Ann continued walking through the crowd, doing her best to stay calm. The noise had dulled slightly, the music not as loud as it was earlier. Either the DJ was switching tracks or the speaker system was messing up. Either way, it gave her room to think.
She tried to blend in as much as possible, swaying her hips casually, pretending to enjoy the rhythm. Every few steps, she'd stop near a group and fake a smile, nodding like she was part of it. Her eyes stayed sharp though.
She picked up a half-full plastic cup from a nearby table, raised it to her lips, and pretended to sip.
Then
Two men started walking in her direction. They looked different from the rest—sharper. Less drugged out, more focused. One was in a red jacket with a silver chain and cornrows, the other wore a tight black shirt, tall and broad with a visible bulge under his sleeve—probably a concealed weapon.
