"If we can reason with her," Elton says. "If we can find her. She's in Ashfield, about a half hour north of—"
You both get a text. It's Daphne Clear.
CrestFolder180IQ Elton you have left a trail that a blind chihuahua could follow.
CrestFolder180IQ Cease all activities.
Elton spends several minutes thumbing in a response, angrily writing and then deleting. Finally he settles on—
BridesheadReloaded No
An immediate response from Ms. Clear:
CrestFolder180IQ The men you two killed were Brian Lannery, USAF (killed by Matulo in New York State) and Doug Nguyen, a Holyoke police officer, killed by Elton yesterday. Electrocuted!
CrestFolder180IQ Those were citizens!!
"I shouldn't have used a levinbolt, she's got me there," Elton says.
Elton can shoot lightning. You file away that unusual and alarming fact.
CrestFolder180IQ I'll be spending all month cleaning this up.
"Tell her how much we've learned already. We already figured out that Banicki was making the horse monsters."
"This lady hasn't done shit and now she's ordering us around? Should I text 'fuck off' or do you want to?"
This is above my pay grade—Elton is my elder and Daphne is probably his. I stay out of it.
"We need help if we're tangling with legitimate citizens. Can we get Daphne on board with us?"
Next
"I'll handle it, thank you," the theurge says. Elton keeps his words civil, but he reminds Ms. Clear that she was actually never a member of the Broad Brook Caern—her ex-husband was—and that this is not really her business. She argues (somewhat convincingly, you're forced to admit) that covering up activities that legally count as murder is exactly her business as a Glass Walker. Elton is determined, but Ms. Clear is adamant.
CrestFolder180IQ The Hampshire County Sheriff's office had descriptions of both of you.
CrestFolder180IQ I deleted them.
CrestFolder180IQ I'm not your enemy Elton. But I need time to hide your activities.
CrestFolder180IQ One month. Study what you can, stay in town. Stay out of sight.
CrestFolder180IQ The Answering Tiger's angets are looking for you.
"Oh no, what are angets?" you ask.
CrestFolder180IQ *agents
"Oh," you say.
BridesheadReloaded Fine
"'Fine'? Why are we listening to some middle-aged hacker with a desk job?"
"How much can we get done while stuck in town?" I still want to do something.
"Okay, fine, but I want this Glass Walker's help, not just her promise that she's protecting us."
"Well, I guess I need to make enough money to cover my rent."
Next