Carole mustered up a quick, “Just thought he might enjoy the coloring books,” with a nervous smile towards the woman. Without waiting for a response, she retreated back to the crew area, her heart racing. From her new vantage point, she continued to observe the boy and the woman, ensuring she maintained a safe distance to avoid arousing further suspicion.
Despite the setback, Carole’s attention didn’t waver. She noted how the boy resumed his mysterious hand gestures whenever the woman’s attention was elsewhere—engrossed in a book or gazing out the window. These movements weren’t random; they were deliberate, almost like a silent language only he spoke. ‘Is he trying to tell me something?’ Carole wondered, her instincts telling her there was more to these signals than met the eye.