“Where’s the woman from bussing?” you ask.
A dishwasher glances up, then away. “Which one?”
“The one in the black apron. Ponytail. Navy scrubs.”
Nobody answers immediately. Kitchen staff learn quickly that silence is often the cheapest form of self-protection. Then, from near the prep table, a young pastry assistant jerks her chin toward the rear exit.
“She just took the trash out.”