#anywhere

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meanwhile, INSIDE the lodge

Kerri is texting Anne Marie again: Anything?

Text: As a matter of fact, she's had medical problems.. dizzyiness, and so on.

TXT: Is she Autumn? Dauntain?

TXT: Not Dauntain, thank god. But she is leading Gerd down a dangerous habit. Possibly borderline autumn.

TXT: Can you get me an address?

TXT 1250 Church Row

TXT: I'm going over there. Will let you know how it goes. Thank you, A-M!

TXT: You sure you want to go alone?

TXT: Nope. Company appreciated, if you have the time.

TXT: Meet you there, or want me to drop by the lodge and we go together then?

TXT: Meet here. I have a notion.

TXT: Be there in ten or less And now, Kerri has sometime to kill for prep

She rummages around the Lodge until she locates what she's looking for...one of Sylvi's older books, something from when she was closer to Gerd's age. She wants to do some stress-baking, but there's no time for that, so she at least gets a load of laundry started.

And then soon enough there's a knock at the door.

Kerri answers it and let's the boggan in, explaining her idea. "Honestly, I'm not sure how to approach this if she's not kin or kith. And I guess, really, I'm not sure how to approach it if she is. But I need to see her. I'm going to say Gerd said this was Erika's book and I thought I'd drop it off for her. It sounds lame to me, but...I just need to see the girl."

"Not a bad plan," The boggan pulls out a scarf of black "Less generic than this"

A smile. "Well, if I'm on boggan wave-length, then I'm on the right track. Let's go."

"Ha, Kerri, we really ought to adopt you"

"We?"

"The boggan kith, if nothing else, to reclaim the bragging point of the best cooks being short and round" The two head out "Your car or mine?"

"No offense, but mine has the legroom." Apologetic. "And thank you for the compliment." They head out and get in the car, and Kerri sighs as they start off. "I'm just so mad at myself that I didn't see this before now."

"Kerri, trained professionals miss this sort of thing at times," She says as she gets into the seat "It's a tragedy that despite decades of warning and easy access to details on the dangers, anorexia and bulimia continue to be a threat to thousands"

"I know, but...well, it's Gerd. I should have known this was more than just a phase, that there was something outside that was influencing her. And I'm trying like crazy not to let her know I know, not yet, but I really want to police her every moment."

"Have you told Vali yet? he's her guardian"

"....No."

A troll looking sheepish is not a pleasant sight.

"Oh, Kerri...." A boggan tisking is not unheard of.

"I know...I just...I wanted to try to fix it before he knows."

A sigh. "Maybe I'm acting too much like Sylvi in that, but...well, apple and tree, I guess."

"Ha, don't let your daughter hear that. " Then a sigh "Okay. Yes, we... mmm"

She drives to the address on Church Row.

"Mmm?"

"Well, tell him you wanted my opinion before you 'jumped to conclusions'?"

Kerri nods. "And wanted to see the girl first-hand."

"Which is true" She says as they stop at the address "Nothing that can't be smoothed over"

"Knock on wood. Okay...let's see what we can see. The parents' last name is Renner, too?"

"Oh yes, pardon, Michael and Caitlyn Renner" She's done her work

Kerri nods, glad she can count on Anne-Marie to be thorough. The two head up to the entrance to the ((house? apartment?))

House. It's a house.

Kerri rings the bell.

It takes a moment....

And the door opens, a grown man comes out, looking a bit tired... but dressed in a suit minus the tie

Kerri smiles. "Hi, ah...Mr. Renner?"

"Yes, can I help you?" He seems surprised, but then, some men ARE Surprised by women as tall as they... even her mortal side

Tall, yes, but athletic and...well, to be honest, has got sort of a Stacy's Mom thing going on. "Hi, I'm Kerri Davidson. My niece, Gerd, is friends with your daughter Erika. I was wondering if she's home? I think we have something of hers."

"Oh, yes, Gerd, great kid, very lively imaginative girl" He says , "You've got something? I can jjust take it to her, 'it's no trouble. "

Kerri beams at the compliment of Gerd. "Well, I'm not sure if it's hers. Gerd said it might be, but it was still in the house today, so I figured I'd bring it over and check. Does it look familiar?" She holds out the book. "Oh, and sorry, this is my friend, Anne-Marie."

"A pleasure" Anne Marie says holding out her hand, he shakes her hand.