#anywhere

Frank thinks back; does he know a Lonegarden?

Yes, good fellow. House brother in good standing. He doesnt know him well but he knows the guy's rep

Frank regards the outspoken pooka covertly.

A goat pooka, who one might mistake for a satyr at first

And he's speaking up "He's a Liam, you can't trust Liam, so that makes him perfect for not being trusted, see? "

Certainly makes him a good scape.... goat. Frank thinks with a slight wince.

"Bill E. No one buys what you're selling, the chronos showed him knocking her out"

Bill E groans, "DEEP FAKE"

A good question, not mentioned sadly

Frank listens to find out if the Countess had any enemies; motive, opportunity, means.... chronos shows she was assaulted and incapacitiated. Means. What about motive and opportunity?

The Countess was much loved by the locals, it is the COMMON folk who are paying the reward in bulk but there is another noble willing to aid to the reward. A baron. Most can't understand WHY anyone would do this.

Completely without enemies? he finds it hard to believe. Does he get a feeling for her House?

FIona, she actually sided with commoners during the Accordance war.. and there's a reason for her to have enemies, among her own kith and fellow nobles

But not among Liam. Frank feels fairly certain.

Indeed, some Fiona ARE disgusted by Liam's oathbroken status. The Gwydions are better, if haughty allies to the Broken oak house, but Liam were most often neutral in the war

When his food arrives, he eats steadily, thinking. He can and will notify his contacts in the House to let them know of Lonegarden's situation. He makes the name Bill E, as well.

He tries to recall anything he knows of the area and its politics.

It does arrive. and what a mess politically.. the Duchy of Dogwood claims both Virginia and West virginia... but Wv is also referred to as the Duchy Of winterhtorn

though claimed by the Duchy of Dogwood, the region that encompasses West Virginia has declared its independence and now seeks recognition as a duchy. Populated primarily by commoners with a few sidhe in residence, including its "Duke" Gwrhyr ap Gwydion, this region disavows its connection to the more aristocratic, sophisticated changelings east of the mountains.

That right there is motive. Blaming a Liam is easy. Opportunity and means?

So it would seem

The Countess supported Gwyrhyr over the Duke of Dogwood

Which would make sense, politically; it could even put her in the position of 'First Countess' of the area, so to speak.

The tower Lonegarden is in is, no doubt, at the County or Duchy seat?

The County seat

The waitress shoots him dirty looks. He is, after all, a Liam. Her service is prompt and good, but she clearly wants him to eat and move on

He -does- have a load to haul.

Indeed. He's made good time, but no point in letting that erode to nothing

There it is, then. He'll call his House contacts from the Rig and give them the info.

Bill E stomps off muttering "Somewhere there's a one armed man!"

But clearly they're glad to see the pooka leave

Frank finishes up, puts the money for the bill and a 25% tip (because he's a good guy) on the table, and heads out as well.

Just behind Bill E.

Bill E does not appear aware of the big man behind him, and is talking to himself "Oh sure, the Liam did it... like the lady in church told me, how CONVEEENIANT'"

Frank clears his throat. " 'Scuse me. Did I hear you called Bill?"

"Eeeee" he says "Bill EEEEE... no Y, because Why is a question that makes folks think and they HATE that, around here anyway" He's a wilder, though his goatee makes him look a bit older "Do I owe you money? The check's in the mail if so"

"No, I don't think we've met. Seems you don't agree with the general opinion about Lonegarden."

"Care to talk?"

The pooka looks at him cautiously, then says "Your dime. But I gotta warn you, pooka wisdom is a bit too transcendental for some"

"I'm familiar. My Rig's over there, if you want. I have coffee."

"Oh hell, you had me at Black Oil" He follows Frank, and makes a sniffing motion "You're with the Lee and Am legal team yourself, aren't you?"

"No. Just a brother." Frank opens the cab for the pooka, checking casually to see if they have been noticed.

Looks like that boggan waitress has her nose pressed against a window. Well, it's going to be on the gossip chain no doubt

No help for that. Frank moves around and gets in. He tells Bill E about the boggan.

Bill E hops in, "Well, the man could use a lawyer. Lonegarden has been 'seen ' on Chronos Tee Vee. Deep Fake I say. They rewound the where but not the Who, which is the name of some one hit wonder band by the way." At mention of the boggan he snorts "So much noise, so brittle signal"

"You don't think he did it; who did?"

"Let's see... does anyone want a noble hold currently unoccupied? mmm"

"the Countess was like a west virgina dolly parton, basked in the wig of saint hood, but saints get martyred, don't they?"

Frank nods. "Who stands to profit from her absence?"