The cafe settles into an uneasy lull. Alex leaves the workstation behind and slips beneath the rubber mats with the copied file's findings, while the therapist, child, and famous client remain below.
The cramped room receives him in stale warmth and dim light. The therapist shifts aside from the stacked boxes, and the child peers out, still close to her.
Samuel
The woman at the institution wore a green pin shaped like a house. She called me by a number, not my name.
Dr. Helen Ward
I withheld that because the pin identifies a placement supervisor. If the alert was redirected through her office, knowing her name could expose anyone who repeats it.
At the entrance, the famous client keeps watch on the cafe beyond, one hand near the concealed panel. His attention stays fixed on every muffled footstep overhead.
Adrian Cole
That is enough to narrow the institution, but not enough to accuse her. We need the truth without turning this child into evidence.
Dr. Helen Ward
Honesty may get us out. Too much of it may tell the people searching exactly where to look.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn the placement supervisor's identity
“"Alright, alright," you say with a sigh, looking at the child, and smiling. "Just give me a little time to do my job at the cafe for a bit, and then, I'll get to my 'other job'," you say with a smirk.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +2)
Alex Mishyma
“Alright, alright. Just give me a little time to do my job here, then I’ll get to my other job.”
Alex looks toward the child with a smile and a smirk at the last phrase. The cramped room remains tense, but his promise lands plainly.
Samuel
Your other job is the one that finds out who changed the record?
Dr. Helen Ward
Let him work upstairs first. The cafe gives us cover, and we can use the time to remember every detail about that green pin.
Adrian Cole
He is treating this like a schedule, not a rescue. That may be exactly what keeps everyone calm.
The child nods and retreats beside the boxes. Above them, the cafe’s ordinary sounds resume: cups, keyboards, and the soft chime of another customer’s phone.
Samuel
Okay. I’ll wait here. Come back when your cafe job is done.
“"And in the mean time? There's food and water stocked here. Help yourself. You might need the strength in case we need to bolt," you offer gently, heading out to the cafe to check time cards on rented gaming machines, and serving coffee, energy drinks and snacks to those coming up to the counter. In the free moments, you are already on the dark web, searching for the placement supervisor's identity.”
SUCCESS (Great Computers, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
And in the meantime? There's food and water stocked here. Help yourself. You might need the strength in case we need to bolt.
Alex heads upstairs, checks the rented gaming machines against their time cards, and settles behind the counter. He serves coffee, energy drinks, and snacks as customers drift in.
Dr. Helen Ward
We will. Thank you. I will make sure the child eats before we move.
Between orders, Alex works through concealed forums and cached placement records on the back-office workstation. He keeps the search buried beneath ordinary cafe transactions.
A matching intake reference finally surfaces in an archived contractor roster. The green house pin belongs to Marjorie Vale, placement supervisor at the North Harbor Family Services office.
Adrian Cole
You found her?
Alex records the name and office details locally, then returns to pouring coffee before anyone notices the screen. Below, the hidden room remains quiet, supplied, and ready for flight.
Quest Complete
Learn the placement supervisor's identity
Attribute Upgrade: Willpower Good→Great