“My phone is almost dead,” she muttered, glancing at the screen as it lit up briefly.

The battery icon in the top right corner was a thin sliver of red.

This was the opening I had planned for.

“Oh, here,” I said quickly, reaching into my purse. “I always carry a backup.”

I pulled out the heavy black power bank, its short white cable already attached to the output port.

I set it gently on the table between us, sliding it toward her.

“Save your battery,” I said. “You might need it if the police call you about him.”

Her hand froze for a fraction of a second at the mention of the police.

“The police?” she asked, her voice rising slightly.

“I might have to report him missing,” I said, keeping my face completely open and miserable. “Or worse.”

She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to the power bank.

She picked up her phone, plugged the white lightning cable into the base, and set it down.

The screen lit up with the charging bolt icon.

Deep inside my purse, the receiver unit hummed against my thigh, a single vibration confirming the connection.