#bergen_county

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"Frank, are you sure?" Dame Anne Marie says startled.

The belated answer from Symon comes- he's doing a day tour of the med buildings.. nothing so extended as Dagmar’s camp, but he'll be back on the afternoon bus.

Somewhere, Vali types back a thanks

While Frank finds himself being given a coffee with all the fixins at the Lee house

"Thank you, Mrs. Lee." he takes and sips the coffee "Yes, I'm sure."

"I'm a social worker, I try to keep in touch about any news of young women on the down and outs. Not that the lads aren't in danger too, but you know..well I don't have to tell you about crime statistics" She frowns "You've traveled enough to see. That store is new. You mentioned both carving and painting came from there. Do you think the girl sold both?"

"I asked about the clock and the painting I had the carving in my pocket but I thought it would be suspicious if I asked about it. You know?"

A nod "Might go from helpful and worried to stalker"

"If she sold the painting and the carving, she might benefit from the sale of the clock even if she didn't carry it in. It's a grandfather clock. I could carry it, but someone shorter than the proprietor? It would look strange, at the least."

Then Frank -frowns-. "Oh." a thought has occured.

"Oh?"

He speaks slowly. "Something had been... in the back of my mind about all this. I think it just came into focus."

A nod, patient

He takes a cognitive moment. "A few years ago... a kinain brought a book to Brekke's attention. It ended up in the Mountain's library, I think. It almost accurately described Fae and Concordia. It was found in a gaming store. Zane was there when it was found. The similarity of such revealing items is... disconcerting."

"I have to wonder if that gaming store is still there. Do you think Symon would be familiar with it from a few years ago?"

"Symon, most likely. He does love his RPG games. I'm afraid he's out today"

Frank nods. "When he comes back, then." still frowning.

"Remind me more of what happened at that store? Was a redheaded woman seen there that you know?"

"The gaming store? She was not, that I know of. The book was found in a bargin bin, I think."

"Sometimes dreamers tap into what's real without realizing it, but this IS an alarming amount"

"And, we do not know for certain yet that the red-haired woman is mortal, or a Dreamer, or... well, much of anything."

"True. " She ponders and looks over some files

"About that clock, she couldn't carry it. So less likely it's her? And if it is her, she's not alone"

Frank nods. "Quickest way to find out, I suppose, is to go back and buy it. Need a truck, though, which isn't a problem."

"I can go back to buy it, ask more about where it came from and how. Hagsgate Estate, though... hard to believe that's a fluke. I've lived around here and traveled around the area for years. Never heard of it."

"Except in that movie."

"Remarkably faithful to the book, but then I think Mr. Beagle helped with the script"

"Mm."

"In the movie and book, the clock was a secret entrance to the passage to the cave of the Redbull" SHe ponders

An eyebrow. "I think Kerri will forgive use of the funds, then."

"Nonsense, While I didn't marry him for his money, Bruce is paid well. You'll at least allow me to chip in.. I'm a knight of House Liam too now"

The Dame rises and heads towards some kitchen mittens hanging on a wall. One of them, seeming seldom used, is pulled off, and she pulls out some money "Let me chip in for 300?"

Frank shifts uncomfortably "I believe it would be seen as an expense for the Barony, Dame..." more formally.

"And am I not a part of the barony?" A brow lift, "A knight , no less. Or is that merely an honorific with no expections of noblisse oblige on my part ,Sir?"

"I will accept the funds on the condition that we both agree to obey the Hearth in terms of final settlement when she returns." Frank compromises.

"Oh my goodness, so stubborn. Very well" She hands over the 300 dollars "Though don't think I won't try to sway her to seeing things my way"

"Thank you. I expect nothing less." Frank says gravely. "I'll go back in the morning, I'm sure he's closed by now. Oh, I think Vali is asking Tig to be acting Storm. Gerd was covering Hearth at the time, she might be taking Hearth-point on this one. I'll be calling my contacts in the morning but I think I'm going to patrol some areas before I go back to the Lodge. Places I know the unhoused go."

"My word. I do hope that quest goes well and I know the places too. I'll hit my contact list and call while you go in person."

OOC Sorry, please adjust as needed.

Frank nods. "Thank you for the coffee." and heads out.

"You're welcome" She says as he races off. SHe ponders Lut as Storm, "Oh dear, his fiance is going to wonder why. I better enchant her"

OOC Racing might be pushing a bit. He's walking to his street vehicle and tends to drive conservatively out of habit....

OOC: He has long legs. 😛 One step is a rush 😉

OOC From Anne Marie's PoV, yes.

So he heads out to the less-attractive areas of town. Places you can sleep mostly unmolested. All-night coffe dives with baked-in urns that produce bitter tar. Bus stations. On the outskirts, SRO motels and truck stops.

He approaches one area, where a woman is complaining to an officer "Well, can't you DO something about them? they've set up tents near my store!"

The officer says "Miss, they're on public property and they're not blocking traffic."

Frank pauses to listen.

"It's discouraging customers, and they don't shop" SHe fusses