm.
Outside, the motorcycles were still parked beneath the diner lights.
People were waiting.
Not rushing.
Not shouting.
Just waiting.
Dale looked at Maya.
Then back at Frank.
“I want one thing.”
Frank said nothing.
“Let her use the restroom.”
Silence filled the booth.
Dale continued.
“That's it.”
His voice was almost conversational.
“Let her stand up and walk to the back.”