Mara recognized the phrase before the tablet finished loading it.
Jade saw recognition hit her body, not her face. Mara kept her expression almost still, but the cup in her hands tilted and tea ran over her thumb without making her flinch.
Rose took the cup away before the burn became part of the question.
"Stop there before the question takes your body."
Mara blinked once. "I have not said anything out loud yet."
"You were already leaving the room from here."
The shelter feed showed the Mercy note in plain text. Returned for late handling. No primary staff available. Side hall response accepted.
Under it, the Name Office waited for procedure.
Jade hated waiting text. It always looked patient while chewing through people.
Waddell blocked the shelter camera with his shoulder, though the camera was already off. He kept doing it anyway, and Jade let him.
Rose set the cup on the floor by her boot. "Mara, can you answer this without going back to the basement?"
