“You shouldn’t have had to choose between speaking up and protecting your family. I should have listened.”

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I kept thinking about Walt.

Mrs. Kowalczyk.

The missing donation jar.

And my mother’s smiling photograph hanging above the register.

Eventually, Denise turned on the bedside lamp.

“Frank, what’s bothering you?”

I told her everything.

When I finished, she looked at me.

“Then fire Kyle.”

“Based on what? He’ll deny everything, show me his financial reports, and claim the complaints are from unhappy customers.”

“Then go see for yourself.”

“He knows what I look like. Everyone will behave perfectly if I walk through the door.”

I went quiet.

Then an idea occurred to me.

“What if they didn’t recognize me?”

Denise stared at me.

“Frank, what are you planning?”

“I want to find out how they treat someone who can’t afford an expensive meal.”