“And it worked.”
Aaron looked toward her.
“That is not failure.”
“It feels like it.”
He gave her a moment.
Then:
“Did you see where the missing holder went?”
“No.”
“Who cleared thirteen?”
“Ben.”
“Get Ben.”
Maya looked nervous.
“What if it was on her table?”
“Then we establish that.”
“And if it wasn't?”
“We establish that too.”
Aaron walked toward the kitchen.
Maya followed.
Ben Alvarez was nineteen, a part-time busser and community-college student who moved through the dining room at twice the speed necessary for any human task.
Aaron found him stacking trays.
“Table thirteen.”
Ben looked guilty immediately.
That was simply his resting expression around managers.
“What?”
“Silver reservation holder.”
“Oh.”
Aaron stopped.
“Oh what?”
Ben pointed toward the dish area.
“I knocked one into the linen bin.”
Maya stared.
“What?”
“When I pulled the water glasses.”
“Why didn't you say anything?”
Ben looked confused.
“I forgot.”
Maya closed her eyes.
Aaron exhaled slowly.
“Show me.”
They went to the linen collection area.
Ben opened the top bag.
Reached beneath two napkins.
Pulled out a small silver stand.
There.
Three inches tall.
Worth approximately eighteen dollars.
The object that nearly cost Maya her job.
Maya stared.
“Are you serious?”
Ben looked terrified now.
“I didn't know you were looking for it.”
“I asked everyone.”
“You asked if anybody saw it.”
“That means—”
Aaron raised one hand.
“Stop.”
He looked at Ben.
“When you knock restaurant property into a linen bag, what do you do?”
“Take it out.”
“And if you forget?”
“Tell someone when you remember.”
“Yes.”
“Sorry.”
“We’ll talk later.”
Ben nodded.
He looked toward Maya.
“Sorry.”
She closed her eyes.
“Just go.”
He went.
Maya looked at Aaron.
“So I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
The word hurt.
He continued.
“About the object being near Victoria.”
“Yes.”
“About asking whether something got moved to her table?”
“That depends.”
She stared.
Aaron continued.
“Did you ask because you genuinely saw something silver?”
“Yes.”
“Would you have asked another guest?”
Maya stopped.
He waited.
“I think so.”
“Think.”
Maya sighed.
“Yes.”
Then:
“Maybe not the same way.”
Aaron looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because she scares me.”
He almost smiled.
“Fair.”
Maya continued.
“Everyone acts different with her.”
There it was.
Aaron leaned against the counter.
“How?”
“Managers come over.”
“Chef visits the table.”
“People double-check plates.”
“Everybody knows she complains.”
“That can make you careful.”
“It made me less careful.”