‘Swagger told …’ Kate drew a shuddering breath. ‘He told my mom she could get to me and Tom through him. But Ramone wouldn’t help, he wouldn’t betray us. So … so …’

‘I knew it,’ Jasmine hissed. Her eyes glittered like ice. ‘You got him killed. You.’

‘That’s not fair, Jasmine,’ Stacy said gently.

‘Oh, right,’ the girl sneered, her face contorted with rage. ‘You clean-living clever white girls, you gotta stick together, right?’

‘That’s bullshit and you know it,’ Stacy snapped.

‘No bullshit,’ hissed Jasmine. She rose to her feet and crossed the room, then grabbed Kate by the arms and shook her. ‘You killed him!’ she shouted. ‘Hear me? Hear me?’

Kate didn’t react, just stood there and took it, so numb she could barely feel the girl’s fingers digging into her flesh.

‘Jasmine, stop it.’ Stacy tried to come between them. ‘This isn’t helping, you have to—’ But Jasmine knocked her away. The blow sent her reeling across the room towards the archway.

‘You killed him!’ Jasmine shrieked again in Kate’s face. ‘If he’d never met you he’d be here right now.’

‘Let her alone, Jas!’ Rico’s voice was high and clear. ‘If Ramone never met Kate and Tom, he’d be dead in Central Park. Or maybe dead when Swagger come calling last night. Or maybe alive, sure – shit, who knows? But, he’s dead now.’ The kid looked up at Kate, wiping his snotty nose, and his voice grew small and quiet. ‘He’s dead for real … right?’

Kate nodded, then met Jasmine’s pained, crazy stare. ‘Right,’ she breathed. ‘And I’m so, so sorry.’

‘Quiet, all of you,’ Stacy snapped, rubbing the side of her butt where she’d fallen. ‘Listen to this.’ The gravity in her voice made even Jasmine relinquish her grip and listen.

A nasal voice was crackling out from the police radio. ‘… fits the description of youth wanted in connection with the ’Orleans homicide enquiry. Units in vicinity of West 44th and Tenth, apprehend Caucasian male, black pants, tweed jacket. Proceed with caution …’

‘Oh my God, they’re after Tom,’ Kate said. ‘If the police get hold of him …’ She didn’t dare finish the sentence.

‘What can we do?’ said Stacy.

‘’S’easy,’ Jasmine said shakily, wiping her eyes. ‘I’ll go get him in the wagon. I know the area.’

Kate looked at her uncertainly. ‘You’re in no state to drive anywhere.’

‘You here in my skin with me? You wanna argue about this so long that the cops get Tom and he winds up dead like Ramone?’

‘Then let me come with you,’ Kate insisted.

‘No way,’ Jasmine said fiercely, shoving Kate aside. ‘C’mon, Ric.’ She grabbed the boy by the hand and dragged him out with her.

Kate went to follow but Stacy stopped her. ‘Let her go. Let her cool off and work through some stuff.’