Jackson’s car idles under the pier lamps. Dallas spreads the hidden routing strip and secondary notes across his lap, and the rain makes the paper shine like fresh scars.
Dallas Fontaine
The technique set is exact. Too exact.
The markings line up, clean corners, disciplined spacing, the same cold handling pattern Dallas saw in the files tied to the Man with the Clean Collar.
Elena Vane
He sees it now. He sees all of it.
Dallas looks up. Elena’s face goes still, then tight, like a door locking from the inside.
Jackson Temple
Tell me I am not looking at what I think I am looking at.
Outside, the warehouse lights swell brighter through the rain, and the car feels smaller by the second.
✓ Quest Accepted
Confront Elena about the Clean Collar match
“I confront Elena about the routing strip”
SUCCESS (Legendary Psychology, rolled +0)
Dallas Fontaine
You were never just reading me, Elena. You were reading this route.
Dallas taps the hidden strip with one finger, and the paper flinches under the wiper light. The clean stamps line up with the same patient discipline in the secondary ledger.
Elena Vane
Yes. It is theirs, and it is mine too. I helped move copies before I knew what I was carrying.
Elena Vane
I recognized the handling before I recognized the name attached to it.
Jackson keeps both hands on the wheel, but his eyes flick once to Elena, then back to the warehouse lights swelling ahead.
Elena Vane
The Clean Collar match means the same office, same hands, same scrubbed names. Not one mistake, Dallas, a system.
Elena Vane
I was told to measure you. Then I started finding names I could not leave buried.
Murderbone shifts on the back seat, then settles again, watching Elena without a sound. Rain ticks hard against the glass as the car rolls toward the pier lights.
Quest Complete
Confront Elena about the Clean Collar match