“Who do you think it is?” he asked as they both peered out the living room window, trying to see through the snow.

“I don’t think it’s the cops.” His mom bit her lip. “But there’s also no way anyone could come down our road by accident, especially not in this weather. So it must have something to do with Bob.”

They both squinted through the glass. Finally, Derrick was able to make out a dark-colored car. Joanne hissed, and he turned to look at her.

“It’s that Bridget girl. His researcher.” She pressed her nose against the window. “But this time she’s alone.”

Derrick jumped when a loud thump suddenly shook the house. It sounded like someone had just pushed a couch out a second-story window. Shock turned to anger when he realized the sound had really been Bridget’s car hitting his Toyota.

It was all spiraling out of control. He threw on his coat. “You stay with Bob and keep him quiet. I’ll go out and see what’s going on.” He grabbed the airsoft gun from the end table and stuffed it into his pocket.

When he ran out, Bridget was just getting out of her car. The impact had been at an angle, damaging one corner of his rear bumper and one corner of her front bumper.

“You just hit my car!” The pain in his voice was no act. He’d traded a lot of Cascadia coin for real dollars to buy the car off Craigslist. Even if he could now afford to buy a half-dozen replacements, that didn’t mean he didn’t still love his old car.

“I’m sorry!” She was visibly shaking. “I got lost, and I couldn’t see through the snow. I didn’t see your car. I couldn’t even see the road.” Her voice changed. “Derrick? What are you doing here?”

He found the answer even as he said it. “Are you here for R. M. Haldon too?”

“Yes.” Bridget drew out the word hesitantly.

“I just got here myself. I love his books so much. I even play the character based on Rowan in Mysts of Cascadia, this LARP—live-action role play. And then when I saw him online, I was so sure I was going to save him.” To Derrick’s ears, his laugh sounded real and genuinely bitter. “You can imagine how stupid I felt once I realized it was all Haldon’s—I mean Bob’s—idea.”

It was just like LARPing. Spinning a tale that incorporated the major plot points while glossing over the bits that didn’t quite fit.

“What?” Bridget’s mouth fell open.