Soul Fire

left?’
    ‘Surfed the web, obviously, because that’s what geeks do.’
    ‘You’re not a geek, Alice.’
    ‘Well, I am compared to you and your pin-up guy. So what happened at the club?’
    ‘Unbelievably they asked him for ID, but I managed to talk the bouncers round . . .’
    And off she goes. I let the details wash over me, but it makes me feel normal to be here with my best friend, hearing about her crazy night. Helps me block out all the details of my
sister’s hand, her sparkling nails and her—
    ‘Your phone’s going, Alice.’
    I stare at Cara, then realise what she’s saying. I dig around in my bag.
    ‘Lewis,’ I say, answering it. Cara grins and gives me the thumbs up.
    I get up from the table and walk towards the fruit and veg.
    ‘Ali, I think I’ve worked one thing out. Don’t get too excited, but unless it’s some quadruple bluff, then whoever’s behind Burning Truths isn’t local,’
Lewis tells me.
    ‘Meaning what? They’re not from West London?’
    A woman tuts at me because I’m getting in the way as she squeezes the apples.
    ‘Meaning I’m pretty sure that they’re based in another time zone. At least they were last night. Central European Time, to be exact.’
    ‘You said they had that private network thing, though, Lewis. That could make it look like they were anywhere in the world.’
    ‘Hmm. But I got past that last night. I didn’t want to say anything till I’d run that program, but the data was conclusive. I got past the mask. It could be Paris,
Berlin, Amsterdam. Did your sister spend time in Europe? Or have a uni friend from outside the UK?’
    I move away from the fridges, because the hum is stopping me from thinking straight. ‘Well, according to the press, she had plenty of fans all over Europe, all over the world, but . .
.’
    And then I think of someone who couldn’t ever be described as a fan. ‘This time zone. Would it include Barcelona?’
    But I know the answer even before he confirms it. ‘Yes. Why?’
    ‘Oh. Nothing. It’s just been on my mind because . . . it doesn’t matter. Look, I’m with Cara at the moment. Let me have a think and call you back?’
    ‘Sure, Ali. Are you OK, by the way? After last night?’
    ‘Fine. Thanks. Not just for asking but for this, for not giving up.’
    There’s a pause. Then he says, ‘I’m a stubborn sod, you know. I’ll get to the bottom of it if it kills me.’ He stops himself. ‘Sorry, that probably
wasn’t the right thing to say, was it?’
    ‘The day you start censoring yourself around me, Prof, is the day we’re not friends anymore.’
    I end the call, knowing what I have to do. I walk back to where Cara’s sitting.
    ‘So how is lover boy?’ she asks. ‘It must be all of ten hours since he last spoke to you.’
    ‘Ha ha, Cara. You should be on the stage.’ I take a sip of my hot chocolate. The sugar’s making me sharper now. ‘Hey, you know Barcelona?’
    ‘Spanish city with a beach and a wonky cathedral?’
    ‘That’s the place. I’ve decided I’m definitely going.’
    ‘ Seriously? ’ She leans over the table and gives me a big slobbery, boozy kiss.
    ‘God, Cara, how much did you drink at the club?’
    ‘Shush. I don’t want a lecture. I want to celebrate. Mum’ll book our flights right now if I call her.’
    ‘I thought you’d booked to go already?’
    ‘I was going to, but then . . . It wouldn’t be the same without you, hon.’
    ‘One thing. Promise me you won’t go after Ade?’
    She laughs. ‘All’s fair in love and war, Alice.’
    The pastry sits on my plate. I’m not hungry anymore. ‘No, it’s not.’
    ‘Hey, you’re not my mum. Remember what I keep telling you about being a teenager? Part of that involves, you know, having fun, flirting with boys.’
    I sigh. How do I explain that she could flirt with any other boy in the world and I wouldn’t care. But not this one, because there’s a chance that either Ade or Sahara might be a
killer.
    I try making a joke of it. ‘Sure. But this is all a bit close for comfort, somehow. Sahara’s unpredictable, you know. Fiery. Get on the wrong side of her, and you might come back
from Barcelona in a box!’
    ‘Alice!’
    ‘What?’
    ‘People don’t joke about stuff like that. Especially not you.’ I sigh. ‘If anyone’s allowed to joke about death, it’s me. But I’m serious.’
    ‘I can handle her.’
    ‘You don’t know what she’s capable of.’
    Cara frowns. ‘Is there something you’re