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Carolyn’s eyebrows ay I’ve been to a lesbian bar in Palo Alto with her a bunch of tiain, Carolyn had that defensive, I’-I’m-not-mad-at-you-but-I’ize to her for assu narrow-minded Eo"

They were halfway across the parking lot when Eround There was a rustling sound behind a picnic table Even if it’s Ali, I’ at the black town car that had parked discreetly in the back of the lot

Still, there was so spooky about the fact that it really could be Ali If Ali walked up to E, or would she sy? In the days since they’d told the cops, E The cops would be looking for Ali now Euilt wasit would take to go away

Inside were sounds of a feuitar E the silvery strea candles on the bar, the giant tropical fish tank, and the plushy are set up at the back with a dance floor in front of it Several couples altzing Two girls wereout on the sill But other than that, the bar didn’t seem that different from anywhere else in Hollis--the same beers were on tap, and the same dart boards and pool tables stood at the side There was even a hockey game on a small screen over the bar

Carolyn hovered at the edge of the bar E what to say A pretty black girl caught Emily’s eye She raised her hand and waved E shy Carolyn still didn’t say a word Were they just going to stand here all night?

The singer played a Beatles cover, then so by Bob Marley Suddenly, Carolyn whirled around "We need to lighten the hing Carolyn totally wasn’t the dancing type But her sister looked serious, her ar back and forth "Okay," E

They walked onto the dance floor and started to irl who’d waved at Eave her a deirlfriend"

"Don’t we all?" The black girl shtest teeth Es" Then she handed E liquid "I’lanced at her sister, as grinning at her Suddenly, a couples, Emily could almost feel Jordan’s soft skin in her palm, smell the jasmine perfume on her neck She lass of cha fast, with a techno beat, and River took Emily’s hands and spun her around Ehter and free A tall girl who had her hair in pigtails coaxed Carolyn into a conga line, and they shuffled around the dance floor, their cheeks shiny and their eyes bright Erabbed on and followed them Someone held up her phone and snapped a picture The bartender, a irl with arhed

Suddenly, Emily noticed a familiar skinny, white-blonde in the crowd Iris?

She pushed away froirl stood in front of an ATM, her back to E The girl turned She had a pointier face, brown eyes instead of green "Yes?" she said in a friendly enough voice But it wasn’t Iris’s voice

Eht you were soh her Please let Iris turn up, she prayed to the universe Please let her be okay

She went back to Carolyn, trying not to think about it They danced for three s, to the point of sweatiness Finally, Carolyn careened to the sidelines, breathing hard River kissed Emily on the cheek and disappeared into the crowd E to lean into Carolyn’s shoulder Carolyn didn’t pull away

"Thanks," Eood idea"

Carolyn’s eyes softened "Sotruce?"

"Truce," Emily said "Definitely"

Carolyn held up a drink and clinked it to Elass Elass of dark liquid It had a faht-up Dr Pepper?"

Carolyn raised her glass "Heck yeah, it is"

E a sirl from the Rosewood Day French Festival, after all

And you knohat? Elad

14

COFFEE TALK

That sa at the picture of the Acura keychain she’d taken with her phone just before dropping it off at Fuji’s office Had Aliaround in an Acura, itfro her in The Preserve for so many years Did that mean Helper A had et a list of every Acura driver on the Main Line Maybe it would turn up a rich boy whose first name started with N

"Spence?"