"So, Jerrod, Zena was your girl friend?", Calli asked the thin young man sitting across the table from her in the corner of the bar. He seemed to be the cocky type, not intimidated by her unique helmet or reputation.

He fumbled with a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out, not asking if she minded if he smoked. He lit it and took a big pull, then exhaled the smoke at her, showing teeth already yellowed by the habit. He squinted his pale blue eyes, obviously deciding how much he should tell her. She furrowed her brow as she studied him. She was sure she had seen him somewhere before, but couldn't quite place him. Unpleasant young men weren't exactly rare in the wasteland.

"Yeah, we've been living together a few weeks now. She was a good kid", he said finally. "She didn't deserve to die like that."

"I see. She was a Ranger initiate, right? Do you know why she would be out in the Highwayman's territory?", Calli asked.

"Sure. She figured if she could capture the Highwayman it would make her reputation, ya know? Everyone knows he hunts those roads. I tried to talk her out of it, I told her it was too dangerous, but she wouldn't listen. She just got it in her head. She didn't believe he would hurt her. Damn it, why wouldn't she listen to me?", he demanded angrily, running his hand through his mousy brown hair, making it stand awry.

"So you were in DC just having some fun and she took it in her head to go after the Highwayman. I take it you were probably drinking then. She didn't ask you to go with her?", Calli asked.

He shrugged. "Yeah, sure she did. I told her I didn't want any part of it and she should just forget it. I thought she'd let it go if I said no."

"So you didn't go with her. When did you notice she was gone?"

"Well, I got pretty wasted, ya know?", he said. "I didn't know she'd left until the next day. She said she wasn't well so we went back to the hotel early. I stayed in with her to make sure she was all right. I really thought she'd given up on going after the Highwayman since she wasn't feeling too good but I figured later that was just a ruse. I don't know when she left. I was still asleep when the Rangers came around that afternoon. That's when I found out what had happened."

"So you never left the hotel that night and had no idea Zena had." Calli glanced up from the notes she was making.

"That's right. Look, they said I had to talk to you. Are you going to find this Highwayman, or what?", he demanded.

"Be assured, Jerrod, I'm doing all I can to help the Rangers. If I have any more questions where can I find you?", she asked calmly.

"I help out at the general store. Ask there. Someone usually knows where I am except on my days off. I like to go into DC then", he said sullenly. "Is that all? I have things to do."

"All right, we're done here. Try to stick around", Calli said.

"Yeah." Jerrod blew out more smoke into the hazy room.

She watched him leave before she gathered her notes. She still wanted to get to the safe house tonight to see Daniel but she was tired from the long day and several nights with little sleep. She drummed her fingers on the table absently not really paying much attention to the beer still on the table before her or the hum of the other patrons talking in the bar. This was going to be hard. Maybe she wouldn't be able to prove him innocent, then what? He couldn't stay in the safe house forever.

She had performed the autopsy while she waited for Jerrod to get off work. The measurements of the wound had indicated that the knife had been a standard hunting knife. She knew Daniel had several knives, and one of them was a standard hunting knife, but she didn't think it was his. It must have been a cheap knife since the very tiniest part of the tip had broken off in a rib, and Daniel wouldn't have taken such a poor knife with him if he was going hunting. Also she was sure he was much more proficient than the wound indicated. The knife had entered between ribs, seemingly aimed at the heart, the mark of a person who was not experienced in hunting man or beast. Only the fact that it had managed to cut an artery had caused her to die so quickly.

"Hey, Calli." She looked up and smiled at the ghoul standing over her.

"Hey, Gob, how's business?", she asked.

"Looking up. I heard you were helping Hardin with that problem with the girl", he said as he sat down and put his cola on the table.

"Not really", she sighed. "He just wants me to find the Highwayman for him. He figures I can find him if anyone can."

"Ya, well, I just thought you should know. Zena and Jerrod weren't getting on all that well the last time they were in", he said.

"Oh? When was that?", she asked curiously.

"That would be Friday night. They always went in to DC on Saturday and didn't come back until Sunday night. I couldn't tell what they were arguing about but Zena wasn't very happy. That Jerrod's a piece of work. I don't know what a nice girl like her saw in him", he said.

"Thanks for the information. How's your granddaughter doing?", Calli asked, picking up her beer and settling in. Gob was proud of his granddaughter so this could take a while.

When Calli returned to their house Hawk was there. He looked up as she came in. "We have a problem.", he said without preamble. Calli sighed. When didn't they?

"There's been an attack on Oasis. They repelled them but couldn't determine where they're coming from or how many there are. We need to get up there and find out who's behind it and put a stop to it before they try again. I think someone might have found out what Harold can do and they're trying to get to him. That would explain why he can't 'see' where these attacks are coming from", he said grimly. "They would know to avoid his 'children'. The guards said they just appeared at the gates and tried to force their way in."

"I don't think that's likely but it is worrisome. It's more likely they're using stealth boys or some other technology. The Treeminders aren't helpless but if it's a big enough force and they get to Harold, well, you know how he is. He'll be happy enough with anyone that talks to him and if it gets out that Harold can 'see' through all the plants that grew from his seeds it'll hinder his ability to gather intel for me. Even worse they may kill him if he freaks them out or at the least we'll lose a lot of good people! We have to make sure that doesn't happen. If we leave now and take the bikes we can be there by tomorrow but I'd like to go to the safe house first and make sure Daniel knows why I won't be around for a while", she said.

"I guessed you would. Why don't you stay there tonight and I'll go ahead and see what I can find out", Hawk offered. "You have to be pretty tired. I'll just scout the area and see if I can find their base."

"Okay. I won't worry as much with you there. I'll meet you at the marker tomorrow night", she agreed.

They left together on their motorbikes. The Machinist had outdone himself modifying the prewar vehicles to run on the power cells that made them so much quieter and safer than the original models. Hawk's had been a special challenge to hold his height and weight. While Hawk headed north toward Oasis Calli headed to the safe house.

Calli left the bike in the small cave they had discovered many years ago. It was close enough to the safe house to walk, and it was a Yoa Gui breeding cave, so no one bothered it. Calli petted the nearest bear like creature, always amazed the tufts of hair were so much softer than they looked. The odor of the animals was pervasive but she was used to it and paid it no heed as she rubbed the big male behind the ears and told him what a good boy he was in a soft, calm voice. The dangerous creatures had accepted her and Hawk since their mutation by the GECK. She couldn't bring the Highwayman here though. Acceptance didn't always extend to companions.

The Highwayman was glad to see her but was obviously agitated. "I can't stay here, Calli.", he said after greeting her. "I'm going nuts. I may as well be in a jail."

"If you go out there you won't get the chance to be in a jail. Listen, the Rangers suspect that Daniel Gordon is the Highwayman and have feelers out in every town and bar in the Wasteland. They know what you look like since you've spent so much time in Megaton. They're determined to get you and make an example of you. They can't risk letting the murder of a Ranger go unsolved. They'll kill you, Daniel!", she said earnestly.

"Well what am I supposed to do? Just hide here?", he demanded, waving his hands agitatedly at the room. "Have you found anything that would help clear me?"

"Not yet", she admitted reluctantly. "And now there's trouble up in the North I have to take care of and I could be gone for several days. I'm sorry, Daniel, really. I'm doing my best."

"I know", he sighed. "I'm not blaming you. Come here." He held out his arms and she slid into them. "Maybe it's time I thought about leaving the wasteland. Starting over where no one has ever heard of me", he said softly, resting his chin on her soft hair.

"You want to leave?", she asked hesitantly against his chest.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time", he admitted.

She pulled back to look into his face.

"Where would you go?", she asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Anywhere. Maybe just take a pack and head west."

"Don't do anything yet, please, Dan, just give me some time", she pleaded.

"I'm just thinking about it", he said, kissing the top of her head.

She closed her eyes and leaned on him, hugging him to her. She was too tired to think about losing him tonight and she had to leave early the next morning.