A frown crawls onto my face. And it deepens quickly as I let my eyes drift from the artist while grabbing Shawna’s wrist.

“Please excuse us,” I say, putting harsh emphasis on each consonant sound.

I pull Shawna outside the restaurant. The girl, totally confused, wiggles her hand from my grip and pauses in her track. I leave her and head to the roadside anyway.

“Book another cab,” I grumble, “we’re leaving.”

“Do tell why?” Shawna asks in a sort of rude manner.

Instead, of ...