But something in her tone — quick, almost too eager — made Jake pause.
A Kind Gesture Turns Suspicious
Trying to lighten the moment, Jake smiled. “At least let us buy a bag of tomatoes. They look fresh.”
“Busy?” Jake asked, glancing around. “There’s no one here.”
“They came earlier,” she said quickly. “You must have missed them.”
When Jake reached toward the crate, she flinched. “Please,” she said, voice trembling, “leave those for others.”
That was the moment something felt off. Her gaze kept darting toward the corner of the street — as if she were expecting someone or afraid of being watched.
Jake gently lifted one tomato. It looked perfect — maybe too perfect. He turned it in his hand. It felt strangely light, not the solid weight of real produce. Near the stem, he noticed a faint seam, almost invisible unless you looked closely.
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