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"I don't want to spendfaceless," Jazz said And there it was: the stark truth Harry ht be able to find himself rown, or would grow, into such a way of life But yesterday, topside with Terence, walking the streets and feeling the sun on her wanted face, Jazz had realized that she was destined for greater things It was ironic that her mother's attempts to keep her hidden away had perhaps contributed to Jazz's burgeoning desire to do so ht a hand-bag with her, expertly chosen to

"You're back!" Hattie said, her pleasure at seeing Jazz untainted by suspicion "I love your hair!"

"Hi, Hattie," Jazz said, genuinely pleased to see the girl "Like your new handbag"

The girl s, spilling purse, anizer, as well as a slew of expensive makeup and a beau-tiful silk head scarf "Silly cow left it on the back of her chair while she sat in Covent Garden drinking a ten-quid coffee with her snobby irl raised her eyebrows, hearing soe in Jazz's tone "Jazz?"

"I need your help Just for today --hopefully for the last tihted "You've co someone else Come on" She led Jazz out of the irls shared "Iin here by hts"

Hattie went to a built-in metal cabinet in the corner of the roo basket that everyone kneas Hattie's private property There was a strong do another member's privacy

Jazz felt honored

"Now, then," Hattie said "Young or old?"

"What?"

The girl laughed "Come on, Jazz You're a beauty, and I'm sure you know you can play on that if you want Or you can be an innocent teen Up to you Depends on the score"

"Big score," Jazz said "Thehell" It was the first time Jazz ever heard her swear

"So, I think old," Jazz said "But nothing too constrict-ing I may need to move fast"

Hattie recovered from her shock quickly, put on her usual cheerful ss from her stash

By early afternoon, everyone was back They sat around the dom familiar and relaxed with one another, Terence the outsider, and Jazz feeling apart fro Fro, Jazz didn't feel the need to ask what he had sensed while walking past thescore, Harry invited ques-tions at the end of his pitch There were none

A seriousness had descended over the group, one tinged with the still-raw death of Cadge and this prospect of getting back directly at the mayor, in however s there, though many of them eyed him suspiciously Jazz was pleased to see a hint of discomfort in his forced s around the Palace in preparation, Harry and Stevie disappeared into a side roolanced at Terence, who merely raised an eyebrow, then she followed

She found theether in Harry's bedroom They both looked at her, not surprised to see her but not very welcoirl," Harry said "Like your hat"

"You taking that gun?" she asked Stevie He looked at her and blinked slowly but did not reply

"That's his business and his alone," Harry said

"No," she said "It's ether We all know the un," Stevie said "Not Harry's My choice"

"And it's my choice whether I'm a part of this or not," Jazz said

She stared at Harry and Stevie, who both stared back She left the i in the air

Neither of theht There's very little holding h they say it's sweet, more often than not it'll come out sour

"Shit," she whispered Neither Harry nor Stevie changed their expression She turned and walked away, sud-denly feeling part of soer had any control

As she entered thewhether to say anything to hi in A screah her ears, and a sudden heartbreaking sadness swept over her She uttered a wretched sigh and fell to her knees Leela and Gob both turned to look at her, both about to ask rong

Jazz and Terence stared at each other, abetween theht then It's about saving worlds other than this

And then Terence offered her a tired s," Jazz said, and as a few groans of dismay rose up, the Hour of Screa from the distance, but the noise of its wheels on the track were screaetherca it

Wish o, onat her fu-neral Jazz cried, an outpouring of grief that racked her body and caught in her throat every breath she took, because here and nohen she laid her mother to rest There would be no funeral However the Blackwood Club had disposed of her body, it was long gone to rot and dust Here, during this Hour of Screa her

The air felt heavy, and every breath hurt It was strange to bear witness to such violence upon the senses, and yet the solid walls and ceiling around then, the floor did not shake, and the only dust in the air was kicked up by the United Kingdo to their knees in the old shelter

At last it faded away, and Jazz felt so flit by be-side her and stroke her cheek as it passed

Sweet dreahter's cheek when she thought Jazz was asleep But Jazz would always lie there awaiting this loving touch

"Sweet dreams, Mum," Jazz said

The Palace fell silent, and Jazz closed her eyes