"What do you mean Nicki is back?" I asked, my voice low but urgent.
Chrisly leaned back slightly, watching me closely. "I saw him last night," he said. "At the bar I went to with my friends."
I blinked, not sure I heard him right. "You saw him?"
"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "Even though I've only seen him once in person and in that one picture you showed me, I recognized his face instantly. It was him."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "They were sitting in one corner of the bar, having what looked like a celebration. I asked the bartender what was going on. He said the guy in white just came back from abroad, and his friends were throwing him a welcome-back party. That's how I knew… "Nicki hasn't been in the country for a while. But now? He's back."
I felt the blood drain from my face. Slowly, I sat straighter in my seat, pressing my back against the chair. I tried to speak, to say something, anything, but nothing came out. My mouth was open, yet my voice was frozen.
