Caliente falls behind in the patrol vehicle’s mirrors. The deputy keeps the cruiser on US-93 toward Alamo, while the desert opens wide on both sides and offers very little cover.
The Deputy
I can take you as far as Alamo. That is the halfway point toward Las Vegas, and it gives you a larger place to decide what comes next.
The cruiser’s tires hum over the pavement. The deputy has left Lena Ortiz behind in Caliente with the station and her pending report; no official escort, identity, or permanent protection travels with Adam.
The Deputy
This remains unofficial. I am helping you reach a safer decision, not transporting a recognized person under a formal arrangement. If anyone asks, you are a passenger I agreed to drive.
A ranch truck passes in the opposite lane, its driver glancing once at the cruiser before the highway swallows it. Far ahead, Alamo’s low buildings gather near the road, still distant in the heat.
The Deputy
At the stop, I can offer food, directions, and whatever practical advice I can give without putting my badge behind promises it cannot keep. After that, you will need another arrangement.
The deputy eases the cruiser toward the next exit and glances briefly across the cabin. The open highway remains quiet, but his question waits between them before Alamo arrives.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach Alamo
“"I understand. I thank you for this assistance, Deputy Brooks. I will find work to earn currency then find a means to reach Las Vegas." New town, new faces, building new connections. How much will it take to get someone to agree to pay him for work without any identification? Forty Five dollars in his pocket to keep him going until then.”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +2)