Jackson spreads the final routing slips across the oak table, and Dayton’s finger lands on the hidden authorization trail. It is not a rumor anymore, it is a chain of sign-offs that ends at Covington’s door.
Dallas Fontaine
The codes are real. They point straight to Desk Nine.
Jackson Temple
There. That sequence gets you past the first lock. This one opens the records gate. If Covington still has the marriage file, this is how you reach him.
Professor Dayton
And this mark, right here, is the authorization stamp. It proves the leverage is official, not personal. Cold paper, hot knife.
Murderbone lifts his head at the word gate, ears rigid. The kitchen feels smaller under the lamp glow, the coffee gone black and bitter beside the evidence.
Jackson Temple
Take the ledger, Dallas. Go to Desk Nine now. If you wait, they bury the file and your marriage with it.
Dallas gathers the proof, and the route finally snaps into focus, evidence in hand, Covington ahead, and the leverage over Elena within reach.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach Desk Nine
“Does Jackson have a vehicle ready to get us to the records gate quickly?”
YES (VeryLikely, rolled 37)
Jackson Temple
My cruiser is parked in the alley, Dallas. It is fueled and ready to bypass the main gate traffic.
Dallas Fontaine
The cruiser will get us to the records gate before the shift change, but Desk Nine is a restricted zone.
“I head to Desk Nine with Jackson”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)