The Line Maeve Drew
Tasha did not pull hard enough to injure. That was part of her talent. She knew the difference between pain that left evidence and pain that lived under skin.
Maeve let Tasha hold the fabric for half a second.
Then she looked down at the hand and back up at Tasha's face.
"Take your hand off me."
Jules laughed once, sharp and uncertain. Priya did not laugh at all.
The officers crossed the room. The tables nearest Maeve went still. Even the steam from the tea seemed to hang lower in the air.
"Or what?" Tasha asked.
Maeve's expression did not move.
"Or you finish showing everyone what you are."
Tasha released the sleeve as if it had burned her. Then she pointed toward Ruby at the next table.
"Ask your little friend what happens to women who get brave in here."
Ruby went pale.
That was the mistake.
Maeve turned her head just enough for Nia to hear every word.
"She takes food from the new girls. Makes them clean the showers after lights-out. Uses Jules to collect favors. Priya watches the doors because she thinks fear is safer than guilt."
Priya's eyes snapped toward her.
Tasha laughed too loudly. 'Listen to her. She thinks she runs investigations now.'
"No," Maeve said. "I count patterns."
She looked at Nia.
"Check the medical slips for the last six Fridays. Check who asked for meal replacements and who lost weight after being moved near Briggs. Ask Ruby with Briggs outside the room. Ask Priya before Jules tells her what to say."
Nia stopped beside the table.
The second officer reached for his radio but did not speak into it yet. For once, his hesitation worked in the right direction.
Tasha's followers had gone quiet. Jules still tried to look hard, but her eyes kept moving toward the wall cameras. Priya's mouth trembled, just a little.
Maeve bent and picked up the fallen tray.
May you like
She did not clean the food. She did not apologize for the mess she had not made.
She placed the dented metal on the table between herself and Tasha like evidence.
