what was i made for, walker

047. run in

Janie is lying on the couch, scrolling through her phone while August is going through old photos.

The door opens making her look up to see Stella walk in.

"Hey." August greets.

"Hey." Stella shuts the door.

"You sick of the dorms already?" August asks, noticing her duffle bag.

"Just thought I would stay the night." Stella says, dropping her bag on the floor and sitting on a chair across from her brother. "I got your text. What's up?"

"Have you talked to dad lately?" August asks.

"No, but that's kind of why I'm here." Stella says. "I think he might know where the necklace is."

"Really? Are you sure, Stel?" August asks.

"No, but if he does, then I could put an end to all this." Stella says.

"I don't know, Stel. I feel like... I feel like something's up with dad. He's just been really removed lately." August says. "Also, did you know that he wrote letters for us, just in case he died while undercover?"

"He what?" Janie's head snaps in his direction.

"Yeah." He nods.

"What do you mean?" Stella asks.

"Back when he was Duke, dad met up with Uncle Hoyt and gave him the letters. And I guess Uncle Hoyt gave the letters to Uncle Liam." August explains.  "I heard Liam and Trey talking. He was saying that dad was acting like the way he was back then. The whole thing was just really confusing."

"According to Mehar, if Hoyt met with dad the day that he stole the necklace, then it's highly likely that Hoyt got the letters then, too." Stella says.

"Okay." August says. "Well, I mean, just because we know that Hoyt got the letters and the necklace, doesn't mean that they're together right now."

"Yeah, but Uncle Hoyt hated banks." Stella says. "He had no safety deposit box. All he had was this will that left us some alpacas. If the letters are out there, then they could lead us to the necklace."

"I guess." August shrugs. "To be honest, you're kind of starting to sound like dad."

"Yeah, which is kinda creepy." Janie remarks.

"That is the second time somebody has told me that today." Stella sighs.

"By who?" August frowns.

"Just Mawline, on the phone." Stella says. Janie gives her a weird look, but lets it go. "Anyway, we don't need to ask dad anything. He probably didn't know Hoyt had the necklace, but Uncle Liam might." She grabs her stuff and gets up. 

"Whatever you say." August says. "I have this school assignment I need dad's help with. Probably be good to get his mind off of everything, you know?"

"I've got to go." Stella says, walking off.

+++

That night, Janie and August had gone out to get pizza for dinner given their grandparents were out of town, neither wanted to cook, and Cordell was too buried in work.

"All I'm saying is that the curb did not jump out in front of you." August rolls his eyes, shutting the door.

"Yes, it did!" Janie argues. "I'm an excellent driver."

"You're really not." August denies. "Give me the keys." He holds his hand out.

"No." Janie frowns, clutching the keys in her hand. "You said I could drive tonight, I'm driving."