The Events of Blackerd Town

Chapter 11

"What do you mean you're canceling our meeting? This is urgent!"

"Sorry, Aaron. I'm chasing a lead on Dante. I figured that would take precedence over a simple meeting."

The phone line went silent, and Huck could feel Aaron's blood pressure rising. After five seconds, Huck winced as he could hear a grunt of pure anger and frustration on the other side.

"Augh, fine. We push back our meeting to tomorrow, same time. Understood?"

"I mean, I can't guare-"

"You son o- same time tomorrow. Understood?"

Huck sighed. "I'll do my best to make it."

The phone line cut out, and Huck rubbed his forehead wearily, before turning to the girl before him. Bera winced as she stared at the phone. "Man, I could hear that. Is he ok?"

Huck pocketed his phone. "Nah, he isn't, but it's fine. So, shall we continue?"

Bera fiddled with her nose ring. "I...guess? What did you want to know?"

Huck nodded to the hallway. "You sure she's sleeping?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just checking. There's a small chance that bounty hunters are in the town."

Bera stopped fidgeting with her nose ring, the blood draining from her face. Her mouth opened, but no questions came out, the panic in her eyes instead speaking volumes.

The sheriff held up a hand. "Relax, it isn't guaranteed. I might just be paranoid, but even in the worst case scenario the bounty hunters are on the wrong side of town, meaning they don't know anything."

Bera quietly hugged her shoulders, a mild tremble visible in her pinky fingers. Huck pursed his lips, then continued with the information he had. "They were speaking Spanish, so the bounty was probably on some Spanish board. The guys were found in the ghetto, so pretty far from your house and the bar. I'm looking into it, b-"

Bera sharply looked up, fear in her eyes. "Should we run?"

Huck shook his head. "No. Moving preemptively is a poor decision. If they aren't bounty hunters, then you would be ditching a secure location. If they are bounty hunters, then no doubt they're surveilling the surrounding area, bringing more attention to anyone leaving the town."

Bera swallowed heavily. "So...what now?"

Huck rubbed his neck. "I need to ask a few questions about your parents again to double check information, is that fine?"

Bera slowly nodded. "Anything you need."

Huck pulled out his laptop from his backpack, setting it up on the kitchen countertop as Bera quietly hugged her arms. Once a few minutes passed and Huck was fully set up, he nodded to the shivering singer and began asking his questions calmly. Bera swallowed heavily. "So...what now?"

Huck rubbed his neck. "I need to ask a few questions about your parents again to double check information, is that fine?"

Bera slowly nodded. "Anything you need."

Huck pulled out his laptop from his backpack, setting it up on the kitchen countertop as Bera quietly hugged her arms. Once a few minutes passed and Huck was fully set up, he nodded to the shivering singer and began asking his questions calmly.

"What's your and your sister's names?

"...Bera Fe and Zephia Fe."

He nodded as he typed. "Do you have any living relatives?"