[center]
[hr][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjk2Ljg4NWUyOC5SWFZuWlc1bElGZGhkSE52YmcsLC4w/reward-personal-use.regular.webp[/img][/center][right][b][code]Webb Family Coffee House[/code][/b][/right][hr]

So lost in thought was Gene that he initially didn't notice the outpouring of newcomers until the coffee house looked a lot more packed and the locals a lot more pissed.

The tough chick duo had already split to go and harrass Mary-Louise and the young British chick had already claimed the doctor's office, angling for someone to come along with her. Gene might've taken the chance too since she seemed more preoccupied with finding her mother and less inclined to question Gene personally before the cop chimed in to join her.

Oh yeah. The cop.

Gene suppressed a frown by examining the map more closely. Who did this guy think he was fooling? The way he carried himself, the way he summarised everything to try and find common threads, the fucking donut that he'd scared on like it was his last meal on earth. Gene could well be wrong but that was more out of hope he was rather than a track record against his instincts. Still, twelve seemed more interested in accompanying Charlie and hadn't so much as glanced at Gene which could suggest he was either here incidentally or Gene wasn't his main priority at the moment. If nothing else, he [i]did[/i] seem like an out of towner on account of not looking and sounding like a mutant from The Hills Have Eyes.

A few more people entered, two strange looking fellas who Gene didn't have to even as much as glance at to know weren't from Louisiana or law enforcement. Nevertheless, their arrival and further introductions provided Gene with ample enough distraction to begin making his exit.

[colour=Peru]"I'll have a look at The Moss Motel."[/colour] he said, putting on his hat and tapping once more on the map. [colour=peru]"If I don't find anything which, frankly, seems likely. I'll poke my head around for a little chat with Mary-Louise's ankle-biters."[/colour] [b]That[/b] actually was likely to lead to something. There truly was no more malleable a mark than old money rich kids. Even if the conversation was brief, Gene was more than confident he could get something useful.

He near enough began power walking away after announcing this. If he were by himself, especially when it came to interacting with the Black family, this investigation would be over before lunch and Ellie's little scheme would be made clear to him. It also meant he wouldn't have to keep wondering if he were overdoing the whole "Texan" thing.