The line disconnected.
Cassandra stared at the phone.
“She hung up.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She actually hung up.”
Boarding group six.
Cassandra looked at Mark.
“Can I give you my information?”
“No.”
“Take a photograph of my license.”
“No.”
“You know who I am.”
“We need payment.”
“I can sign something.”
“No.”
“Invoice me.”
“No.”
“I’ll pay double.”
“If you can pay double, you can pay the bill.”
Cassandra’s jaw tightened.
“You people are impossible.”
A police sergeant arrived.
Sergeant Angela Pierce had worked airport operations for fourteen years.
She listened as Daniel summarized everything.
Cassandra attempted to interrupt four times.
Angela held up one finger each time.
When Daniel finished, Angela turned toward her.
“Okay. What’s the issue?”
Cassandra looked offended.
“He just told you.”
“I heard his version. I’m asking yours.”
That softened her slightly.
“My cards have been flagged.”
“Okay.”
“I have plenty of money.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“The restaurant is acting like I’m trying to steal.”
“Did you pay?”
“I’m trying.”
Angela nodded.
“Then keep trying.”
Cassandra stared.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I asked for a supervisor because I thought you would have authority to resolve this.”
“I do.”
“Good.”
“Pay the bill.”
Cassandra gave a short laugh.
“That’s your solution?”
“Yes.”
“My flight is boarding.”
Angela glanced at the screen.
“Then I recommend doing it quickly.”
Cassandra’s eyes narrowed.
“You people are all the same.”
Angela did not react.
Cassandra lifted her phone.
“Do you understand how many people are going to see this?”
Angela shrugged.
“Hopefully they learn to bring a working payment method.”
Daniel turned away.
Cassandra saw him trying not to smile.
“You think this is a joke.”
Angela stepped forward.
“No. And I need you to listen carefully now.”
Something in her tone made Cassandra stop.
“The restaurant has given you repeated opportunities. Officer Brooks has given you time to make calls. Nobody has arrested you. Nobody has taken your phone. Nobody has stopped you from trying to pay.”
Cassandra started to speak.
Angela continued.
“If you walk away from this situation without paying, and the restaurant requests charges, you can be arrested.”
“I said I want to pay.”
“Then do it.”
“I cannot magically make their machine work.”
“Their machine works.”
“You don’t know that.”
Angela pointed toward the restaurant.
“I watched three customers pay while I walked over here.”
Cassandra said nothing.
Boarding group seven.
Her phone rang.
Tasha.
Cassandra answered.
“Did you send it?”
“I can’t.”