In a continent of beautiful places, there was always something Kat liked about Brussels. The Royal Palace. The river Senne. Cathedrals and ancient buildings as far as the eye could see. So she sat on a bench and sipped her coffee, waiting until the church bells chimed three o’clock.
Kat could imagine those big gears turning, moving the hands of the clock and then setting off a chain reaction down the street and across the city, all the way to the halls of St. Christopher’s Academy. By the time the bells had finished, the big double doors were swinging open and a tide of blue blazers and book bags emerged. But Kat stayed on her bench, watching, waiting, until one boy appeared among the masses.
He walked with more purpose than his classmates, stood a little straighter. And when he saw her, he didn’t even break stride.
“Why do I get the feeling you didn’t come all the way to Belgium for an education?” Nick pulled the straps of his backpack over his shoulders and squinted against the sun that reflected off the gold buttons on his private-school blazer.
“Oh, I’m definitely here to learn.” Kat couldn’t help but smirk as she stood and sidled closer.
“I’m sure you are.” Nick gave a wry laugh. “Do I have to ask how you found me?”
“This is the best international school in Brussels—all the European Union bigwigs send their kids here. Congratulations on your mom’s promotion, by the way. Interpol Liaison to the EU, very fancy.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Of course she hates it. Too desk-job-y.”
“I’ll tell my dad. I’m sure he’ll send his condolences.”
“I’m sure he will.”
Kat had to wonder for a minute what that would feel like—homework and uniforms, walks home with nice boys offering to carry your bag. That was her life once. Almost. But Hale had gotten her kicked out of the Colgan School, pulled her back into her own world, just like now he’d been pulled back into his.
“So why are you here, Kat?” Nick asked.
“Maybe I was craving waffles.”
“Kat…” He let her name draw out. “I’m pretty sure this is the part where you tell me you need my help to steal an emerald.” He laughed. “Or rob the Henley…”
Kat’s face stayed blank, but something in her eyes must have shifted, because Nick tensed.
“No.” It was like he’d read her mind, because he was already shaking his head, saying, “No. No. No. Just—”
“Hear me out, Nick.”
She touched his arm, but he jerked away. “Are you crazy?” he said. “No. Strike that. I know you’re crazy, but I didn’t know you had a death wish.”
“It’s not what it sounds like.”
“It never is with you, is it? And that’s the problem.”
“That’s hilarious coming from you.” Kat rolled her eyes. “I remember a time when you couldn’t wait to rob the Henley with me. Don’t you? Maybe I should ask your mother about it.”
“That’s probably not a good idea, Kat. She might be too busy trying to arrest your father.”
Kat started to fire back, but then stopped. Her breath slowed and she looked up at him. “Why are we fighting?”
He laughed a little. “I honestly have no idea.”
“Okay,” she said. “As long as I’m not the only one.”
They walked together down the cobblestone street, silent for a while until Kat said, “So, school, huh?”
“You know, these days a lot of teenagers are experimenting with formal education.”
“It’s a regular epidemic.”
Nick gave a slow, wide grin. “That’s kind of the idea.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept walking. “So, where is he?”
Kat stopped cold on the street, and Nick guessed the truth.