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Pretty soon, Yolanda and JoJo came back with four ether and stole sos from another table to make room for them

Over the next hour, Lark excelled in his quest of intercepting wine and appetizers for our group, we all took turns fetching cocktails at the bar with our drink tickets, and our table becaathered around, and the laughter and conversation flowed freely I was glad both Kel and Lark see themselves

Right at seven pht out baskets heaped with dinner rolls, followed by huge trays laden with green salads Once the salads were placed before us, the waiters went around and recorded our choices fro three different dinner entrees After I roup, “Please excuse me for a moment”

Lark assured rinned and thanked hi the ballroom

I felt overheated, so after I used the facilities, I exited the hotel through a side door and spent a few o back inside, only to find I was locked out No one responded when I knocked, so I began to make my way around to the hotel’s main entrance

Pretty soon though, I came to another side door which was unlocked When I stepped inside, I found myself in a part of the hotel that was used for conferences It was currently deserted The hts in the hallere dihtness

All along the right side of the hall, pairs of large potted plants bracketed a series of benches They were the reason I didn’t see Theodore Koenig until I was right in front of him I flinched with surprise, and he leapt to his feet and blurted, “What the hell is it with you, Lassiter? No ht at his phone, and I’d clearly startled him as much as he’d startled me

“I’ot locked out and had to coestured behindin an empty conference center?”

His eyes narrowed “It was the quietest place I could find in this hotel Or it was, until you showed up” There was pure venom in his tone

Koenig stuck his phone in the pocket of his suit jacket and started to walk away Despite myself, I called after hiet that you hate absolutely everyone, but you seem to hate me even more than most”

He turned back toperson I’ve ever met in my life”