Chapter 10 - Maya’s twenty-three dollars
The diner meal had actually cost forty-three dollars.
Maya paid twenty-three from her own tips because the manager later voided part of the check after reviewing what happened.
I learned that a week later.
I returned to the diner.
Maya was carrying plates.
She saw me.
Stopped.
Then:
“You look better.”
“So do you.”
“I’m at work.”
“That may explain it.”
She laughed.
I placed an envelope on the counter.
Twenty-three dollars.
She frowned.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t need me to pay.”
“No.”
“Then why’d you let me?”
“I was still deciding what kind of person you were.”
She stared.
“That’s weird.”
“Yes.”
“Rich people are weird.”
I laughed.
“Apparently.”
She pushed the envelope back.
“Keep it.”
“No.”
“Tip me later.”
“No.”
We compromised.
She took the twenty-three dollars.
I left a normal tip for coffee.
Not $10,000.
Not a scholarship.
Not a car.
A witness should not become financially dependent on a person whose case she may testify in.
Martin had explained that before I returned.
I respected it.
Maya told investigators what she saw.
No embellishment.
Denise poured coffee.
Lauren took the card.
Both left.
Maya paid part of meal.
Eleanor wrote number.
That was all.
She did not tell police:
“I knew those daughters had been stealing for years.”
May you like
She could not know that.
Her restraint made her more credible.
