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Dane’s still not sure whether they’re talking about the same Violet, but either way, there’s a girl in trouble. “Thank you for trusting me. You know we should tell my dad, though, right? He’ll know what to do to protect you and your mom.” Dane casts an involuntary glance around for the mysterious white van, even though he’s fairly sure they’ve already moved on, chasing another lead.

Dane’s still not sure whether they’re talking about the same Violet, but either way, there’s a girl in trouble. “Thank you for trusting me. You know we should tell my dad, though, right? He’ll know what to do to protect you and your mom.” Dane casts an involuntary glance around for the mysterious white van, even though he’s fairly sure they’ve already moved on, chasing another lead. Yep, it's nowhere in sight.

"You can't tell him that I told you. They'll know," she buries her face into her knees.

Joe and his dad exit the house. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Adelman. We'll let you know if we find anything." George says.

"Okay, Amber. You can keep watching your show." her mom announces. Amber touches Dane's shoulder, flashing a brief worried look as she uses her hair to hide her face from Joe and his dad.

"Okay, kiddo," his dad pats his back, "Next stop. Repair shop guys."

Dane glances at his dad and speaks softly—quiet enough that Amber and her mother won’t overhear. “Can you give me a minute? I’ll explain later.” Before his dad can respond, he straightens a little and calls out more loudly. “Ms. Adelman, I gotta go to the bathroom. Can I use yours real quick? I really shouldn’t have had that much coffee before we left.”

[OOC: If she agrees…]

“Thanks,” Dane says quickly. “I’m sure Amber can show me where it is.” Once they’re out of earshot, he slows and awkwardly gestures for Amber to stop. He avoids her eyes for a second. “I—I don’t actually have to go to the bathroom,” he admits. “I just… I had one more question. Please.” He takes a breath, visibly forcing his racing thoughts to line up long enough to form actual words. “If you can at least tell me what they looked like, I—I’ll know to avoid those guys if I ever run into them.” He clearly means to sound concerned and reassuring, but whatever expression crosses his face probably comes out more intense than intended.

Dane glances at his dad and speaks softly—quiet enough that Amber and her mother won’t overhear. “Can you give me a minute? I’ll explain later.” Before his dad can respond, he straightens a little and calls out more loudly. “Ms. Adelman, I gotta go to the bathroom. Can I use yours real quick? I really shouldn’t have had that much coffee before we left.”

"Uh... sure..." she replies, suspiciously side-eying him.

“Thanks,” Dane says quickly. “I’m sure Amber can show me where it is.” Once they’re out of earshot, he slows and awkwardly gestures for Amber to stop. He avoids her eyes for a second. “I—I don’t actually have to go to the bathroom,” he admits. “I just… I had one more question. Please.” He takes a breath, visibly forcing his racing thoughts to line up long enough to form actual words. “If you can at least tell me what they looked like, I—I’ll know to avoid those guys if I ever run into them.” He clearly means to sound concerned and reassuring, but whatever expression crosses his face probably comes out more intense than intended.

Amber laughs, "Nice. You're acting needs work." She glances towards the corner, both Dane and her know that her mom's eavesdropping. "There's only two guys that work for the company. They're brothers and live in a loft above their shop. You better catch them!"

"Yeah, they didn't exactly teach acting where I went to school. I'll do everything I can to help catch these guys before they hurt anyone." He gives Amber a quick nod and heads back outside to rejoin the men.

Once they're all climbing into the truck, Dane begins to explain. "She told me something you should know. Two guys in a white van grabbed Vi right in front of her. She saw it happen, and they almost took her too." He pauses. "They threatened to kill her and her mom if either of them talked. That's why she didn't say anything in there."

He fills them in on everything Amber told him — the brothers, the loft above the shop, the floor repair business — just in case her mom had left anything out.

"Yeah, they didn't exactly teach acting where I went to school. I'll do everything I can to help catch these guys before they hurt anyone." He gives Amber a quick nod and heads back outside to rejoin the men.

"Be safe, Dane. I hope we see each other again," she kindly smiles as though she hasn't witnessed a horrific kidnapping. George's eyebrow elevates as knowing grin spreads across his expression.

Once they're all climbing into the truck, Dane begins to explain. "She told me something you should know. Two guys in a white van grabbed Vi right in front of her. She saw it happen, and they almost took her too." He pauses. "They threatened to kill her and her mom if either of them talked. That's why she didn't say anything in there."

He fills them in on everything Amber told him, the brothers, the loft above the shop, the floor repair business, just in case her mom had left anything out.

Joe stops the vehicle around the corner, turns in the driver's seat to get a better view of Dane, "Is that right?" he smiles, reaching over Dane's shoulder and high fiving George, "I reckon that I owe you guys lunch. I lost that wager."

"Dane, what sounds good for lunch? You did amazing work. Oh! Hold that thought, we're here!" his dad squeezes his shoulder as Joe continues driving then arrives, less than a few blocks from the Adelman's. The sheriff parks in front of a medium sized shop, called 'Fritz Home Repair and Maintenance' shop, with the catchy phrase, "We can fix what's on the Fritz!" There is a large, white, windowless van on the far side of a beat up looking dark green jeep.

Through a glass door, Dane observes a hulk of a man, sporting a few arm tattoos and well kept dark hair, talking with a woman, seemingly pointing at some things in some sort of book. Behind them are a set of hallways and what looks like a stairwell at the far end.

Joe and George trade a knowing nod, "Dane," the sheriff starts, “Dane,” the sheriff rumbles, “soon as your dad asks to use their restroom, I need you conjurin’ up a distraction. Anything’ll do. Point is, we gotta get him up them steps. That clear enough?”

The assignment catches Dane off guard. He'd fully expected to be told to wait in the truck.

He recovers quickly and scans the area — eyes moving methodically through the immediate possibilities: the glass storefront, the man inside, the van on the far side of the lot, the beat-up jeep. oO( Maybe the van or the jeep has an alarm I can trip. Pull their attention outside. Trip both and make it even more obnoxious. )Oo His gaze shifts back through the glass to the counter area. oO( And if that won't work, maybe they've got a terminal I can mess with. )Oo He spends another few seconds looking around before he responds.

OOC: Anything else in the area that might be useful?

The assignment catches Dane off guard. He'd fully expected to be told to wait in the truck. He recovers quickly and scans the area — eyes moving methodically through the immediate possibilities: the glass storefront, the man inside, the van on the far side of the lot, the beat-up jeep. oO(Maybe the van or the jeep has an alarm I can trip. Pull their attention outside. Trip both and make it even more obnoxious)Oo His gaze shifts back through the glass to the counter area. oO(And if that won't work, maybe they've got a terminal I can mess with)Oo He spends another few seconds looking around before he responds.

As the trio step out of the truck and head toward the shop, Dane notices what looks like a telephone sitting on the far side of the counterman’s desk. If only he could make it ring then his computer skills might actually be useful for once. The jeep looks too old to have anything more advanced than basic door locks anyway.

Inside, light snow drifts past the windows. The shopkeeper with tattoos, neatly styled hair, and an easy smile, glances up from a catalog. “I’ll be with you folks in just a moment,” he says, tapping a page for the woman in front of him. “What about this pattern? We laminate old pre‑cataclysm coins into the flooring. Costs more, but it’s been getting popular.”

Joe and George drift toward the back of the room, Joe occasionally glancing at the stairs. Dane lingers awkwardly near the counter, eyeing the computer setup behind it, consisting of a terminal, a credit reader and a printer. Something thumps upstairs, like someone shifting boxes.

The woman finally nods. “Yeah, let’s go with that.” She tucks her long bangs behind her ear, smiling at the shopkeeper in a way that suggests she likes him.

“Perfect,” he beams. “My brother will be up later today to take measurements.”

“Would you come do it?” she asks, still smiling.

“I suppose I could. We’ll let you know. Give me an hour and we can call or send a messenger.” He squeezes her hand. She holds on a few seconds too long before finally letting go and heading out.

Only then does he look up at George, Dane, and Joe. “How can I help you guys?” His eyes catch the sheriff’s star and the deputy badge. His smile dims a shade.

Joe steps forward. “Yeppers! We'd caught wind that you’re the local flooring geniuses. Wanted to gander some of your designs which might match a case we’re workin'.”

George wanders toward the elevator, pretending to study a poster of window styles.

“Of course,” the man says, pulling out a thick book of samples. “Anything specific you’re looking for?”

“Maybe,” the sheriff replies with a shrug. “Some kind of checkered triangle pattern. Black and white, I think.”

“Hey, do you guys have a restroom I could use? I’ve been holding it forever…” Dane’s dad finally asks.

The moment his dad asks about the restroom, Dane's eyes cut to the terminal. That's the signal. He drifts a half-step closer to the counter — close enough. He doesn't touch anything. He doesn't have to. Or at least, that's how his new ability seems to work.

oO( Okay. Find something loud. Error alerts, audio output, whatever's on it — just make it impossible to ignore. If there's any embarrassing audio or video on there, even better. )Oo

He reaches out with his mind and tries to make contact with the machine. oO( Please work. Please, please work. )Oo

The moment his dad asks about the restroom, Dane's eyes cut to the terminal. That's the signal. He drifts a half-step closer to the counter... close enough. He doesn't touch anything. He doesn't have to. Or at least, that's how his new ability seems to work.

oO(Okay. Find something loud. Error alerts, audio output, whatever's on it, just make it impossible to ignore. If there's any embarrassing audio or video on there, even better)Oo He reaches out with his mind and tries to make contact with the machine. oO(Please work. Please, please work)Oo

He finds it! The sound of pornographic moaning blasts from its speakers. The woman climbs into her jeep, but Dane's sure that she heard something as she starts it up. It's loud, almost drowning out the noise of the orgy on the terminal. At that moment, Dane finds the software controls for their phone, causing it to ring. When he glances up, he notices that his dad already took off, he isn't even sure where.

"What the hell?" the guy frowns, desperately trying to turn off the noise, but dealing with backup up paging and memory.

"Oh I hate when that happens! Wife caught me one day! WhoooWee!" Joe keeps the guy's attention as long as possible.

Dane feels mentally tired at this point. Something's bothering him though. He saw something but can't quite remember what it was. It was only for a split second within the foremost prefetch files. (OOC: Only 15 ISP left)