A Devil with an Angel's Heart

Chapter 31, Part 1

||Jotaro

It was finally time to search Cairo for Dio. "Cairo is massive. It is in our best interest to systematically search the city, working our way towards the centre.", explained Avdol. The Adlers had divided into teams of two to three. For safety reasons even they would not search alone. And the little ones were told to stay back in the castle. It was too dangerous to let them out. It would certainly take a few of the older ones to make sure they did not venture out into the city...

Kate would of course join Jotaro and crew later on. She said she wanted to finish setting up the information network. The group got out of the car, one after the other. "We're finally here.", stated the old man grimly. "I say we start by asking around for Dio's mansion using the photo Mr. Joestar made with his Hermit Purple.", suggested Avdol. "Yeah, I say we start by asking around in cafes and such.", proposed Polnareff.

And this was how they landed in this cafe, that actually reminded him more of a bar, after searching for hours and exhaustion was beginning to kick in. In one single row they stood before the counter. One next to the other...They honestly made for quiet the imposing sight considering that four huge men approached the bartender looking all serious. The bartender had been wiping down a bottle and putting it back on the shelf before he slowly turned around and mustered them warily. He greeted them like a proper bartender nonetheless, "Very nice to meet you gentlemen. What'll you have to drink?" "We have something we'd like to ask you," started the old man and showed the bartender the spirit photo. "My associates and I are trying to locate this building," he explained, "Any idea where it is?" The bartender took a look at the photo, "I'm sorry, Stranger, but this is a cafe. You should order a drink before asking question.", the man declared and pointed behind himself to the bottles lined up in the shelf. "Then iced teas. Four of them.", ordered the old man and Avdol put some coins on the counter. The bartender looked at the photo while pouring their drinks. He then turned around and casually mentioned that he'd never seen the place. The men took the glasses and chugged down the iced tea in one go, then slammed the glasses back on the counter. Cairo was a city of six million. There must be at least two or three million buildings...How in the world were they going to locate Dio? He must be here in Cairo. There must be someone who can help us.

The other guests in the cafe apologised, saying they didn't know either and handed back the photos the old man had given them. In that moment Kate rejoined their group, suddenly popping up next to Jotaro and greedily downing a glass of iced tea herself. Afterwards she met eyes with the old man. An unspoken question passed through the room. Had she found anything, or her family? Kate glumly shook her head. The old man looked at the woman a bit longer before apologising to the cafe's customers. He then decided, "Let's go, we'll try somewhere else." After trading looks with Kate Jotaro nodded and followed the others. But they didn't get far.

"I happen to know where your little building is located."

They turned to look who said that. There, at the very end of the cafe sat a man at a gambling table shuffling a deck of cards. His back was against the sun, so his face was hidden in the shadow. "To be honest with you, " the man continued, "I'm quiet familiar with it." The mysterious man spread the cards skilfully on the table in one smooth motion and looked at them mockingly as if he'd already won. Jotaro could feel Kate's muscles tense up next to him, a clear sign she no longer felt comfortable. Before she'd relaxed upon no longer being on her own and back with friends. Jotaro hadn't missed how her shoulders had relaxed and her features had softened. Tiny changes that were invisible to those who didn't know her well enough. But now her guard was up again, her senses on high alert. Jotaro himself just wanted to wipe that damn smile off the man's face.

"Do you actually know where the building is?" queried the old man. In the meantime the man at the gambling table had turned the cards, so they were facing up.
"Yes, the exact location of that building is information readily available to me.", confirmed the man.
"Are you serious?", inquired the old man once more.
"That's incredible news!", exclaimed Avdol
"Amazing!", cheered Polnareff, "What are the odds we'd stumble upon someone who know exactly where the building is?"
"Higher than you'd think.", grumbled Kate under her breath and Jotaro knew she was trying to hold back an eye-roll at their naivety. But he had to agree with her. This situation reeked of a trap, another Stand user, the enemy. Dio wouldn't just sit around and let them peacefully stroll around town, trying to locate him.
The man at the gambling table flicked the cards, currently lying in a perfect circle, with his finger and caused them to stand on their edges, then fall over to stand at their sides, leaning against each other in pairs. "Are you really expecting something for nothing?", he asked.