Anaya reached the café fifteen minutes early. Again. Same corner table. Same glass window. Same handbag on the chair beside her. Same menu in front of her. Same exit route already calculated in her head. By now, it had become familiar. Almost too familiar.

Come early. Settle in. Brief Sammy. Wait for the boy. Smile politely. Drop the three wishes one by one. Watch discomfort grow. If needed, use Sammy as the final weapon. Let the boy leave. Order cold coffee with extra chocolate. Celebrate the exit. Simple. Reliable. Effective. She liked systems that worked.