Everyone else was dressed casually. There were a couple of families with kids scattered around the room. I’ll grant that Hanna was worth looking at. I was watching her from behind as she walked ahead of me into the restaurant, smiling to myself. For once, I think she was enjoying the attention.

  The man at the cash register was the same one we’d saved the last time we were here. The owner’s son, if I remembered right. He did a double take, recognized us, and hurried over as we settled into a table about midway into the restaurant. He had two menus in his hands.

  “Welcome back to the West End. It’s good to see you again,” he said, laying a menu at each place. Blaze’s first. I’d love to say her smile lit up the whole room, but realistically, it just lit up our table.

  “I’ve already spoken with your chef about the main dish,” I said, “but we’ll still need sides and drinks to go with beef. I’m happy to let the waitress handle that. She can tell your chef that we’ve arrived.”

  He looked surprised for a half second, then understanding dawned. The waitress…I didn’t recognize her. I could tell she didn’t get it at all.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [We’re here. I just told them we spoke about the main dish. Waitress will handle sides and drinks. Please play along and have fun.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [I see ya. Not sure I always likes your ideas of fun, but no prob. Meat on the grill.]

  I smiled at Blaze, then nodded to the waitress. “Take the lady’s order first. I can wait.”

  “Go ahead,” I told Blaze, smiling at her.

  She smiled back. She knew exactly what I was doing, and she looked like she was enjoying it.

  A few minutes later, Sarah, our waitress, headed back toward the kitchen with the rest of our order.

  Anything we said out loud was for public consumption. Some of what we said to each other in GAME CHAT was anything but. We were having fun and doing it without bothering the other guests.

  A few people might have recognized us, but I don’t think most did. No one said anything. We obviously weren’t dressed for work. The manager watched us as much as he could without trying to stare. He was smiling, so all was good.

  All was good. Especially the food. The first time I’d eaten here, a decade or more ago, it had been under a different owner. This was much better.

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  When the waitress returned with our dinners, she wasn’t alone. Shadow followed her out from the kitchen.

  I guessed from her body and what she carried, she wore the expression I was used to expecting beneath her mask when she was pissed. Finally, I could see all of it. Her arms were crossed, and she had a large chopping knife in each hand.

  Sarah set the plates carefully in front of us, looking nervous. The meat on both plates looked burned. Blackened. Seared hard. Charred bits ringed the edges and top. The vegetables, on the other hand, looked cooked to a perfect tenderness.

  If Shadow hadn’t been struggling to keep a straight face, I think she’d have been laughing. Blaze looked up at her, confused. Shadow shook her head slowly.

  “Y’all ordered it,” Shadow said. “I wants to see y’all eat it.”

  That pulled attention from half the room. Conversations quieted. Heads turned. Everyone was watching us.

  I looked at Blaze. She looked at me. I’m not great at reading expressions, but hers was crystal clear. You first.

  What looked like a slab of burned beef cracked more easily than I expected when I stabbed it with my fork. I cut a slice from one end, then split it in half. The blackened crust barely clung to the meat. I speared it with my fork and took a bite.

  The flavors exploded. The caramelized crust gave way to rich, juicy beef that practically melted in my mouth. Saying it was delicious didn’t even come close. I didn’t try to identify everything going on. It was just…right.

  I played it up, chewing slowly like it was tough. Then I swallowed, pointed my fork at Blaze, and said, “Your turn.”

  She didn’t put on as much of a show as I had, but I knew the instant she tasted it. Her expression softened, then lit up.

  “Told you,” I said, “best food in town.”

  She blushed and immediately started telling Shadow how tender and good it was. I let her go on about it, and took another bite, a bigger one this time.

  Around us, people were whispering. Wondering what we’d ordered. Wondering how we’d gotten something special. I did my best not to smile… except while chewing.

  The manager came over, curiosity getting the better of him.

  “At seventy dollars a plate,” I told him, “You’re undercharging. This would go for twice that in the capital. Five times that in a major city.”

  There were a few gasps from a few people near us when I mentioned the price.

  I took another bite, chewing slowly. It really was that good.

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [I hope he don’t want it on the menu. that’s a pain to make. you really think it that good?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [At $250 you’d be overcharging it in Eddington. In LA or NYC, cheap, so double or triple it. It’s that good. Thank you.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [thats what Blaze said too.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [If he wants it on the menu, he needs to pay you more. A lot more. Or make it a secret menu. High end. Exclusive membership only. Order in advance. No online trail. Phone only.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [damn man. those prices I could open my own place. think there enuff people here who’d pay it?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [MarmariL] [Some. Others would travel. It’s that good. Thank you for doing this.]

  I saw her expression change as we chatted. Then she shook her head, turned and headed back toward the kitchen. I was pretty sure she was hiding a smile.

  Sarah still stood there, unsure what to do, until Shadow disappeared through the kitchen doors. Then she followed.

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