Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane can't help smiling a little once the shock of the sheriff's outburst wears off. "Well, I guess that kind of confirms my suspicion." He looks back to Joe. "Sir, the day of the festival I noticed a number of things that made it seem like Dusty had an unusual interest in Vi. At first I was worried he was some kind of creep, but later that day I started digging deeper and found more evidence linking the two." He pauses, choosing the next part carefully. "Then Dusty and Vi disappeared at the same time while in police custody. That was too many coincidences for me to ignore."
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane can't help smiling a little once the shock of the sheriff's outburst wears off. "Well, I guess that kind of confirms my suspicion." He looks back to Joe. "Sir, the day of the festival I noticed a number of things that made it seem like Dusty had an unusual interest in Vi. At first I was worried he was some kind of creep, but later that day I started digging deeper and found more evidence linking the two." He pauses, choosing the next part carefully. "Then Dusty and Vi disappeared at the same time while in police custody. That was too many coincidences for me to ignore."
The sheriff lets out a low, gravelly grunt that's more like a growl he’s too tired to finish. “Reckon it was bound to come out sooner or later,” he mutters, sinking into one of the spare chairs with the weight of a man who’s about to unload. “Yeah… most of us vets knew. They rolled into town ‘round the same time, years back. Will Stein’d already been here a spell by then. Had them nasty cuts and scars he claimed came from an ‘old friend.’” He snorts, “That same friend shows up a few years later with a d‑bee young’un. Little thing’s deformities were minor, so we figured folks wouldn’t raise too much hell over it…” He fishes a battered whiskey flask from under his vest, takes a long pull, then tucks it away like he’s hiding evidence. “Dusty's a wanted man. Big bounty on his head. He was scared them hunters’d come sniffin’ ‘round and use Vi against him if they ever caught wind. Ethan and Esther couldn’t have kids, so they stepped up. Hell, they didn’t just help raise her... they fully raised her. Dusty just gave ‘em the occasional nudge, makin’ sure she learned how to fight if the world ever came knockin’.”
Something shifts in the sheriff then. A sort of restlessness, nerves, maybe even fear. He stands abruptly and strides toward Dane, leaning in so close Dane can smell the whiskey on his breath. The sheriff’s eyes are wild, fever-bright. “Who else knows?” he hisses. “Boy, you can’t tell nobody. You hear me? It’ll bring hellfire down on our town if word gets out. Might be this whole mess is already the start of it.”
He jerks his gaze toward Dane’s father. “We gotta find out who owns that vehicle from last night. And we need to track down this John Burger fella.” His boots start pacing the floor, back and forth, like a caged animal. For the first time since Dane’s known him, the sheriff looks… worried. Not angry. Not annoyed. Worried. "Ole Sheriff Halderbraan, back then, didn't know what he signed us all up for."
The sheriff lets out a low, gravelly grunt that's more like a growl he’s too tired to finish. “Reckon it was bound to come out sooner or later,” he mutters, sinking into one of the spare chairs with the weight of a man who’s about to unload. “Yeah… most of us vets knew. They rolled into town ‘round the same time, years back. Will Stein’d already been here a spell by then. Had them nasty cuts and scars he claimed came from an ‘old friend.’” He snorts, “That same friend shows up a few years later with a d‑bee young’un. Little thing’s deformities were minor, so we figured folks wouldn’t raise too much hell over it…” He fishes a battered whiskey flask from under his vest, takes a long pull, then tucks it away like he’s hiding evidence. “Dusty's a wanted man. Big bounty on his head. He was scared them hunters’d come sniffin’ ‘round and use Vi against him if they ever caught wind. Ethan and Esther couldn’t have kids, so they stepped up. Hell, they didn’t just help raise her... they fully raised her. Dusty just gave ‘em the occasional nudge, makin’ sure she learned how to fight if the world ever came knockin’.”
Something shifts in the sheriff then. A sort of restlessness, nerves, maybe even fear. He stands abruptly and strides toward Dane, leaning in so close Dane can smell the whiskey on his breath. The sheriff’s eyes are wild, fever-bright. “Who else knows?” he hisses. “Boy, you can’t tell nobody. You hear me? It’ll bring hellfire down on our town if word gets out. Might be this whole mess is already the start of it.”
He jerks his gaze toward Dane’s father. “We gotta find out who owns that vehicle from last night. And we need to track down this John Burger fella.” His boots start pacing the floor, back and forth, like a caged animal. For the first time since Dane’s known him, the sheriff looks… worried. Not angry. Not annoyed. Worried. "Ole Sheriff Halderbraan, back then, didn't know what he signed us all up for."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane leans back a fraction at the sudden intrusion into his personal space, then forces himself still. He sorts through possible responses, looking for the one most likely to calm the sheriff instead of pushing him further.
“One other person was with me while I was researching, but I think she still sees it all as a coincidence.” For the first time since the sheriff stepped into his space, Dane hesitates. Just for a second. Meg’s face flashes through his mind, along with the sick, immediate certainty that if this got her hurt, he would never forgive himself. “Either way, she wouldn’t say anything. She understands how dangerous this could be as much as I do.”
He returns the sheriff’s gaze, steadier than before, but there is a sharper edge to his focus than there was a moment ago. “Read me in, sir. I can help, but not if I don’t have all the facts. I need to know what I’m looking for.”
“One other person was with me while I was researching, but I think she still sees it all as a coincidence.” For the first time since the sheriff stepped into his space, Dane hesitates. Just for a second. Meg’s face flashes through his mind, along with the sick, immediate certainty that if this got her hurt, he would never forgive himself. “Either way, she wouldn’t say anything. She understands how dangerous this could be as much as I do.”
He returns the sheriff’s gaze, steadier than before, but there is a sharper edge to his focus than there was a moment ago. “Read me in, sir. I can help, but not if I don’t have all the facts. I need to know what I’m looking for.”
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane leans back a fraction at the sudden intrusion into his personal space, then forces himself still. He sorts through possible responses, looking for the one most likely to calm the sheriff instead of pushing him further. “One other person was with me while I was researching, but I think she still sees it all as a coincidence.” For the first time since the sheriff stepped into his space, Dane hesitates. Just for a second. Meg’s face flashes through his mind, along with the sick, immediate certainty that if this got her hurt, he would never forgive himself. “Either way, she wouldn’t say anything. She understands how dangerous this could be as much as I do.”
He returns the sheriff’s gaze, steadier than before, but there is a sharper edge to his focus than there was a moment ago. “Read me in, sir. I can help, but not if I don’t have all the facts. I need to know what I’m looking for.”
"Right." Joe takes a moment to think as George gives Dane his goofy 'woops' expression when Joe isn't looking. Finally, the sheriff clears his throat, "My apologies for my... stress. I already put an APB on that vehicle so the boys and Sherry'll have an eye out for it. Same with Marty, since he has a romantic eye for anything with a motor."
Mosley bursts back into the room, "So, I looked up any missing children's cases in the area. Only two stood out besides the cases in Fort Hammer. Interestingly, a young girl, last name Jones, had dyed her hair purple and disappeared for a week. When she returned, she swore she was going to be a champion boxer." George snorts, trying to hold back a laugh, causing Mosley to pause. He doesn't see the irony and continues, "Another 14 year old girl, named Violet, like the one that went missing in Fort Hammer, went missing about a month ago. Never seen again. Her parents call in daily for any updates to the case. Says here, 'The last time she was seen was heading to the falls to meet her friends. She never arrived.'"
The sheriff perks, "Now THAT's some fine work, Mosley." With renewed enthusiasm, the sheriff looks at Dane, "Scan those files in and yer dad and myself will go follow this lead." He taps his dad's shoulder, "Come on, deputy. Let's go shake some hives."
Mosley smirks as he watches for Dane's reaction.
He returns the sheriff’s gaze, steadier than before, but there is a sharper edge to his focus than there was a moment ago. “Read me in, sir. I can help, but not if I don’t have all the facts. I need to know what I’m looking for.”
"Right." Joe takes a moment to think as George gives Dane his goofy 'woops' expression when Joe isn't looking. Finally, the sheriff clears his throat, "My apologies for my... stress. I already put an APB on that vehicle so the boys and Sherry'll have an eye out for it. Same with Marty, since he has a romantic eye for anything with a motor."
Mosley bursts back into the room, "So, I looked up any missing children's cases in the area. Only two stood out besides the cases in Fort Hammer. Interestingly, a young girl, last name Jones, had dyed her hair purple and disappeared for a week. When she returned, she swore she was going to be a champion boxer." George snorts, trying to hold back a laugh, causing Mosley to pause. He doesn't see the irony and continues, "Another 14 year old girl, named Violet, like the one that went missing in Fort Hammer, went missing about a month ago. Never seen again. Her parents call in daily for any updates to the case. Says here, 'The last time she was seen was heading to the falls to meet her friends. She never arrived.'"
The sheriff perks, "Now THAT's some fine work, Mosley." With renewed enthusiasm, the sheriff looks at Dane, "Scan those files in and yer dad and myself will go follow this lead." He taps his dad's shoulder, "Come on, deputy. Let's go shake some hives."
Mosley smirks as he watches for Dane's reaction.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane thinks about the files Mosley found for a minute and thinks about offering his advice on them. He considers suggesting that, if they really want to find out more about where Vi went, they should interview the girl who came back with purple hair and a sudden interest in boxing. It sounds like she's trying to emulate Vi, which probably means she spent at least part of the time she was missing with her. He decides to keep that to himself for now. He can follow up on that line of thought later on his own, because he really doesn't want Vi brought back to Fort Hammer.
He doesn't react to Mosley's smirk. Dane does not really understand what the man thinks is funny. Maybe Mosley sees this as some kind of competition, but Dane doesn't. All he sees are a growing number of mysteries and a limited number of resources that might actually help solve them. "Mosley," Dane says at last, already shifting his attention back to the files, "can you give me a hand scanning the pages? If you lay them out in order, I can use my tablet linked to the server as a scanner and start putting them back into the database. It'll take time, but we can review the information as we enter it and see if anything else stands out."
He doesn't react to Mosley's smirk. Dane does not really understand what the man thinks is funny. Maybe Mosley sees this as some kind of competition, but Dane doesn't. All he sees are a growing number of mysteries and a limited number of resources that might actually help solve them. "Mosley," Dane says at last, already shifting his attention back to the files, "can you give me a hand scanning the pages? If you lay them out in order, I can use my tablet linked to the server as a scanner and start putting them back into the database. It'll take time, but we can review the information as we enter it and see if anything else stands out."
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane thinks about the files Mosley found for a minute and thinks about offering his advice on them. He considers suggesting that, if they really want to find out more about where Vi went, they should interview the girl who came back with purple hair and a sudden interest in boxing. It sounds like she's trying to emulate Vi, which probably means she spent at least part of the time she was missing with her. He decides to keep that to himself for now. He can follow up on that line of thought later on his own, because he really doesn't want Vi brought back to Fort Hammer.
He doesn't react to Mosley's smirk. Dane does not really understand what the man thinks is funny. Maybe Mosley sees this as some kind of competition, but Dane doesn't. All he sees are a growing number of mysteries and a limited number of resources that might actually help solve them. "Mosley," Dane says at last, already shifting his attention back to the files, "can you give me a hand scanning the pages? If you lay them out in order, I can use my tablet linked to the server as a scanner and start putting them back into the database. It'll take time, but we can review the information as we enter it and see if anything else stands out."
“Yes, I will.” He’s already moving before the words finish leaving his mouth. His workflow is almost unnervingly efficient. What should take hours collapses into minutes. Once Dane locates the right software, his tablet snaps into action. The scanner only needs a blink to capture each page, so as fast as he can lift a document into view, it’s done and ready for the next.
What feels like fifteen minutes turns out to be nearly an hour. By then, most of the paperwork; titles, forms, loose sheets have been scanned, filed, and indexed with crisp precision.
“So,” Mosley says, leaning back with the tone of a man about to unveil brilliance, “I’ve got a theory. What if the disappearance was intentional? And all these other sightings are just wild geese? The last girl the sheriff and George are checking out sounds legit, but the rest… not so much.” His smirk creeps back. “Someday, I’ll make detective.”
He doesn't react to Mosley's smirk. Dane does not really understand what the man thinks is funny. Maybe Mosley sees this as some kind of competition, but Dane doesn't. All he sees are a growing number of mysteries and a limited number of resources that might actually help solve them. "Mosley," Dane says at last, already shifting his attention back to the files, "can you give me a hand scanning the pages? If you lay them out in order, I can use my tablet linked to the server as a scanner and start putting them back into the database. It'll take time, but we can review the information as we enter it and see if anything else stands out."
“Yes, I will.” He’s already moving before the words finish leaving his mouth. His workflow is almost unnervingly efficient. What should take hours collapses into minutes. Once Dane locates the right software, his tablet snaps into action. The scanner only needs a blink to capture each page, so as fast as he can lift a document into view, it’s done and ready for the next.
What feels like fifteen minutes turns out to be nearly an hour. By then, most of the paperwork; titles, forms, loose sheets have been scanned, filed, and indexed with crisp precision.
“So,” Mosley says, leaning back with the tone of a man about to unveil brilliance, “I’ve got a theory. What if the disappearance was intentional? And all these other sightings are just wild geese? The last girl the sheriff and George are checking out sounds legit, but the rest… not so much.” His smirk creeps back. “Someday, I’ll make detective.”
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane nods, as if giving the idea serious weight while he tries to steer things away from the truth. "That makes sense. If the disappearance was intentional, then every odd sighting just helps muddy the real trail." He glances back at the newly indexed files. "The girl they went to check on sounds concrete. The rest could just be noise." .oO Are the Trents in town trying to track down Vi? Oo.
OOC: Did they come across any pictures or descriptions of the people trying to find their missing girl? I might have more to add, but I need to know the answer to that, first.
OOC: Did they come across any pictures or descriptions of the people trying to find their missing girl? I might have more to add, but I need to know the answer to that, first.
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
OOC: Unfortunately no.
Dane nods, as if giving the idea serious weight while he tries to steer things away from the truth. "That makes sense. If the disappearance was intentional, then every odd sighting just helps muddy the real trail." He glances back at the newly indexed files. "The girl they went to check on sounds concrete. The rest could just be noise." oO(Are the Trents in town trying to track down Vi?)Oo
Mosley seems to feed into it as he continues feeding files over, "And I don't know much about the case in your town, but wasn't she a mutant? Like some undefeated fighter because of her abilities?" Without realizing it, the two have finished scanning. "Woo! We finished! Want more coffee? I have a stash of chocolate chip cookies that my Nana made me."
Dane nods, as if giving the idea serious weight while he tries to steer things away from the truth. "That makes sense. If the disappearance was intentional, then every odd sighting just helps muddy the real trail." He glances back at the newly indexed files. "The girl they went to check on sounds concrete. The rest could just be noise." oO(Are the Trents in town trying to track down Vi?)Oo
Mosley seems to feed into it as he continues feeding files over, "And I don't know much about the case in your town, but wasn't she a mutant? Like some undefeated fighter because of her abilities?" Without realizing it, the two have finished scanning. "Woo! We finished! Want more coffee? I have a stash of chocolate chip cookies that my Nana made me."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Vi was a friend of mine. She was accused of being some kind of d-bee mutant by the townsfolk, but I'd known her for years and never once saw her do anything unnatural. You know how drunken mobs get, though. Once some knucklehead gets them riled up, they stop caring about facts."
Dane starts unplugging his hardware, checks the remaining power, then shuts everything down and stores it in his satchel. "All set. Let's go have some coffee and brainstorm where that vehicle might be hiding out. You can start by telling me more about Smith Falls, especially the places where something like that could be hidden. Maybe there are other buildings with security cameras we could check."
Dane starts unplugging his hardware, checks the remaining power, then shuts everything down and stores it in his satchel. "All set. Let's go have some coffee and brainstorm where that vehicle might be hiding out. You can start by telling me more about Smith Falls, especially the places where something like that could be hidden. Maybe there are other buildings with security cameras we could check."
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Vi was a friend of mine. She was accused of being some kind of d-bee mutant by the townsfolk, but I'd known her for years and never once saw her do anything unnatural. You know how drunken mobs get, though. Once some knucklehead gets them riled up, they stop caring about facts."
"Oh..." Mosley seems embarrassed, "I didn't know. So she ran because people are inherently stupid when it comes to stupidstitions." He nods to himself, trying to mask his ignorance.
Dane starts unplugging his hardware, checks the remaining power, then shuts everything down and stores it in his satchel. "All set. Let's go have some coffee and brainstorm where that vehicle might be hiding out. You can start by telling me more about Smith Falls, especially the places where something like that could be hidden. Maybe there are other buildings with security cameras we could check."
Mosley takes the opportunity to reset as he gets excited again. The duo reach the break room, pour some coffee as he produces a dozen moist chocolate chip cookies. "Yeah, cocoa is hard to come by an she made these! They're so good!" He slides half of the cookies to Dane as he resembles a blue Muppet devouring his first one. Afterwards, he thinks for a moment, taps his finger and then perks, "Yeah! The south side of town has several abandoned buildings. There are a few abandoned farms south of town and one north between here and Fort Hammer." He holds up his finger, remembering something, "And under the platform at the falls. We've caught people hiding contraband under them."
At that moment, Joe and George storm back in, sitting down with Dane and Mosley. The sheriff glances at the two, "I'm assuming the documents are scanned?" Mosley nods, but the sheriff frowns, "That's impossible... Show me." Mosley beams as he points his thumb at Dane, "His tablet is definitely something else!"
"Oh..." Mosley seems embarrassed, "I didn't know. So she ran because people are inherently stupid when it comes to stupidstitions." He nods to himself, trying to mask his ignorance.
Dane starts unplugging his hardware, checks the remaining power, then shuts everything down and stores it in his satchel. "All set. Let's go have some coffee and brainstorm where that vehicle might be hiding out. You can start by telling me more about Smith Falls, especially the places where something like that could be hidden. Maybe there are other buildings with security cameras we could check."
Mosley takes the opportunity to reset as he gets excited again. The duo reach the break room, pour some coffee as he produces a dozen moist chocolate chip cookies. "Yeah, cocoa is hard to come by an she made these! They're so good!" He slides half of the cookies to Dane as he resembles a blue Muppet devouring his first one. Afterwards, he thinks for a moment, taps his finger and then perks, "Yeah! The south side of town has several abandoned buildings. There are a few abandoned farms south of town and one north between here and Fort Hammer." He holds up his finger, remembering something, "And under the platform at the falls. We've caught people hiding contraband under them."
At that moment, Joe and George storm back in, sitting down with Dane and Mosley. The sheriff glances at the two, "I'm assuming the documents are scanned?" Mosley nods, but the sheriff frowns, "That's impossible... Show me." Mosley beams as he points his thumb at Dane, "His tablet is definitely something else!"
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7