We left the bar under midnight light “Coastridge… does that name sound familiar?” Crimsyn slowed. “Yeah. I’ve heard it before” Lassie warned, “Could still be another man” “Then we find out. Hacking’s your thing, right?” “Probably” “Even with that face?” Crimsyn stared. “My face has nothing to do with hacking” “Just checking if your analysis mode still works” Back inside, Crimsyn took the desktop chair Three blue screens lit the room Lassie set the ten-gallon hat on the PC tower Badge facing us from above “Coffee and muffins before we start?” “Sure. Just don’t get sleepy and take another trip” Lassie grinned, “I’d rather have whisky and sushi” “That’s how you really end up tripping” “So not tonight.” She rolled her eyes Crimsyn said, “This could take a while” “Take your time. No pressure” She looked back. “You really like saying that” “You started it, remember?” Lassie frowned, “What are you two talking about?” “You might hear it yourself someday” One name buried behind locked files One answer hiding under another ひとつずつ扉を開けていく Trace it back, crack another lock 隠した過去まで見つけ出せ Every answer leaves another mark Another lock behind the first We’re not stopping at the name Find out, find out! What are you hiding tonight? Find out, find out! Not yet! Older records filled the screens Crimsyn froze. “This predates the agency” “He wasn’t federal back then” “Then what?” She answered, “Wanted” Back then he was hunted, not the hunter Then whole years vanished from the file Next came clearance near the top Immunity. Cooperation. Terms under seal Target tracking. Reason blacked out Lassie leaned in. “A deal?” Crimsyn shrugged. “Maybe” But nothing said why he crossed the line Lassie lowered her voice. “One more thing That agent never seemed settled Like somebody else was watching him too He kept answering under his breath” “To himself?” She shook her head. “No” “Like he was talking back to someone.” “Comms” Trace your name, you trace our steps 近づくほど見えない影 Every trail keeps folding back Another shadow behind the first We can’t tell who is chasing who Find out, find out! Who’s really hunting who? Find out, find out! Not yet! Both!!! We froze and looked toward the PC tower That hat suddenly felt a lot less harmless Then Coastridge continued: “You three have been busy. You dug through my past while I listened to you. That badge carried your words and your location. Lassie Lady, thanks for bringing the hat back. When you poured whisky into it, I thought you’d kill the transmitter. Ahahaha! Jennifer, you called my name twice last song. Twice. Honestly… yeah. That made me happy!! And Crimsyn, that little trip of yours? You and Jennifer solving mysteries? I saw that too. Honestly… yeah. I kinda wanted in!! Lassie cut in, “Your inside voice is very outside right now.” Coastridge cleared his throat. “Let’s pretend you didn’t hear that.” Lassie laughed. “Yeah, that’s not happening.” “Wait. Don’t comms usually go in the chest patch?” “If I put it where you’d expect, I wouldn’t be good at this, would I? What? You thought I was dumb as a cedar post?” Nobody said all that. “Even a cedar post can carry GPS. Yeehaw!!” Under the brim! Outlaw erased, then badge in place その間に何があった？ Every answer leaves another mark Another truth behind the first We’re not stopping at the files Find out, find out! What put you on the other side? Find out, find out! Go deeper! “You know what this looks like? A bigger cage. And you’re inside it too.” Coastridge replied, “No, Jennifer. I’m not inside the cage. I’m the one who opened the door.” Crimsyn said, “What if the other side is just another cage?” Lassie smiled. “Whatever you’re planning, you still won’t catch us.” “Then run wherever you want. You’re not getting away. That’s enough for tonight. Hey...…This isn’t my last scene, right?” “...No idea.”
