Lena backed away.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Stop.”
“She did this.”
“No.”
“She embarrassed me, refused to fix the machine, called security and made a stranger pay my bill.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You made a series of choices.”
Cassandra looked at him with genuine hatred.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough about what happened here.”
She raised her phone.
“I’m going live.”
“You’ve been recording the whole time.”
“No. Live.”
Angela shrugged.
“Go ahead.”
Cassandra opened the app.
Within seconds, viewers began entering.
Her face transformed.
The anger remained, but now there was performance.
“Guys, I need you to see what is happening right now at Harbor International Airport.”
Daniel muttered, “Here we go.”
Cassandra turned the camera toward him.
“This officer has detained me over a restaurant bill that has already been paid.”
Daniel looked straight at the lens.
“The restaurant requested a trespass warning after a payment dispute and disturbance.”
Cassandra turned the phone away.
“They are trying to ruin my business trip.”
Angela said, “Your flight already departed.”
Cassandra ignored her.
“I have been humiliated, harassed and prevented from boarding.”
Daniel said, “That is inaccurate.”
Cassandra moved closer.
“Do not interrupt me.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“You’re talking about me while standing three feet away.”
“My followers are asking questions.”
Angela said, “Your followers are not part of the investigation.”
Cassandra looked at the screen.
Comments appeared.
WHAT HAPPENED?
CALL YOUR LAWYER.
DON’T SAY ANYTHING.
THEY CAN’T DETAIN YOU IF BILL IS PAID.
ASK IF YOU’RE FREE TO GO.
Cassandra read the last one aloud.
“Am I free to go?”
Angela answered.
“Once the trespass paperwork is completed, yes.”
“So I’m detained?”
“Yes.”
“For what crime?”
“You aren’t under arrest right now.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Daniel stared at the departure board.
It felt like reliving the same conversation with slightly different words.
Cassandra continued reading comments.
“Someone says you need probable cause.”
Angela answered, “We’re conducting a trespass warning.”
“Someone says I should demand your supervisor.”
“I’m the supervisor.”
Cassandra paused.
Another comment.
“Someone says I can leave unless I’m under arrest.”
Angela looked at the phone.
“Someone is wrong.”
Cassandra’s face tightened.
Daniel almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Mark returned with paperwork.
Angela explained the trespass warning.
Cassandra would not be allowed back inside Harbor Grill.
Future violations could result in arrest.
Cassandra signed nothing.
She insisted signing would indicate agreement.
Angela explained that her signature was not required for the warning to be valid.
Cassandra smiled into her livestream.
“You hear that? They don’t even need your consent anymore.”
Daniel sighed.
Then Lena approached.
She handed something to Mark.
The original receipt.
Cassandra saw the total.
$62.18.