After Tommy left, Mei and Keith remained seated on the bench.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Tommy had returned to his position near the back of the yard, standing with his weapons visible and his attention apparently fixed on the other prisoners. To anyone watching, he was just another guard doing his job.
But Mei knew he was thinking.
Planning.
Trying to figure out how to steal a boat, get their keys, free Emily, avoid Audrey, avoid Liam, and somehow get all of them out of Brigantine without Gaspar noticing.
The plan had too many weak points.
One mistake could ruin everything.
Keith stared down into his bowl, barely touching the food now.
"What are you brooding over?" Mei asked before taking another spoonful of the thin meal.
Keith glanced at her.
"Tommy's words."
"What about them?"
"Am I really that useless?"
"You are," Mei replied immediately.
Keith groaned and leaned back slightly.
Mei smiled into her bowl.
Then her expression softened.
