Page 58 of Exposé

"What the hell? Why can they—"

"It's the ID, Ava. They must be college students or something." She grabbed my arm and turned me towards her. "Relax. This will go faster if you help me."

I puffed out a breath through pursed lips.

I hate puzzles.

Give me true crime and a story. I'll be happy to follow the clues, but riddles…I'd rather gouge my ears out and never hear another thing again…

My brows furrowed.

"Try vibe."

Aria typed in the four-letter word, then shook her head. "Nope."

"Come on," I groaned.

"What transcends time and brings strangers together?"

Well, I'll remember this moment forever...

"Rave?"

Her pointer finger pecked at the keys. "Nope."

"Okay, I'll find another way to get what I need."

"Don't give up."

A group of college-aged girls flashed their IDs, and the door sprung open, allowing the music to blast me again with its rhythmic deep bass.

"Oh my God. I'm so dumb."

The door closed, and the music disappeared.

"What?"

"The answer. Music."

"Music?"

"Yeah, it transcends time. We're still listening to crap from the eighteen hundreds. It brings a group of strangers together, and every person is focused on it. 'The heart of the party'."

"I'll give it a go."

Her fingers moved over the keyboard, and a vibration slammed through my nerves.

If this isn't it, what else could it be?

She hit the enter key, and the door popped open.

My shoulders sagged as she stood up and bounced on her heels with asqueak.

Her hand wrapped around mine, and before I could say a word, she pulled me through the door and into the strobing, dark room where the bass hit me in the chest, taking my breath away.

12

Nate

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