Ft. Silver

It was raining in Ft. Silver. Torrential and heavy upon the tin roof of the Starbucks, and not a surprise to anyone who'd lived there for more than a year. Inside that particular coffee shop, the story was no different for the woman sitting on a plush chair in the loft and cradling a laptop. If anything's changed, it's not the weather. She was zoning out to the sounds of rain, expanding and shrinking the Google Spreadsheet she had open, skimming her evidence (Or lack, thereof.) The young FBI Agent's case had been stale for almost a week. You'd think serial disappearances would yield to have some kind of forensic clues, but they seemed to be just that- disappearances. So what? The missing people just dropped off the face of the Earth? She sighed, pressing her head back into the chair and letting her eyes flutter closed. She had just gotten off a cross-country flight from D.C., and the promise of a new lead waited for her in Ft. Silver, her old home. As soon as the rain lightened up she would be on the track to finding it. It'll be satisfying to bring some justice to this case. But first... Justice needs sleep. She had almost drifted off right there in the middle of the Starbucks, when the PA clicked on, calling her order and jolting her awake. We have a black coffee for a Janet? Janet, your coffee is ready. She stood up, stretching and collecting her laptop- she wouldn't dare to leave her precious Macbook alone for a second- and started for the barista's counter. This investigation is going to end in Ft. Silver. It has to.

Cliff looked up at the sound of the phone ringing. Setting aside his laptop and reading glasses, he stood and walked to the kitchen counter. "Hello, this is the Roger's residence. May I ask who's calling?"

"Oh. Janet, hey! Uh, yeah, sure that should be fine," he said into the phone, taken a little off-guard by Janet's suddenness. "I'll go tell Gem. Where do you want to meet?" Cliff leaned against the counter, dozens of possibilities and scenarios running through his head. "And things have been fine. I took a day of leave, but ended up working from home anyway."

"That's alright, Janet. It's been kind of a slow day, thankfully. Anyway, the Flying Fish sounds good. We haven't been in a while, and you'll be able to get more coffee if you want it," he said, smiling lightly to himself. "I'll go get Gem. We should be able to meet you in about ten minutes if the traffic isn't too bad. Y'know, sometimes I wish we hadn't decided to live in the city."

Cliff replied with a simple "uh-huh" and a farewell before hanging up. He stared at the phone for a moment before dialing Gemini's office number. Normally, he wouldn't think of bothering her with calls, but if Janet had some intel on a case she was working on... Well, it seemed pretty important. As the phone rang, he could only hope Gem would be there to pick it up.

Cliff laughed, a hint of nervousness edging the sound. "Well, Janet just called. She's here in Fort Silver working on a case. She says there's some stuff she needs to talk about with us, but not over the phone. She wants to meet at Flying Fish Cafe."

"I told her we'd be there in ten minutes. Maybe fifteen," he replied. "Sorry this is all on such short notice."

"Alright. See you in a few," Cliff told her. He hung up after that and headed to the front door, shrugging on his leather bomber and slipping on his shoes. Grabbing the car keys on the little table by the door, he stepped outside. Cliff shivered at the cold wind. It was no surprise the forecast called for snow later that week. He hurried to the car, driving off and hoping for light traffic.