diff --git a/src/components/drill/PeekModal.test.tsx b/src/components/drill/PeekModal.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee38367
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/drill/PeekModal.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+(globalThis as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT?: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
+
+import { afterEach, describe, it, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+import { cleanup, render, screen, fireEvent } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { PeekModal } from "@/components/drill/PeekModal";
+
+// happy-dom keeps `document.body` between tests; without cleanup,
+// `screen.getByRole(...)` finds buttons from earlier renders.
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe("PeekModal", () => {
+  it("renders title and body when open; close button fires onClose", () => {
+    const onClose = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <PeekModal
+        open
+        onClose={onClose}
+        eyebrow="Payer"
+        title="CO Medicaid"
+      >
+        <p>1,247 claims</p>
+      </PeekModal>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByText("Payer")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("CO Medicaid")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("1,247 claims")).toBeTruthy();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /close/i }));
+    expect(onClose).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+
+  it("renders nothing when closed", () => {
+    const { container } = render(
+      <PeekModal open={false} onClose={() => {}} title="hidden">
+        <p>should not appear</p>
+      </PeekModal>,
+    );
+    // jest-dom's toBeEmptyDOMElement is not installed; assert via raw DOM.
+    expect(container.firstChild).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("esc key closes", () => {
+    const onClose = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <PeekModal open onClose={onClose} title="t">
+        <p>x</p>
+      </PeekModal>,
+    );
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.body, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(onClose).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+});
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diff --git a/src/components/drill/PeekModal.tsx b/src/components/drill/PeekModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7881e1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/drill/PeekModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { Dialog, DialogContent } from "@/components/ui/dialog";
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+
+interface Props {
+  open: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  eyebrow?: string;
+  title: string;
+  children: ReactNode;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Centered peek modal — used for cross-reference drills (payer,
+ * validation rule, etc.). Smaller than the right-side Drawer
+ * (max-width: 480px); closes on Esc, backdrop click, and the X button.
+ * No keyboard j/k nav — single record.
+ */
+export function PeekModal({ open, onClose, eyebrow, title, children }: Props) {
+  return (
+    <Dialog open={open} onOpenChange={(o) => { if (!o) onClose(); }}>
+      <DialogContent
+        className="max-w-[480px] w-[90vw]"
+        aria-describedby={undefined}
+      >
+        {eyebrow ? (
+          <div className="text-[10.5px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-muted-foreground">
+            {eyebrow}
+          </div>
+        ) : null}
+        <h2 className="text-[18px] font-semibold tracking-tight">{title}</h2>
+        <div className="mt-2">{children}</div>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  );
+}
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