“My car’s out front,” Dewayne said, gesturing toward the entrance.
They stepped outside into the warm Guyanese evening. Dewayne opened the passenger-side door for Jessica, then slid behind the wheel. Mark, without waiting for an invitation, slipped into the back seat.
Moments later, they were gliding into the night.
“This is very good of you, Dewayne,” Mark said from the back. His voice carried a strange edge—polite on the surface, but Jessica recognized the tone. It was the same one he used when subtly putting people in their place. Mark never really sounded grateful. Not like other people.
“We don’t mind, do we, Jessie?” Dewayne said with a warm glance in her direction.
“No, of course not,” Jessica replied, offering a smile. “You’ve always been kind and considerate—even back in seco
