[h3] Ferd Smith [/h3]

	Ferd nearly choked on the greeting half way through his throat. Why in the hell was Val threatening the guy? Ferd felt a pang in his chest. It was probably his own fault. He'd been treating everyone with suspicion, and he hadn't been shy about it. Still it wasn't like they Knew this guy was there watching them. He could just be a local. Though Ferd thought it strange he chose to smoke out in the rain. He was acting far too leisurely. 
When there was no response to Val's taunts Ferd raised an eyebrow. Then Val turned and shrugged at Ferd as if to say [i]alright I'm done, you get the guy to talk.[/i] 

	Ferd nodded and looked back towards the man they were approaching. Now that they were closer Ferd could make him out better. Sure enough he looked like your average local, umbrella and all. He seemed to be looking at the two of them now. Apparently he'd heard Val after all. Ferd resisted the urge to rub his eyes tiredly. Why we're all humans such pains to deal with? None of them were simple, and they seldom obeyed their own unwritten laws of conduct. Polite people would have at least cursed back at Val. Oh well. To work.

	Ferd raised a hand in greeting, "Hey there. Listen bud my friend and I are a bit on edge right now, a couple friends of ours appear to be missing, and their house has been trashed. You can imagine how we're feeling right now, and when one of us noticed your line figure just setting outside like this... well like I said. You can imagine how we're all feeling right now." Ferd kept walking towards the man, trying to get a better look at him. "We don't want no trouble, but that's exactly why we were hoping you wouldn't mind telling us if you know what happened to our friends, and why you look like your trying so hard to look so uninterested, but never seem to take your eyes off us." Ferd grumbled silently at himself. It wasn't a great bluff, but Richard had seemed pretty sure this guy was casing the joint. Hopefully he took the bait and came clean.