Siaka and I share a worried glance. We’re interrupted by Sebastien, who starts talking from the stage, his lips smashed against the microphone. “Hey Paris. We’re the Bleeding Heart-Fingers.” His band launches into a crashing wall of noise making further discussion impossible.

I glance at the emergency exit and see that the bouncer ushered the smokers back in and closed the door behind them. The redhead raises his arm to point at the band and yells something stupid like, “Rock and roll!” And that’s when I see the tattoo on the back of his bicep. It’s a three-armed swastika with the letters “N.A.” underneath.

“Kate!” I say, but I don’t sense her nearby. I grab Vincent’s arm. “Where’s Kate?” I yell right next to his head.

He flinches and rubs his ear. “There’s some major police activity down the street. She’s checking it out.”

“A guy over there has a Numa Army tattoo,” I yell, and suddenly I have his total attention.

“Where?” he asks.

Arthur, sensing our alarm, turns to include himself in the conversation.

“Next to the emergency exit,” I motion. “Guy with the red manbun and beard.”

“Stay here with Georgia,” Arthur orders, his laid-back coolness evaporating in a split second. He and Vincent surge through the crowd. They haven’t gotten more than a few feet when the two guys notice they’ve been spotted.

Turning, Dark Beard rears back and punches the bouncer in the face. While the guy is reeling, they shove past him and out the emergency exit. The bouncer lunges after them, yelling. Arthur and Vincent follow, and the door slams behind them. It happens so quickly that only the people immediately around the door notice.

“Hey, where’d Arthur go?” Georgia yells, having stopped dancing long enough to notice he’s gone.

“He and Vincent went to check something outside. They’ll be right back,” I say. She looks unhappy but turns and waves her arms to the beat. I look at Siaka like, What now?  He shrugs, and we try to get back into the music. The second song ends, and Sebastien drones on about his inspiration for the next song.

Liv leans in. “I’m off. Meeting Reese at his place.” She heads toward the entry.

Georgia watches her leave and looks around for Vincent and Arthur. “Well, this night’s turning into a dumpster fire.”

“No, seriously, the band’s really good!” Siaka says halfheartedly.

“Yeah, I’m really enjoying it,” I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.

Georgia squints suspiciously. “You’re both rotten liars,” she says, “but if you leave me here alone, I’ll make sure you’re blackballed from every club in Paris.” She gives us a jokey smile and turns back to the music.

“She’s not joking,” Siaka says.

“One hundred percent serious,” I agree.