The final confirmation came when he checked the café’s payroll sheets during a casual visit. “Lena Gray” wasn’t printed anywhere, only “Employee 17—Cash-in-hand.” No official record. No surname. Not even a falsified one. She had asked to stay off the books entirely. Most employers wouldn’t have agreed. This one had, perhaps, owing to her excellent work ethic.
That night, Evan replayed their first conversation. Lena had given constructed answers that avoided identity completely. Polite, consistent, airtight. “Gray” needn’t even be her real name. But Evan wanted to know more about this woman and her story.