Zoe emerged from the subway station and got herself out of the way of the crowd of fast-moving commuters. It was still early, only eight thirty, so she ducked into a Starbucks nearby and sat on a high stool by the window with her latte, watching the busy streets. She took out her phone and checked the maps to orient herself for her destination. It was about ten minutes’ walk from here, and it opened at nine thirty. Okay, plenty of time. She watched the world going by again for a while, then took Ruffled Feathers out of her purse. A man sitting next to her raised his eyebrow at the cover—another two guys who were victims of the prevailing shirt famine. But he didn’t look disapproving. Well, this was the Village.
She wasn’t sure she could concentrate, and she did find herself reading the sa
