The black sedan remained parked near the far edge of the lot, its windshield wipers moving steadily through the rain.
Sarah could barely make out the driver.
A man in a dark coat sat behind the wheel, staring toward the diner.
She resisted the temptation to assume he was dangerous. Anyone could have stopped because of the storm.
Still, Lily's words made her uneasy.
"Sweetheart, did Victor hurt you?"
Lily shook her head.
"Not me."
"Did he hurt your mom?"
The girl pressed her lips together.
"I heard them arguing."
Sarah waited.
"Mommy said he couldn't take our house. He said she was making a terrible mistake."
Before Lily could explain further, Gregory appeared beside the booth.
"Sarah, get back to work."
"I'm waiting for an officer."
Gregory glanced toward Lily.
"You called the police?"
"A child is missing her parent."
"You've got to be kidding me."
Sarah stood.
"Keep your voice down."
Gregory leaned closer.
"Do you understand what a police car parked outside does to our business?"
"It means somebody asked for help."
"It means customers think something's wrong."
Sarah looked him directly in the eye.
"Something is wrong. A little girl came in alone, and you're more worried about your reputation than her safety."
Gregory's face reddened.
"You're finished here."
Denise, standing behind the counter, heard every word.
She took out her phone and discreetly recorded the final part of the exchange.
Gregory reached toward Lily's raincoat.
"Come on, kid. I'll take you outside until the police arrive."
Lily recoiled.
Sarah stepped between them.
"Don't touch her."
Gregory raised his hands.
"You're acting like I'm some kind of criminal."
"Then stop trying to remove her."
A customer near the window spoke up.
"She's right. Leave the girl alone."
Gregory turned toward him.
"Stay out of this."
The customer placed his coffee down.
"I've been coming here fifteen years. I've never seen you behave this way."
A horn sounded outside.
Sarah glanced through the window.
The black sedan was leaving.
She couldn't tell whether its driver had seen the confrontation.
Lily suddenly reached for Sarah's sleeve.
"Miss Sarah?"
"Yes?"
"The man in that car looked like Victor."
Sarah turned back toward the street.
The vehicle was already disappearing into the rain.
She felt the importance of what Lily had said, but she knew a frightened child's impression was not proof.
Then Lily opened her handbag and removed a folded sheet of paper.
"Mommy told me to give this to a good person if I couldn't find her."
Across the top were the words:
IF LILY IS FOUND ALONE, PLEASE CONTACT ATTORNEY REBECCA HAYES.