“Cece’s kind of in the middle of something,” Ava said to the old man. “Right?” She turned to give their compatriot a dirty look, but was surprised to see Cece had blanched in apparent fear.

The old man just smiled wistfully. “I am sorry to interrupt, but we have some urgent business to attend to." He puffed his pipe and adjusted his bow tie as he turned, looking positively jaunty as he crossed the street towards the bistro. They didn’t have time to consider leaving him, however, because two very tall, very brawny-looking men approached with scowls as soon as the thought crossed Ava's mind.

Abe gulped and glanced at her. “I guess we’re going to the bistro.”

“No,” said one of the men. He pushed Celine forward. “Just her.”

“But--” Ava stopped short when she heard the sound of a pistol being cocked. One of the men’s hand was hidden in his jacket, and he gave a little halfway-grin.

“Just Celine.”