||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 131: Smith's Deal||

"How much was recovered and found?"
"A lot from the secret room and catacombs."
Keith leaned back, it had been a stressful month or two; There was a storm coming soon, so he wanted to be sure that they had all the evidence that could find: He wanted to end this all once and for all.
Leonard hasn't said much, not since his hallucination but Gerda has been very helpful, she and Leslie. . . Gerda admitted that to Keith that the drinking problem he had was to help him cope with everything; Alcohol numbed the pain for Leslie.

"Keith?"
"Sorry, uh just put it there."
Other officers put down books and files all bagged up.
"And, update on Beatrix and Quentin?"
Keith sighed, ready to clock out for the night as where they, he just needed to lock this all away.
"Well. . . Beatrix hasn't said much, Quentin's been pacing back and fourth; Ike hasn't come by to see them, he's not. . . He's made the right choice, for the sake of his health.", the cop nods,"Have a good night Keith.", and he left, Keith sighed, time to get home to the wife.
He locked out, sparing a glanced before locking up for the night.

=

Keith poured himself some coffee, his wife making dinner and he offered to help but, she said it wouldn't be long.
Was there ever more to it?
He remembered Norman's kidnapping and torture, Ike's near murder and trying to kill them all the first time.
Why did it feel like it was more than just about The Weather Station, he always had a feeling but there wasn't much he could prove at the time, but. . . What was it about this time?
Abigail held a plate of food in front of him, pulling him back into the present,"You okay dear?", "I. . . Lost in thought, thank you.", Abigail nods, smiling as they got to the dinner table.

=

Quentin finally relented and sat down in the cell. . . He couldn't think straight, not all while Crowface is still at large.
"Well this is a familiar sighting."
Quentin looked up, and there he was again. . . Smith.
In his typical hat, coat, face mask and sunglasses.
Smith smirked, Quentin's hair a bit frazzled, his eyes sunken: Tired.
"What do you want? To gloat?"
"No, no; That won't bring me much joy, considering how much time you and Bea end up in a jail cell."
Smith shook his head,"No, no: I'm here with a deal.", Quentin stood up,"And?", "I can break you out of here; We both have the same goal here, you want Crowface gone as so I, we could make an excellent time.", Quentin approached the cell doors slowly, unsure of him.
"Maybe so. . . Why should I trust you?"
"Well, do you have any other options? Come on. . . I mean, you and your sister have practically destroyed your relation with your brother.", Quentin didn't need to be reminded, he still saw Ike's face of shock, horror and then leaving for the hospital.
. . .
Smith held his hand out.
"Come on. . . Partners? We'll take down Crowface, and I know just the place to hide."
. . .
Quentin sighed, he didn't have much left to lose.
"Fine. . . But one wrong move-"
"Yeah, yeah; You'll ring my neck out."
They shook hands.

=

"What?!"
Ike stood there stunned,"Yeah; Smith broke him out and. . . They're going after Crowface alone.", Ike sighed, sinking into sofa more,"I'll call back later. . .", he put the phone down, Imbir jumped on the table and looked at him expecting something.
Maybe rage, tears but now; Ike was exhausted, drained not just physically but emotionally.
. . .
His sister was going to be on probation soon, so. . . He had to make the choice, he had to make his stand; Make it clear he wouldn't get involved anymore, risk his health for their shenanigans or investigations.
"Dad. . . What would you in this mess. . ."
You know what, he probably would have lost shit more than and mom would have fainted.

=

"A house in the woods, is this where you've been hiding out?"
Smith nods,"Yeah, it's been abandoned as far as I've gathered and no one found me yet, so. . . Shape up and get inside, we have a lot to talk about.", Smith walked ahead, Quentin following short but couldn't shake the feeling of being watched off him.
Like someone was watching him in these woods. . . And it didn't feel like it was Crowface.
"And you said Theodore was the paranoid one?"
. . .