#rivervale_lodge

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(Time Bubble)

Brekke strides out of the Lodge, scowling, and seeks out Frank, first by the rig.

He's tinkering on it there.

"Frank," she says, and her tone clearly says problem.

He looks up, alert, immediately. "Brekke?" He grabs a rag and cleans his hands. "What's wrong?"

"Jessica telephoned. She is safe," she says immediately to allay that concern. "She had a question we need to discuss." A nod to the cab of the rig.

He nods and opens the door for her before climbing in after.

Brekke settles in and waits for him before beginning. "Jessica called about the human trafficking. She asked if it is possible that...that Mr. Billingsworth might be involved in the transport, building off of the connections made as we were trying to help immigrants past the border." A tense look.

Frank looks stunned. "What made her think that?"

She shakes her head. "She only said that the question had been raised."

Frank sinks back in his seat, thinking... and perhaps searching memories.

She waits silently.

A slow, hesitant head shake in the negative. "I.... I would not -think- so. Not the boggan I knew. Yes, he was and is unseelie. But. His motivation was to weaken the nobility, the Sidhe.

"If trafficking in that kind of misery would do it. Yes. But that is not what is happening here. Is it?"

Brekke's turn to think. "I do not know him well enough. I know he was part of rescuing that dreamer here, so long ago...but...that was long ago. I do not know his motivation now. If the profit were good...would that do it?"

Another long pause.

"His motivation -now-? There is... that woman. That club. Is all that real?"

"If it is, and he needs money for it...." His frown deepens to a scowl. "I don't know. Even then. I don't know."

She considers...then nods. "As much as was said directly was true, when we visited."

"Yes. Exactly. And...he is the one we turned to for the means, the connections."

"We did." Grim, resigned.

"I think...it is possible."

"We must find out."

"It was true when he said. He loved her?"

A pause, checking her memory, and a nod. "It was."

"I believe he would view that admission as a weakness."

"I believe you. I just have. Trouble believing it."

And he nods. "The boggan I knew saw love as a weakness."

"A way to be exploited, yes."

Frank nods.

"Frank...do we ask him directly? Or is there a better way? I am not subtle..." she confesses the obvious with a tone of apology.

"And I am?" He rumbles with amusement.

She sighs. Then... "I do not wish to put any on his bad side. He is dangerous. But either we ask him directly, or we send somebody more subtle than we to investigate."

Frank thinks about it.

A sigh. "Someone subtle, who we do not mind exposing to him. You know how he can manipulate."

"I do, yes. So it may be best that we confront him directly."

A grunt. "When?"

She considers. "We must tell Vali before we begin, and Kerri of course, but sooner is better."

"Within the week."

Frank nods. "And Olgar."

She nods seriously.

Frank exhales heavily.

"Frank...if we are wrong, if he is not involved...would it make sense to get him involved? To seek his...resources...to interrupt, or at least inform about the trafficking?"

Frank looks dubious. "You want to involve him?"

"There will be a cost."

"At least, there -would- have been."

"I do not want to. But if it would save people...."

"A last resort?"

She nods.

He nods; they are in agreement.