“I don't see how I could possibly move a napkin with the power of my mind," I say."All will be revealed." "Did you just say, 'All will be revealed'?"He looks up. "Yes.""Who says, 'All will be revealed'?""I do," Packard says. "Just perform the task.”

“God, Packard! Do you know how hard I worked atit?” I twist up the napkin and whip it at him.He deflects it. “There we go; I knew you could do it.”My mouth falls open. “Very funny.”He just laughs.“I can’t believe you!”

“You have the most contact with Packard.""No, I don't.""Yes, you do," they say in unison."You just saw him," Helmut says."He had to deliver some gloves to me," I explain.Helmut raises an eyebrow. "And he couldn't have sent them with one of his people?"I don't answer. I'm thinking about those pretty gloves, clearly chosen to match that specific dress of mine. So thoughtful. Did he pick them out himself?Helmut snorts. "And what was he wearing?""A dinner jacket," I say, "but just to blend in with the crowd.""And did you share any food or beverage-""It wasn't a date."Simon tips his glass into his mouth and chews ice loudly."It wasn't a date.”

“Up ahead stands the fun house, which you enter through a clown’s smiling mouth.“I would kill myself if I was prisoner here,” Shelby says.“No, you wouldn’t, just out of courtesy,” I say, “because your body would be trapped in there after you die, and your friends would have to watch your corpse rot.”“Hmm,” Shelby says. “Smell it too.”“Well, now we’re looking on the bright side,” Packard says.”

“All I could think of was you. All I can ever think about is you. Why am I always fighting it? Always fighting thinking about you, fighting this wonderful feeling about you. This aliveness. This love.” I look into his eyes and smile like a madwoman. “I love you!” I can’t stop saying it. “I love you. Love, love love.”

“Kenzo glances up from his chopping. “You look good enough to eat.”“Don’t tell that to Stu’s sleepwalkers,” I say.”

“I can't say Ah now?""No," I say sternly."Even if it's purely innocent? A genuine Ah? Not even that?" He makes a pleading face. It looks silly on him; he's never been the pleading type.He bats his cinnamon lashes once. "Not even ..."I try not to laugh.He keeps the face going and ”