Elizabeth keeps the hooded man pinned against the sedan while he twists, breathing hard. Marla sweeps her phone toward the ramps, checking for movement. Thadeus sees the receipt clenched in Elizabeth’s other hand, the parking structure number matching the letter.
Victor Hale
You should not have come here. They are already watching this level.
A phone vibrates in his pocket before Elizabeth can strip it away. Marla’s eyes widen at the screen glow reflected in the dark windows.
Marla Brewer
Thadeus, there’s a live signal. It just pinged from his phone, and I’m seeing another device on the network.
The hooded man goes still. On Marla’s display, an incoming message opens by itself, a photo of Thadeus at the game, taken from a distance.
Elizabeth Bathory
So this was never random. They wanted him seen, followed, then cornered.
Thadeus Jovanović
The envelope is tied to surveillance, not a mistake.
At the far end of the level, a stairwell door clicks open, and someone starts up toward them.
✓ Quest Accepted
Interrogate the hooded man
“Thadeus determines they may not be safe here. He turns to Marla, "Can you bring your car over here?" Marla nods and races to find her vehicle. Meanwhile, Thadeus turns his attention back to the hooded man, his face now stoic. "Who are you and why are you following us?"”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Thadeus turns away from the phone glow and gives Marla a quick nod toward the exits. She is already moving, phone in hand, slipping toward the ramps to bring the car around.
Thadeus Jovanović
Can you bring your car over here?
Marla answers with a sharp nod and breaks into a run, her footsteps fading into the concrete maze.
Thadeus Jovanović
Who are you, and why are you following us?
Victor Hale
My name is Victor Hale. I was told to keep you in sight, not touch you unless you ran.
Victor Hale
The man in the security uniform was my contact. He panicked when he saw your friend looking at his phone.
Elizabeth tightens her grip, watching Victor for any lie. From the stairwell, the newcomer pauses just out of clear view, and the parking level holds its breath.
Quest Complete
Interrogate the hooded man
“Thadeus nods his head towards the person in the stairwell, "And how about your friend back there, Victor? Why is he watching?" Elizabeth starts to smirk a little devilishly, which Thadeus notices, and signals her to calm down. Elizabeth sighs, teasing Thadeus "You're no fun". Thadeus chuckles.”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Thadeus tips his chin toward the stairwell. The hooded man follows the glance, and the smirk on his face dies at once.
Victor Hale
That one is my backup. He watches the exits, I handle the handoff. The guard was supposed to keep the lane open.
Elizabeth’s mouth curls into a dangerous little grin, and Thadeus catches it before it sharpens.
Thadeus Jovanović
He needs her steady, not amused.
He gives her a small calming signal, and the tension in her shoulders eases just enough to show she heard him.
Elizabeth Bathory
You’re no fun.
Thadeus lets out a short chuckle. Victor looks between them, uneasy, as if he did not expect this to feel so human.
“Is the person in the stairwell Victor’s backup?”
YES (VeryLikely, rolled 30)
The figure in the stairwell steps into the dim light, revealing a tactical vest identical to the one worn by the vanished security guard.
Thadeus Jovanović
The guard was not just a delivery boy, he was the coordinator.
Victor Hale
That is him. He is the one who gave me the envelope.
“Thadeus looks back to Victor, stating, "I think we got what we needed. Elizabeth, you can let him go." Almost exasperated, Elizabeth looks at Victor, lifts him a foot in the air with just one hand, and toss him over the parked sedan and onto the concrete. Thadeus looks at Elizabeth shocked, saying, "Why's you do that?" Elizabeth nonchantly says, "To send a message to whoever is watching us." Thadeus responds, "Fair enough. You're lucky you are so cute." Elizabeth, hearing this countless times, still blushes when she hears Thadeus say those words. Meanwhile, Marla pulls up next to them. Marla shouts, "Will you two lovebirds get in the car already? Elias was in the car, like, ten minutes ago."”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Victor hits the concrete hard, then curls on his side with a groan. Elizabeth turns from him, already watching Thadeus instead of the man at her feet.
Thadeus Jovanović
Why'd you do that?
Elizabeth Bathory
To send a message to whoever is watching us.
Thadeus Jovanović
Fair enough. You're lucky you are so cute.
Elizabeth Bathory
She looks away fast, but the blush still catches in the dim light.
A car rolls up beside them, Marla leaning out the window as the engine idles. Victor stays down, staring between Thadeus and Elizabeth like he has just seen the rules change.
Marla Brewer
Will you two lovebirds get in the car already? Elias was in the car, like, ten minutes ago.
Victor Hale
He flinches at the mention of Elias, then goes still, listening for the next move.
Thadeus Jovanović leaves downtown parking structure behind and arrives at The Hideout.
“With Elias already sitting up front with Marla, Thadeus open the driver side back door for Elizabeth with a bow, "After you, miss Bathory" Blushing even harder, Elizabeth starts giggling, and slides into the back seat. Thadeus runs around the passenger side back door and hops in. With everyone in, Marla drives through the parking lot and out onto the main freeway. Elizabeth snuggles up to Thadeus in the back seat, while Marla drives the party towards The Hideout.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
The Hideout’s concrete room hums under fluorescent light, all canned food, water cases, and stacked crates. The car door shuts, and the tunnel air gives way to the bunker’s stale coolness.
Thadeus opens the back door for Elizabeth with a neat bow, and she slips past him with a soft giggle, still bright from the parking structure.
He crosses to the other side and climbs in beside her. Marla settles her hands on the wheel, Elias watches from the front with a cautious half-turn, and Victor stays quiet in the back seat, looking cornered and tired.
Elizabeth Bathory
That was smooth, Thadeus.
Elias
Please tell me nobody followed us here.
Elizabeth leans into Thadeus’s shoulder, laughing under her breath as the engine starts up again.
Victor Hale
He knows my name. He knows the guard. I am in the wrong car.
Quest Complete
Identify the sender of the envelope
New Gift: Envelope Decoder