Then Elena reached the end — she told Lucas about her mother waking, about her accusation and stopped.
She watched him.
The café was quiet around them. The afternoon light came through the front window in a long pale slant.
Lucas was very still.
"She said she recognized a car in the lay-by on the eastern road," Elena said. "Before it hit them. She said she recognized one of the men standing outside it." She held his gaze. "She said the car was yours, Lucas. And the man was yours."
He was quiet for a moment. Then he looked at her directly.
"I didn't do it," he said.
Two words. No elaboration. No immediate cascade of explanation or defense.
