Chapter Text
Stern pushes open the heavy wooden doors of Amnesty Lodge and is mindful of wiping his shoes before stepping inside. A little scuffed from the gravel. I'll have to polish these tonight. He looks up into the lobby and quickly tries to see past the enveloping warmth.
Blonde woman at window to my right. Two brunette people - siblings? - at chess table by right hallway entry. Eye contact. Smile. Nod. They looked away. Black haired woman tuning piano far back right. Back exit. Walled off area behind bar - kitchen perhaps? No one seated around central hearth. Left-side dining area mostly empty. Man facing away collecting cups from table of three - two men and a younger woman. Staring at me. Smile.
"I'm looking for Ned Chicane. Proprietor of the Cryptonomica? I was told by his associate Kirby I could find him here."
"Hm! What, uh, what do you need jolly old Ned for?"
Trying to dodge. Booming voice. Tall despite sitting. Greying beard. Eccentric style. Ned Chicane.
"Mr. Chicane, my name is Agent Stern, FBI. At your earliest convenience, sir, I would just love to see your Bigfoot Video."
"All you have to do is go to the Cryptonomica with me and you can watch the video there."
"Oh, no, I- I know, I stopped by. Your associate Kirby suggested that there might be more of the video than what you’re actually showing on the floor in your establishment. Also, I’d like to talk to you about the details of how you acquired such a- a remarkable video."
"Uh, one second, Ned,” the younger woman interjected, “Could you show us any kind of ID, or anything to back up this whole “I’m an agent” thing?"
"I have my driver’s license…" Ned looked puzzled as he began to search his own pockets.
"No, Ed- Ned- Not you.”
Distrusting. Cut off denim vest. Dyed fire-red hair in a pompadour. That's cool- Piercings. Much younger than Ned and other man. Relationship unclear. Protective.
"Oh, God, of course, I- I’m sorry, what am I thinking."
He reaches into his jacket's breast pocket for his badge, an unconscious pleasant smile still on his lips.
"Slow!" Her eyes never left Stern’s hands.
Very distrusting. Previous run-ins or paranoid?
Stern's brows pinch together and his head tilts in a show of mild bewilderment, but obliges nonetheless. Slowly, he hands his badge over to the younger woman, using the time she spends examining it to check that the rest of the lobby's guests haven't moved. Double check possible exit routes.
"It’s, uh, it’s all right there. It’s actually expiring soon, my birthday’s coming up, so I need to get this re-authorized, but, I am a federal agent. I’m actually- I work for a team- a small task force called “UP” - Unexplained Phenomena. Myself, I have been researching, well, for some time now, several disappearances that have been attributed to- and this is gonna sound silly, and I understand you wanting to check my credentials because it probably sounds kind of, kind of goofy but they are attributed to… the Sasquatch?"
Crash. Shocked gasps. The man that had been collecting cups from the table suddenly dropped the tray, sending shattered ceramic across the floor. Not embarrassed, purely shocked. Full beard. Long hair in bun. Red plaid flannel over broad shoulders. He moves to start collecting the broken pieces on his wooden tray. Large, rough hands. Delicate handling of shards - Oh no. Oh. The man finishes picking up the larger pieces and quickly leaves through the door into the kitchen. Stern, ever the professional, doesn't stare as he walks away. He didn't come here to ogle attractive men, he came here for just one purpose.
"The video that you put up online, Ned, it looks remarkably similar to other video sightings that I’ve been researching for some time, associated with these disappearances and so I know it’s kind of a long shot, but I’d just want to hear more about it. We don’t have to talk today, I- I know you seem to be in the middle of a conversation here so maybe we could circle back tomorrow? Back at your shop or sometime later this week, whatever works for you?"
"Well, of course, Friend Stern!"
Genuine smile. Cooperative, even though he'd been dodgy before. Welcome change of pace from previous assignments. Stern's shoulders drop just slightly, and he looks around the lobby again, this time, letting the warmth seep in. It was infectious. How long had it been since he'd last visited Aunt Celia's cabin? Overflowing with family and laughter and memories. This place will do.
"Say, um, I actually just arrived in Kepler, it’s a beautiful town, the pines are- are gorgeous this time of year. Um, I’m new to the area, I don’t-"
"They’re- they’re Evergreen, they’re gorgeous pretty much all year." The other man’s voice was flat when he finally spoke.
Stern's gut clenches. That was a stupid thing to say, Stern. Of course they're evergreen, you can recognize an evergreen pine can't yo- He bites the inside of his cheek, snapping back. Park Ranger Uniform. Wrinkled. Nametag 'Newton'. Tired. Distrusting of out of towners or simply deadpan?
"Ah, I see. Well, I’m new in town and I don’t actually have a place to stay yet, this establishment seems very nice, I was wondering if there was a room available - "
"Oh, no, you don’t- no, you don’t wanna stay here, bedbugs. I don’t, I… Listen, if I could afford a better place than this, I would, this is a real fleabag, you don’t - " Her eyes were scanning across the room, landing on the kitchen door.
"Oh, a few bedbugs don’t scare me, I, uh, I actually - I’ve come prepared, I have my own sort of travel kit. I packed a lot of tick and bug spray, I knew I was coming to a more rural area and I’m always prepared," Wide eyes glancing between themselves. Suspicious reaction. Distrust of out of towners is probable. Determine if related to FBI business or general rural town mentality. Movement from kitchen door. Plaid man holding towel. Shaking hands. Coming toward me. Brows furrowed, chest tight - holding breath? "So, if there is a room available, I would, I would love to have it."
"Yeah, uh, o-okay. We’ll getcha checked in and, uh, get you a nice room, I guess." The plaid man, with his low voice and hazel eyes, could quickly become a distraction.
Bite. Smile. Put room at ease. "I’m going to continue my search around the general area, sort of familiarize myself with the town, but I will be back this evening and we can set up the room, thank you so much! Ned, tomorrow, just let me know what time works for you."
With an uncharacteristically unprofessional display of joy, he turned on his heels and walked back towards the front door, examining the lobby a final time. Woman at piano - staring. Chess players - staring. Blonde woman - staring. He feels the weight of eyes pressed onto the back of his neck as he passes through the doorway.
Better to stick to this seemingly oblivious exit. Let them think he doesn't suspect. Clearly they know something. Stern understands, of course, that their secret may not be about the Sasquatch, but perhaps something about Mr. Ned Chicane?
Stern allows a genuine smile to overtake his lips again. Staying in the center of suspicious activity? This was going to make things real easy.