He lowered the pen to the paper and began to write.
Iyisha focused on his hand because she could not afford to look anywhere else.
Her mouth had gone dry. She kept her face neutral, forcing her shoulders to remain loose, forcing her breathing to stay even while her pulse thudded hard against her ribs.
The ink flowed across the page without interruption, forming clean letters under firm pressure.
He lifted the pen slightly, studying it instead of the paper now. His thumb ran along the barrel, feeling the seam. He rotated it once between his fingers, testing the weight.
Iyisha felt the air leave her lungs.
He looked at her.
Then he extended the pen back to her.
"You shouldn't wander."
She took it, murmured a thanks, and walked out without rushing, her heart pounding so violently she could feel it in her teeth. Thank God the spy camera can write.
She returned to the main hall and sat beside Malcolm.
Her fingers were trembling when she lowered herself into the chair.
