A brightly lit laundromat appears a short distance from the busy street. You reach it under your own power, empty-handed, while washers churn behind broad windows and fluorescent light spills onto the pavement.
Behind the counter, a young adult woman with a sturdy build, dark braided hair, and a red cardigan watches a muted television. A police alert crawls across the screen beneath images from the nearby street.
Nadia Brooks
You’re Nadia Brooks. If you need a place to stand for a minute, come inside.
She looks from the alert to you, then reaches beneath the counter. Her hand pauses near the phone, but she does not pick it up.
Instead, Nadia turns the front-door lock and leaves it open. The bell above the entrance stays silent as warm air and detergent scent drift toward the sidewalk.
Nadia Brooks
I’m not calling anyone yet. But I need to know whether someone is following you.
The television continues its silent report behind her. Nadia keeps one hand visible on the counter and watches the street beyond your shoulder, leaving the next move to you.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get rid of any witnesses