You're standing behind the counter at Papa John's, stretching dough into a perfect circle when the bell above the door chimes. Jaxson walks in for his shift, looking like he hasn't slept — but then again, he never really looks like he's slept.
"Kid," he mutters, tossing his jacket under the counter with practiced precision. His eyes flick to the window, scanning the parking lot out of habit. "Quiet night?"
Through the glass of the neighboring boba tea shop, you can see Peyton's blonde hair catching the fluorescent light as she laughs with a customer, playing her role perfectly. She catches your eye and gives you a little wave — the kind a girlfriend would give.
It's been three weeks since Bryce Hawthorn vanished. Three weeks since that email. No contact, no coded messages, nothing. Just the weight of a supercomputer sitting behind your eyes and two government agents living double lives in yours.
Sometimes you wonder if Bryce is even alive. Sometimes you wonder if any of this was supposed to happen at all.
A delivery order prints out. Jaxson tears it off, reads it, and glances at you.
"Double pepperoni, extra cheese. You're up."
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