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"I learned some concerning things regarding people that might be hunting Dusty and Violet, but honestly, I think Hummer should explain it to you. I don't want to speak for him." He pauses. "Just know that what happened at the festival doesn't seem isolated. There may be bigger players involved than I thought."

"I learned some concerning things regarding people that might be hunting Dusty and Violet, but honestly, I think Hummer should explain it to you. I don't want to speak for him." He pauses. "Just know that what happened at the festival doesn't seem isolated. There may be bigger players involved than I thought."

George shoots a look over his shoulder at Joe, who’s draped over the pickup’s hood like he’s sunbathing, chin propped on his forearms, listening to every word. Hummer’s door hisses open again, and his voice calmly rolls out with calm, polite, unsettlingly earnest. “Please climb inside of me.”

Joe explodes into laughter. “Yeah, George, go on then,” he calls, waving him forward. “Just climb right on into that self‑thinkin’ contraption. And remember," he winks at Dane, "Don’t gab with strangers and don’t get in strange vehicles.”

The sheriff barks out a laugh of his own, clapping Dane on the shoulder as he passes. “Go on, ease your lady’s concerns.” That’s all Dane needs. He bolts for the library, taking the steps two at a time like he always does.

Inside, Kendal and Meg are mid‑laugh, heads tipped together over some private joke. The moment Meg sees him, she breaks away and rushes over, throwing her arms around him in a hug that’s all warmth and relief. “Oh, thank God,” she breathes against his shoulder. “I was worried you’d gotten caught up in some violent case.” She leans back, her kind eyes searching his. “I’m glad it wasn’t. Did you get it solved?” Her voice soft, but the worry still clings to the edges of it, like she hasn’t fully convinced herself he’s safe yet.

Dane pulls her close, holding her for a long moment. "I missed you." He loosens his grip to look into her eyes. "It got complicated at one point, but I handled it. I was able to figure out what happened and helped recover most of the data." He pauses. "I need to go back next door to help with some questioning. As soon as I can, I'll come back and tell you everything."

He gives her one final hug and a quick kiss before stepping back. "Wait—what were you trying to say over the radio? About asking my dad something?"

As if noticing Kendal for the first time, he says, "Hey Kendal," with a friendly, lopsided smile, then heads for the door.

Dane pulls her close, holding her for a long moment. "I missed you." He loosens his grip to look into her eyes. "It got complicated at one point, but I handled it. I was able to figure out what happened and helped recover most of the data." He pauses. "I need to go back next door to help with some questioning. As soon as I can, I'll come back and tell you everything."

He gives her one final hug and a quick kiss before stepping back. "Wait—what were you trying to say over the radio? About asking my dad something?"

"I was just wondering if you had spoke with your dad about when you were getting paid for the job. I have a few fun ideas if you're interested."

Kendal seems to shy away, as if visual background noise.

As if noticing Kendal for the first time, he says, "Hey Kendal," with a friendly, lopsided smile, then heads for the door.

She seems apprehensive, then finally smiles, characteristically sweeping her hair back, "Hi, Dane. I missed you. How've you been?"

"Good question. I'm not sure when I'm getting paid." Dane says to Meg. "I'll find out."

"What? Oh, good." he responds to Kendal distractedly as he heads out the door. He calls out "The three of us should get together for a burger."

"Good question. I'm not sure when I'm getting paid." Dane says to Meg. "I'll find out."

Kendal seems to shy away, as if visual background noise.

As if noticing Kendal for the first time, he says, "Hey Kendal," with a friendly, lopsided smile, then heads for the door.

She seems apprehensive, then finally smiles, characteristically sweeping her hair back, "Hi, Dane. I missed you. How've you been?"

"What? Oh, good." he responds to Kendal distractedly as he heads out the door. He calls out "The three of us should get together for a burger."

"Why not now?" Kendal suggests.

Megan becomes visibly excited, "That's a great idea! I haven't taken a lunch yet. Dane? Would you like to meet us there?"

As if on cue, George stands at the top of the library steps, hand outstretched with a pile of credits, "As promised, you did your job. Stick around town, we still may need you."

OOC: Added 15,000 credits to your inventory

Dane looks at the credits, his eyes widening at the sight of more money than he’s ever had. For a moment, his mind races with possibilities—until the reality of the situation sets back in. “What about Hummer? You don’t need my help talking to him? The sheriff didn’t seem very willing to listen. Maybe you and I can keep the lines of communication open.”

Dane looks at the credits, his eyes widening at the sight of more money than he’s ever had. For a moment, his mind races with possibilities, until the reality of the situation sets back in. “What about Hummer? You don’t need my help talking to him? The sheriff didn’t seem very willing to listen. Maybe you and I can keep the lines of communication open.”

"Dane, he isn't too keen on me being involved, let alone you. I think he knows more than he's letting on and I don't like secrets around me," he nods to the credits, "That's a lot of money there, more than I make in a year. What do you plan to do with it?"

Meg smiles as Kendal comments, "That's what I make per episode... Wow, Dane. You did that in half a day."

George sighs, "I have to get back, but don't get crazy and spend it all. That's a once in a lifetime amount of money for something you seemed to have fun doing." He stares up the street towards the justice center. Hummer is already out of sight. So is the sheriff's truck... "Looks like he's already got Marty involved," he starts trotting down the steps as Kendal and Megan step outside.

"Lunch?" Megan smiles, taking Dane's hand.

Dane notices Kendal watching, oddly with an expression that he could only guess is jealousy.

Dane flashes back to the flirtatious start of the ill-fated festival last summer and the brief connection he shared with Kendal. The memory triggers a rapid cascade of thoughts, resolving into a confusing mix of excitement and guilt—excitement that someone as beautiful and accomplished as Kendal could show any interest in a tall, gangly geek with a face only a mother… and apparently Meg… could love; and guilt that part of him might have an emotional attachment to someone other than Megan.

Almost instinctively, he begins to dissect the feelings, but his more logical side interrupts, filing the problem away as something that can't be resolved in the moment. For now, the best path is to simply be himself.

With a bright, lopsided grin, he says, “Come on, Kendal. I’m buying lunch today.”

Dane notices Kendal watching, oddly with an expression that he could only guess is jealousy. Dane flashes back to the flirtatious start of the ill-fated festival last summer and the brief connection he shared with Kendal. The memory triggers a rapid cascade of thoughts, resolving into a confusing mix of excitement and guilt. Excitement that someone as beautiful and accomplished as Kendal could show any interest in a tall, gangly geek with a face only a mother… and apparently Meg… could love; and guilt that part of him might have an emotional attachment to someone other than Megan.

Almost instinctively, he begins to dissect the feelings, but his more logical side interrupts, filing the problem away as something that can't be resolved in the moment. For now, the best path is to simply be himself. With a bright, lopsided grin, he says, “Come on, Kendal. I’m buying lunch today.”

Kendal lingers a few steps behind the couple, half smiling, half lost in her own thoughts, until she realizes she’s drifting and hurries to catch up. The evening air is cool, carrying the faint hum of cold wind and the distant thump of music from their destination. A heavy set of footsteps approaches from behind with steady, purposeful determination. A burly man in gray sweatpants and a red windbreaker falls into stride beside her, matching her pace without a word.

Meg slows, eyes narrowing. “Uhh… excuse me? Who’re you?”

Kendal winces before answering. “I… I ummm… have bodyguards now.”

Meg blinks. “Really? Here?”

“People are insane sometimes.” Kendal exhales, long and tired, like she’s remembering a version of her life that didn’t require shadows trailing her. “I’ll tell you more later.”

They continue down the dirt road, the four of them moving like an oddly assembled procession; two friends, a celebrity trying not to look like one, and a silent sentinel who scans every doorway they pass.

By the time they reach Bottoms Up, the wooden sign sparks a warm welcoming feeling for Dane. Inside, the bar feels familiar with low chatter, clinking glasses, the soft haze of fryer oil and old wood. Felix and Angie spot them instantly. Their faces light up, wide grins blooming like they’ve just watched a hometown hero walk through the door. Young Mason is at the pool table, as always, sending balls skittering in chaotic directions with no real plan except enthusiasm.

Angie leans over the counter, elbows planted, voice bright. “Hi kids! Sorry, but Frank and the boys are still at the job in Rifle Ridge.” She waves a hand dismissively, still smiling. “But it’s real good to see you three! What’re you having? The usual?”

The warmth of the place wraps around them, familiar and grounding, even with a bodyguard standing awkwardly at their backs, trying to blend into a room that’s already noticed him.