"That lady wants to go brush her kitty!" Ava woke abruptly at the sound of a young boy announcing this much too near to her face. She ignored him and rubbed her neck; thankfully, it looked like the train was finally pulling into the Paris station. "She had ginger hair just like me!" the boy cried, determined to be noticed. "And she's going to brush her kitty!"
"That's very exciting," Ava conceded wearily. Kids could be so weird.
"Georgie!" a maternal voice called out. "Georgie, get back in your seat!"
Ava nudged Abe awake and stood to gather her own bag. As she stretched her legs, she realized with a wakening jolt that her pockets were empty.
"You!" she snapped after the little boy. "Did you go through my things?" She leapt down the aisle to where he and his mother were putting their jackets on. "Did you take my watch?" she yelled again, but the boy just shook his head fearfully.
Abe's groggy voice came muttering from behind her. "Please," he said slowly, "please tell me you're joking..."