My heart sank. I really wasn’t in the mood for some rehashed New Age philosophy. The last thing I needed right now was a loop for a client.

“It’s the flux. When I really needed someone to do this job for me, our paths crossed. I realize this isn’t the kind of thing you usually take on, but you have to do this one.” Jett patted my hand.

“So tell me about it,” I stalled, sipping my drink.

“When I started out, I had a partner. I suppose you know about that, huh? Moira was my soul mate, the one person I was meant to be with. We wrote all the songs on the first two albums together, we were magic. But we blew it. I didn’t look after her needs, and she couldn’t take the pressures without my support. So she went. I was too full of my success to realize what a fool I was to let her go. And she left enough of her energy with me for me to keep going a long time without noticing how much I’d needed her.” His eyes were shining with tears, but Jett showed no embarrassment at baring his soul in front of so motley a crew.

“I don’t need to tell you that I’ve run out of that energy. My last two albums have been shit.” He looked up defiantly at Kevin, who shrugged. “You know it’s true. I just can’t cut it any more. It’s not just my music. It’s my whole life. That’s why I need you to find Moira for me.”

I congratulated myself silently on having guessed correctly. “I

Kevin, who had been bursting to interrupt, could contain himself no longer. “That’s exactly what I said, Jett,” he said triumphantly. “I told you it would be nothing but grief. You don’t know that she’d want to see you. You sure as hell don’t know if she can still write lyrics the way she used to. Kate’s right. It’s a waste of time.”

“Don’t tell me that shit,” Jett roared. I nearly fell off my stool with the shock of the sound wave. “You’re all the goddamn same,” he carried on shouting. “You’re all shit-scared of what will happen if she comes back. Neil’s the only one of you who agrees with me. But just for once, Kevin, I’m going to have what I want. And Kate’s going to get it for me.”