Dipper drove slowly into town to get gas and treats. He was thinking about Mable, Pacifica, and the horrors they could be going through right now. Dipper turned on the radio to try to clear his mind. Immediately after turning on the radio, the only station in Gravity Falls started to play Dipper and Pacifica's song, Africa by Toto. It was the first song that the two sang together while riding around Gravity Falls in the Mystery Shack golf cart. The golf cart had only a cassette player and Dipper purchased a mix tape of 80s hits for one dollar. Dipper and Pacifica listened to that tape so much that they eventually wore out the tape itself. Upon hearing Africa starting to play, Dipper immediately shut off the radio as he pulled into the Texaco station. He waited around for the attendant to come out, and fill the tank. Once he realized no one was going to pump his gas for him, Dipper decided that he should just break the Oregon law and pump his own gas. Dipper swiped his debit car in the pump and started filling the tank. Dipper was lost in his thoughts, he was worried about what hell Mable and Pacifica could be going through right now. "Click" Dipper walked to the pump to finish his transaction, tightened the gas cap and got back into the car. Dipper started the car, but his seatbelt on, and started to drive away. Dipper stopped at the curb, turned on his left turn signal and waited. There were no cars coming from either way, but Dipper just needed a moment to figure out the situation.
"Okay Dipper, things may be bad now, but Pacifica and Mable are still safe. Gideon wouldn't have the balls to do something stupid and harm my girls. I just wish I had a sign to point me in the right direction." He thought to himself.
Suddenly Dipper noticed a set of headlights coming from his left. Dipper didn't think much of it, probably just some traveler heading to Eugene. Suddenly a street lamp revealed to Dipper what was actually heading towards him.
"No way…" Dipper thought to himself. "Would he be that stupid?"
A while GMC panel van was driving towards him. "It could not be one of Gideon's goons, maybe it is a FedEx delivery truck. They make millions of these vans." Dipper thought.
The white van drove past Dipper in the idling police car, Dipper looked at it closely. He couldn't recognize the driver. The combination of the heavy rain, and darkness made it difficult. However Dipper noticed one glaring clue on this van. The license plate light is burnt out.
Without thought, Dipper cancelled his left turn signal, and slowly turned right to follow the van. At first he wasn't sure that this could actually be the van. Would he like to believe that this was the van? Of course he would, but he decided to remain skeptical until he had further proof. And that proof was soon delivered, as the van turned onto the state highway heading east towards the Mystery Shack and Eastern Oregon. Upon gathering this new information. Dipper pulled out his phone to call Preston Northwest.
"Dipper?" Preston said as he answered the phone.
"Mr. Northwest! I think I found the van. It is heading east towar…. "Beep Beep Beep"" Dipper lost connection on his phone as he started to drive east, following the van.
"Stupid AT&T, I hope he got at least part of the message." Dipper thought.
(Meanwhile at Northwest Manor)
"Dipper? Dipper? Are you there?" A frustrated Preston Northwest yelled into the phone.
"Damnit" he yelled.
"Mr. Northwest who was that?" Officer Hansen asked.
"That was Dipper, he saw the van heading east." Preston told the officer.
"What was Dipper doing out? He should have stayed here!" Hansen yelled.
"I sent him to get me a Slurpee from 7-11."
Everyone in the room gave Preston Northwest a confused look, why would this very rich man want to drink something like a Slurpee?
"He should have stayed here! He is a suspect in this case! This is a police matter only. I don't need some punk kid getting him involved in something that could get him killed." Officer Hansen told Preston Northwest and Stan.
"At least the kid is actually doing something, while you guys just sit on your ass." Stan sternly directed towards Officer Hansen.
"Hey watch yourself buddy." Officer Hansen responded. He continued, "Okay people, we have a new suspect in the case. A Dipper Pines, 16 years old, brown hair, green eyes, last seen in a Ford Crown Victoria with Oregon plates."
"You can't do this!" Preston Northwest furiously told Office Hansen.
Hansen turned to him with a smug grin on his face, "Until my commanding officer arrives I am in charge and I say to you sir, get out of my sight!"
Preston grabbed Stand and led him to his office to cool down after that heated debate.