The answer reached the clinic before the control office’s reply.
Mira would consider a truce meeting at the public maintenance forecourt. Her lookout would guide Eli to the correct entrance. The note repeated no threat about Rook. Eli read that omission as an opening, then made himself stop. It might mean only that the demand had been postponed.
He called the forecourt a public meeting place in the message to his team. Sera checked the actual approach again. Kellan brought the brace kit because the river service area had enough damaged ground to justify carrying ordinary tools. Tessa remained on the annex transport calls, with the meeting location and return time written beside her phone.
The lookout waited where the first contact had occurred. She recognized Eli and did not approach Sera. Behind her, the pedestrian opening beside the maintenance gate stood open for two workers carrying a shallow tray.
“This one,” she said, walking toward it.
Eli stopped at the boundary they had agreed.
“The forecourt is the other side.”
“It’s occupied. We’ll use the east gate.”
