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I look down at the paper and see aonly two thin strips of redin a very … provocative position

"You planning ona visit to ‘Sexy Mrs Claus’?" Daphne asks

Heat rushes into ely asha fro eye contact"

I nod and pick up et lost in the chaos of the strip I ariht, it hurts my eyes A sea of potted red flowers fills reen tree strung with shi Garish, glittering globes of green and red hang fro, overly cheerful music fills the lobby froe of noise and flashing lights co, I almost want to retreat back outside

I don’t understand why humans would want to come here to relax

Garrick collapses into a plush chair in the lobby, looking as though he , I’ head can barely handle it

"Hey," Tobin says to Daphne, pointing at the entrance to the Crossroads Blues Club on the other side of the casino floor "Isn’t that the club where your dad got his big break?"

"Yeah," she says, after thinking for atalent scout saw him play here … which means this is also the place where o talk to the front desk," Lexie says, and et over the a this Sarah Smith in a city this overrun feels improbable, if not impossible

"So hoe find this Oracle?" Tobin asks "The sooner I can get a lead on Abbie, the better"

Daphne and I exchange a look

"I think you need to tell hiutted at the idea that, because of me and my family, she has to share such horrible neith her best friend I’d do it myself, but I know he’ll take it better from her than from me

"Tobin, can I talk to you for a minute?" Daphne asks him "In private"

"Yeah, of course"

I watch her lead him to an empty bench near a fountain in the lobby The spray of the water drowns out their voices, and I am too far away to read their lips, but I can tell fro Tobin in on what Dax told us--or didn’t tell us--about what happened to his sister She places her hand over his His bright face darkens, and he cruer able to watch

It’s a good ten minutes later when Lexie returns fro teen talent contest or soht, so the place is pretty booked up I couldn’t get the penthouse, but I didand the other has two queens I don’t kno you all want to deal with your sleeping arrange"

"I don’t care," Tobin says, approaching with Daphne "As long as I’ives h I wasn’t here six years ago, he’s holding me responsible for what happened to his sister

"Tobin, I--"

"Save it," he says "I’ up on Abbie until that Oracle looks et her back"