Page 78 (1/2)

Chapter One

The Pigeon Man was usually here by now Tuning out her co story for a moment, Cath double-checked the LED display suspended over the station platform Ten minutes until the train In this woman’s company, it would feel like a lifetime

Resigned to her fate, Cath crossed her legs and relaxed back against the bench At least she could enjoy the unseasonably cool —the first break all week fro London

“… and they told me it was the most brilliant way to add a tactile element to protest action they’d ever heard of I happened to mention you wanted to put the piece in your exhibit, but they didn’t knoho you are,” A the statement into an accusation

Cath perked up “I’ht?” She was a s machine Surely even Amanda’s hard-core activist cronies had heard of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s world-renowned collection, even if they hadn’t heard of the upco that Cath had been hired to assist with

“Oh, I don’t know,” A off the bald pate of the Pigeon Man as he made his way up the steps He took his place in front of the round Caleon Man could pass for noritated conversation with a stranger that he began thrusting his head forward in a bird-like reater prominence

He pulled a candy bar out of his pocket, and she remembered it was Friday He was often late on Fridays, no doubt because he stopped at the newsstand to buy himself some end-of-the-week chocolate

The thought caught her up short Shit, did she really know the habits of the train station regulars that well? She did a quick survey of the sparsely populated platfor his favorite pair of skinny jeans this otten her roots touched up

Sadly, yes, she did

“The next person who co a purse the size of a bus and a bakery bag with a croissant in it,” Cath said

“What?”

“It’s a prediction”

“You’re clairvoyant now?” Amanda asked, her pert nose in the air

“Sure” Cath was beginning to see how her pathetic store of knowledgeup the stairs next, and I know you’re going to do the right thing and give me that straitjacket for the exhibit”

Thinking of the exhibit re through sweaters fro for her antihistamines, freed two from their hermetic blisters, and sed them with a sip of water Curatorial work could be sneezy She’d learned to arrive prepared

As she slipped her water bottle back into her bag, Bus Purse caht on schedule

Aet a better view of the steps “You can see down to the high street That’s how you knew she was co”

“You’re closer than I am Can you see down there?”

The frown deepened “Well, youIt’s not as if you’re capable of ic”

“Wanna bet?” Cath answered, ware

Magic had never been her specialty, but she wanted that straitjacket It had been featured in a widely covered protest deed outside the prio, and it would look fabulous on display, the perfect visual complement to the story the museum’s exhibit would tell

Unfortunately, A, and Cath had known her long enough to understand she got a kick out of stringing people along

On the other hand, she was also competitive and narcissistic, which made her the sort of woman who rarely turned down a bet