Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} One of the remaining tarps conceals a 2015 cream colored L-Class Mercedes convertible, Emily’s car. They learn from Miss Addie, while they pay the motel bill, where the Sheriff’s house is. The session ended as they tell Sheriff Douglas that they found Emily’s car and where they found it. The last words of the session were the sheriff saying, “lets to talk to Bridger." Shifter, Paladin, and Sheriff Douglas head to Bridger’s house. They find the mechanic on his front porch enjoying a pipe and some homemade brew (moonshine?). After the sheriff questions him about the Mercedes convertible that was found in his salvage yard. Bridger said that he was going to jury-rig a repair of the broken axle but when Tamara and Emily came by Tamara insisted on paying for a proper repair. Bridger sent his brother Bud to the city to get the right parts for the car. He then fixed it proper. Sheriff Douglas said that was all well and good but why did he lie about towing Emily to the highway after the repairs were complete. Bridger’s answer was he was asked not too and it is not the first time that he complied with the request. “Lots of people come up here to disappear, it not none of my business as to why.” When asked who asked him he reluctantly said it was his daughter Millie. Sheriff Douglas took him into custody but never cuffed him. He then chased down Junior (his deputy) to stand guard over Bridger, more to make sure that Bridger was kept comfortable rather than as a escape risk. By this time Sheriff Douglas’ patience with Paladin telling him how to do his job was wearing thin and his good nature was being stretched to the limit. The trio then drove out to Millie’s house. It is a simple affair with a off-road motorcycle parked on the front porch. While everyone was in with Millie Shifter sensed something odd outside by the outhouse. Shifter went to investigate and found a three foot long rat exiting the outhouse. It raised itself on its hind legs and met Shifter’s gaze. It raised it’s hackles then hissed at him. Falling to all fours the rat then scurried away. Shifter followed it. The path led to an even larger snow white rat that could speak! Shifter called for Paladin but he did not come, at least not right away. While Shifter and the rat (her name is Prime) got acquainted Sheriff Douglas and Paladin questioned Millie. Millie said she met Emily when she went out to Tamara’s place. They sat around and drank (a prime pastime in these parts). Emily told the group that she wanted to disappear from her life in New York. Tamara decided to help her disappear and asked Millie to help. Millie is Tamara’s friend so she agreed. During the conversation Sheriff Douglas said he knew just about all the cars in the area and none of them were missing. He also said that with the roads being as bad as they are most folks who know the area use boats. “With the creeks, streams, ponds, and lakes around here if you know what you are doing you can get anywhere, within walking distance anyway.” Douglas also said that as far as he knew all the boats in the area were accounted for too. Paladin wanted to go up and question Tamara but Douglas said that there was no way he would try to navigate the road to her house in the dark. In the day it was treacherous enough. He told Paladin he was free to go by himself but if he wanted to go with the Sheriff he would have to wait for the next morning. They set the time to meet at 7:30AM so that everyone’s coffee fix could be satisfied. Paladin insisted that Millie be arrested for her involvement but Sheriff Douglas refused his ‘request’. He said that he did not trust Junior with Millie locked up in the cell. Paladin was indignant that the sheriff did not trust his deputy. “Around here there are not a lot of people pounding down the door for the job. You take what you can get.” Paladin’s reply was to cast a wider net to get better candidates for the deputy job, thus irritating the Sheriff even more. Douglas did not arrest her but he did take the spark plugs out of her bike when he left. With the sheriff gone Paladin was able to answer Shifter’s call. They learn amongst other things that Prime lived in Brooklyn but was up here looking for money. The three of them make an alliance to try to find Emily. The trio then went back to the Sleepwell Motel. Shifter got some money from Paladin to get some for him himself and the rat(s). Shifter walked to the Bay Market he saw a body floating near the bridge that connects the north and south sides of town. He fished the 7 foot plus body out of the drink, then it opened it eyes! He was alive! Shifter invited him to join them for food, the big guy went to the back of the store and collected food from the dumpster while Shifter grabbed a bag and a half of fresh food. Shifter took the incredibly strong stranger who called himself Cain, back to the hotel and introduced him to Prime and to Paladin. Paladin rented another room. Prime had ransacked dumpsters and other sources so she could improve the TV reception. Now instead of 1 evangelist channel on the UHF band she was able to get HBO and several other channels that were out of reach. The group then got some rest. Resume at the Roadside Diner when the Sheriff finishes his coffee. Junior is heading home to get some rest and the daytime police radio operator, Isabella Adams, takes over watching the prisoner (Bridger).