The Cybersybils present Venusberg

At that moment, the Prof reached into his trousers and retrieved a worn piece of laminate, handing it to the Jackal. "This is a photograph of my daughter, taken after her first horseback riding lesson."

Juan Carlos examined the snapshot, walked over to what appeared to be an altar of some sort, then placed the keepsake atop a large crystal. Saying a few words in gibberish, he proceeded to wave his left hand three times.

"Libra. I see much Libra energy. And Aries. Aries...Libra...Arab liar..."

Madeline got up and moved over to the side of the table where the man from Spain was studying some strange looking symbols. "A bare, rare bear I lie as a libber burns a bra," he finished.

A bare rare bear and Ms. Liberata.

"You are such a...jackass!" she let out, shaking her head in disbelief. "Whatever are you babbling about now?"

Juan Carlos smiled acridly before commenting, "Dear lady, please...this is a serious divinatory exercise. Now allow me. I shall teach you the proper way to do this one day...if you behave."

Maddie did her best to hide her exasperation and stared intently at the Jackal's scribbling hand. "Was Olivia involved in some type of partnership, perhaps with a Middle Eastern group?" the Jackal asked.

Friend and father stared at each other, then shrugged. "No," replied Madeline, beginning to appear a bit more worried. "Although she could have met a Sufi online, of course."

"Of course," mimicked the sarcastic hit man. "Yet, tell me truly, Ms. Lacroix, does Olivia Peyton tell you everything? Does she really trust you? I think not."

Clove Cigarettes

"Actually, she has concealed some things from me, but never anything of consequence. Occasionally she'd have a cigarette when I wasn't looking..."

"Thank you, Ms. Madeline and Mr. Peyton. The answer you seek cannot be gleaned this evening. The Universe will not allow any power to divine Olivia's location at this time. The gods do tell me, however, that the answer will be evident soon, by tomorrow afternoon."

Madeline bit her tongue in spite of herself, hoping that the man of dubious character might actually have connections to the underworld which a lady librarian lacked. The polite Prof tipped his hat and said, "Thank you...here is all the money I have on me. You'll get more if and when I get a tangible lead. We'll be seeing one another on the morrow."

The Belgian prayed silently that the Peytons would not be needing the Jackal's services any time in the foreseeable future, crystals or no. Yet the intrepid Leo would not desert Olivia, either, even if it meant traveling to the pit of Hades with the spawn of Cerberus himself, especially since he was rather...hot as a nickel pistol.