The woman’s eyes darted toward him, almost imperceptibly, as though she was silently begging him not to leave.

Michael rose slowly and returned to his booth, heart pounding. He had to be careful, but he couldn’t ignore what he’d seen. Pulling out his phone beneath the table, he typed a discreet message to the local sheriff’s department. Then he waited.

Minutes stretched long. He watched out of the corner of his eye as the little girl unwrapped the candy and clutched it in her palm as if it were more than a treat—it was a lifeline.