Cat remained still in her seat for a good half hour before she could think at all. Her heart was racing. She could not tell if what she felt was anger, fear, panic, or grief. “Damn you Frankie,” she managed to say finally. “Damn you.” Slowly, very slowly, she took her phone out of her pocket and put it in front of her on the table. Then, just as slowly, she dialed the numbers. “DS Murray – please leave a message.” She pressed “End Call.” What kind of a message could she leave Sam right now? “Sam, just wanted to tell you that Frankie might come by?”

She dialed another number.

“Hi Cat!”

“Tess! Thank god you picked up. Where are you? I need to see you, now.”

“What happened? Where are you?”

“I am at the Café. I’ll tell you later. Can you come here?”

“Well, I am in my pajamas still. Could you come over here instead?”

“No Tess, I don’t want to run into Frankie if she comes home.”

“Actually, I am at Fin’s right now, so no danger here. Come over, I’ll make you a cup of tea, and we’ll talk. Fin’s going to be busy, she is working on something in her workshop.”

“Ok. I’ll take a cab.”

***

In less than fifteen minutes Cat was standing outside Fin’s apartment.

“My god” Tess offered as she opened the door. “What the hell happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

“I have.” Cat stepped inside and closed the door behind. “I have, and it wasn’t good.”

Mechanical noises in the other room stopped and Fin’s silhouette appeared in the doorway. She was covered in sweat and sawdust. “Hey Cat! Good to see you. Everything alright?”

“Yes. Sort of. Not really…” Cat looked away.

“I’d like to give you a hug, but I am covered in dust. I need to take a shower first. Why don’t you and Tess chat while I finish up here? There is tea, and there is cake.” Fin disappeared again.

“She is into baking lately.” Tess said proudly. “Oh god, sorry, what am I talking about.” She rushed Cat into the kitchen. “Tell me everything.”

“You are not going to like what I have to say.”