“They’re disciplined,” she murmurs beside me.
“Yeah.”
“Everyone knows exactly what to say.”
“And exactly what not to.”
The room empties gradually.
Families leave.
Volunteers gather near the map.
A few people sign the clipboard at the front.
Recruitment.
Right out in the open.
But the real conversations are happening in the corners.
Quiet.
Careful.
Measured.
I notice Pastor Eli watching us from across the room.
He doesn’t approach.
Not yet.
Smart.
Predators don’t rush.
Eventually the last volunteers drift out.
The church grows quiet.
Wren closes her notebook.
“Well,” she says softly.
“That was subtle.”
“Yeah.”
“You think they’ll make contact?”
I glance toward the front of the room.
“They already did.”
Before she can ask what I mean—
Pastor Eli starts walking toward us.
