Kate looked at Tom. ‘We’re leaving already? How’re we getting to Chicago?’

‘I think it’s going to work out,’ said Stacy, helping Tom struggle into his rucksack. ‘But I’m trying to steer clear of the details. I’m already an accessory to God knows how much …’

Tom shook Stacy’s hand. ‘Goodbye. Thanks for everything. Especially for looking after my parents.’

‘I’m going to have to spin them one hell of a line to explain why they’ve spent the last thirty-six hours fit and well in isolation,’ she said dryly, ‘but I’ll make sure they know your last sighting was somewhere on the way to Hawaii.’

He grinned. ‘You’ve done so much for us already.’

Stacy shook her head. ‘Before you two came here, I was doing more harm than good to the people I was supposed to be helping.’ She smiled. ‘Now maybe I can turn that around. With some help from my friends.’

Stacy crossed the room to check on Rico, who was still sleeping peacefully.

Kate fumbled in her purse for the picture Polar snapped when she and Tom had first arrived at the tenement. Ramone stood between them, scowling in the middle of the picture; his old, habitual look. She placed the picture on Rico’s bedside table. ‘Someone to watch over you,’ she whispered.

Then she and Tom left the room.

g

Jasmine was out in the parking lot, leaning against a glossy black Daimler that seemed to shine in the wintry sunlight. ‘Thought you might need some wheels,’ she said. ‘Friend of Ramone’s fixed up the plates. Should get you where you need to go without the cops on your tail.’

Kate hoped Tom’s dazed grin was down to the car and not the sight of Jasmine in her leather pants and fitted top.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ Tom said finally.

Jasmine snorted. ‘Then get out of here already.’

‘What are you going to do now?’ Kate asked her.

‘Ain’t gonna be stealing no more cars, for one thing,’ she said dryly. ‘Stacy’s rule.’

‘Stacy?’

‘She finally got her way. Fixed me up with a job, helping out with one of her hard luck programs.’ Jasmine shrugged. ‘Guess I ain’t got much to go back to now. So I’m thinking I can help out them howler kids now the fighting’s over … Help them work stuff out.’

‘Kids like Polar?’ Tom asked gently.

Jasmine glared at him. Then her face softened. ‘Maybe. I guess. Stacy says we gotta give them for real what they thought they were getting from Takapa. Kind of self-respect. You know?’

Tom nodded. ‘We know.’

‘Don’t pay much. But Stacy knows some hostel where me and Ric can stay.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s something.’

‘It’s really something,’ Tom said. ‘And you are, too.’

He went to kiss her cheek, but Jasmine pulled away. ‘Just take care of yourself, Tommy-boy.’