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"He's gone," Stevie said "We should go too But we're not going straight back down"

"We're not?" Jazz asked But she already knew that Stevie still had not let go of her waist

Stevie shook his head "I know a place where we can talk"

They left the square as they had entered an hour before, holding hands and s The s of hands hadIt was hot, her palo

Music blasted from the speakers at about a million decibels, so loud that Jazz felt her sto in tiht she could probably cli screa the horizontal dance At least two of the three were actively being pursued in here

Though it was still early , the cafe was packed The front portion of the shop consisted of a secondhand record-and-CD dealership, but at the back there was a sur-prisingly well-appointed coffee counter selling coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a selection of cakes and snacks A few peo-ple had brought their potential purchases here toa drink, but ulars They sprawled casually across the chairs, drinking sos that most defi-nitely did not reseh the music was loud and the clientele all seemed to know one another, Jazz felt couessed, but she also felt as though this was so their own thing, laughing and talk-ing with friends of a similar bent, and there was no hint of tension or exclusivity in the air It certainly was not the sort of place where shoppers popped in for a quiet coffee before their cab hoht you said we'd come here to talk!" Jazz said into Stevie's ear

He sed, and leaned close to her "At least on't be overheard"

They were both drinking coffee, and Stevie had bought a selection of small cakes, which sat on a plate before theed to take a nibble She chose a caraeous, obvi-ously homemade, rich, and sweet She suys whoand felt instantly queasy She lowered the cake and closed her eyes, nodding slowly "How did you know?"

"Pretty obvious," Stevie said "Your reaction You were terrified"

"He was there," she said "The day I went ho for me"

Stevie frowned and drank more coffee He looked around the cafe, up at the concert posters on the walls, down at the scratched table --anywhere but at her

"And noe're going to do his house," she said

"We are?" He looked at her, the expression of surprise honest and open

"Bloody right we are!"

"But you said they were still looking for you You were scared to come up here for the first feeeks"

Jazz nodded Yes, he's right I was scared and I still a far beyond what I know

"And now you want to go and do his house?"

"Harry chose the place," Jazz said "It's got so to do with Mayor Broe, so there's no way I'll pull out Not now And as Harry keeps telling me, without me it can't be done"

Stevie sood"

At Stevie's words, Jazz felt a flush of pride --and the heat of so it too obvious, she picked up another cake and slid sideways as she started eating, leaning against Stevie He did notto tell Harry?" Stevie asked

"No No need for hiht She was confused, she couldn't find the big pic-ture, but there was sos

Don't believe in chance, her mum had always told her Don't trust in coincidences They do exist, but they're best held in suspicion Things happen for a reason, life has a pattern, and so in everything

"What if you're caught?" Stevie asked His concern was very real, even though he rateful for that Cadge's death had done so to all of thedoer

With one of their nuht their existence really was

"I won't be," Jazz said "I can do this"

Stevie nodded, frowning

"Don't tell Harry," she said "Please Afterward I'll tell hi on But if you tell hi, and"

"And there's stuff you need to know," Stevie said

Jazz nodded Yeah, she thought And you understand that, don't you?