Pardon The Way That I Stare

Exchange

Alastor and Vox emerged from Alastor's bedroom two hours later, the tension that had hung between them now significantly eased. They had settled their differences and reached an understanding. Alastor had even struck a deal with Vox—one that didn't involve souls but rather an exchange of services.

"Alright, here's the plan," Alastor said as they made their way downstairs, his voice low and serious. "You can stay at the hotel, either temporarily or permanently, as long as you help me prove that one of our guests, Finny, is a pedophile."

Vox raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet cautious. "Finny? What do you know about him?"

"I saw him texting in the lobby the other day," Alastor explained, his tone conspiratorial. "I managed to read a few of the messages, and let me tell you, they sounded predatory. But the tricky part is proving that the person he was texting is underage. That's where you come in."

Vox nodded, the pieces clicking together. "You want me to find the chat logs?"

"Exactly. You're good with technology, and if anyone can track down those messages, it's you," Alastor affirmed, determination glimmering in his eyes.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they spotted Lucifer and Charlie chatting in the dining area. Alastor cleared his throat to catch their attention. "Lucifer, Charlie! We need to talk."

Lucifer looked up from his seat, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "What's going on?"

"Vox is staying with us for a while," Alastor said, cutting right to the chase.

Charlie's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, hey Vox! You're still here, I'm glad you guys are getting along!" She smiled warmly, recalling their brief previous encounter.

"Yeah, I'm glad too, thanks, Charlie," Vox replied, offering a small smile back.

Lucifer leaned in, his interest piqued. "What's this about?"

"Finny," Alastor began, his tone grave. "I've reason to believe he's been engaging in predatory behavior, and I need Vox's help to find evidence."

Lucifer frowned, concern flashing across his face. "Predatory? That's serious. What do you have?"

"I saw him texting in the lobby, and while I couldn't see the details, the tone of the messages was alarming. If Vox can access his chat logs, we might be able to confirm my suspicions," Alastor explained.

Charlie's expression shifted to one of determination. "We can't let this go unchecked. If Finny is indeed a threat, we have to protect everyone here."

Vox nodded, feeling a sense of purpose swell within him. "I'll do what I can. I know how to navigate some of the tech around here, and if there's a chance to find those messages, I'll make it happen."

Lucifer smiled, looking at Vox with newfound respect. "Thanks, Vox. We appreciate you stepping in."

"Let's work together to keep everyone safe," Alastor added, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and focus.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, now charged with purpose as they prepared to tackle the looming threat together.