Three Voices

Mr. Pruitt did not come alone. With him was a young man in a grey suit with a laptop bag and a city lanyard: RAJ MEHTA, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, CITY OF EDMONTON.

"I asked Mr. Mehta to join us," said Mr. Pruitt, shaking Gus's hand at the door. "I hope you don't mind. I wanted someone neutral at the table. Someone who knows the rules."

Gus did mind, a little. But he said, "Of course," and took them to the red booth by the window, the best booth, where Bev had put three coffees and a plate of cinnamon buns without being asked.

The kitchen door was half open. Behind it, in the narrow passage between the kitchen and the back room, seven people were standing very still. Lina, Grace, Ade, Yuna, Sasha, Kai, and Marco, who was supposed to be cooking and was not.

"Part 5," whispered Grace. "Listening to a Discussion. Three people. Each of us follows one voice. Lina, Mr. Pruitt. Ade, the city man. Sasha, Gus. Everyone else, listen for where they agree and where they don't. Don't make a sound."

"This is illegal," whispered Yuna.

"It's a restaurant," whispered Marco. "We're in the kitchen. Kitchens hear everything. That's the principle of kitchens."