“And there may be an explanation.”
“Then explain it.”
Elijah looked at the phone again.
“May I see the transaction details?”
Claire hesitated.
Then she handed him the phone.
He studied the screen.
One transaction was listed as TEXAS DINER.
The other was listed differently.
Elijah frowned.
“That's strange.”
“What?”
“This second payment doesn't belong to us.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Elijah looked up.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you're going to tell me that somehow my bank account made up a second payment.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I don't know yet.”
Claire leaned over the table.
“I run a financial consulting firm, Mr. Brooks. I deal with transactions every day. I know what a duplicate charge looks like.”
Elijah nodded.
“I believe you.”
“Then why are you acting like I'm imagining this?”
“Because I'm not accusing you of being wrong.”
He pointed at the phone.
“I'm telling you that the second charge didn't come through our register.”
Claire stared at him.
“How would you know?”
“Because I know how our system works.”
“Maybe someone bypassed it.”
Elijah looked at her.
“Why would someone do that?”
“I don't know.”
“Neither do I.”
She took the phone back.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to give me a minute.”
Claire shook her head.
“You people always have an explanation.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
The diner became completely silent.
Elijah looked at her.
Claire realized what she had said.
For a second, embarrassment crossed her face.
But pride quickly replaced it.
“I didn't mean—”
“You did.”
Elijah's voice was quiet.
“I understand.”
Claire looked away.
“I just want my money back.”
“You should.”
Elijah turned toward the register.
“I'll help you figure out where the second charge came from.”
Claire followed him.
Then she pointed at his phone on the counter.
“Wait.”
Elijah stopped.
“What?”
“That's your phone?”
“Yes.”
“Why is my transaction on it?”
Elijah looked down.
His phone screen showed a banking application.
Claire's eyes widened.
“There.”
She pointed.
“That's the same amount.”
Elijah looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
“That isn't your payment.”
“It's the same amount.”
“Yes.”
“Then what is it?”
Elijah did not answer immediately.
A man sitting at the counter suddenly looked up.
He had been quietly drinking coffee.
He was perhaps in his late fifties, wearing a brown cowboy-style jacket, a cream shirt, jeans, and polished boots.
His black hair was streaked with gray.
A silver belt buckle caught the light when he stood.
His name was Daniel Ortega.
Most people in town knew Daniel.
He owned several ranches outside the county.
He also owned a construction company.
And, although very few people knew this, he had been one of Elijah's closest friends for almost thirty years.
Daniel walked toward them.
“What happened?”
Claire looked at him.
“Nothing that concerns you.”
Daniel looked at Elijah.
“Elijah?”
The old man said nothing.
Daniel noticed the phone.
Then the transaction.
Then Claire's expression.
“What are you accusing him of?”
Claire's voice sharpened.
“I am not accusing anyone.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“You were pointing at his phone five seconds ago.”
“I found two charges.”
“And?”
“One of them went to an account connected to him.”
Daniel looked at Elijah.
“Did it?”
Elijah nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
“You see?”
“But that doesn't mean he stole it.”
Claire folded her arms.
“Then what does it mean?”
Elijah finally spoke.
“It means someone sent me money.”
Claire laughed.
“Someone sent you exactly the amount I was charged?”
“Yes.”
“That's convenient.”
Elijah looked tired.
“It is more than convenient.”
He looked at the screen again.
“It is impossible.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
Elijah pointed at the transaction.
“Because I didn't receive this payment.”