"And if he doesn't sign, they put his face on the news."
"Yes."
Tanisha looks at Bryce, who is sitting on the floor by the radiator pretending to do his math worksheet, but listening to every word. "Baby, come here."
He comes.
"Listen to your mama. This paper says you can go free, but it also says you did something you didn't do. You understand the difference?"
He understands. He thinks about it for a long time.
"Mama, if I sign it, that's saying I did it. I didn't do it."
Tanisha closes her eyes. She doesn't push him. She nods once, slow. Olivia reaches across the table and takes Tanisha's hand.
"Then we don't sign."
The squeeze begins on Tuesday. Tanisha is called into the assistant manager's office at the Marriott. She has worked there four years. The assistant manager will not look her in the eye:
"Corporate received some concerns. Guest relations. We're going to have to let you go, effective today."