I'm so sorry this took so long! (Explanation at end of Chapter)


Mason stared at the screen with a look of utter disbelief. Who could possibly have the gall to impersonate him?

Bill seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "Seems someone's stealing your gimmick Star-brain."

"People are going to think this is me."

Bill rolled his eye. "Yeah, I think that's the point."

"I can't let someone paint me as a raving loon!" Mason cried. "How are they even doing this? It shouldn't be possible without-" He cut himself off, a new question forming on his tongue. "Are there other Notes Bill? Others like you?"

Bill raised his arms in a sort of shrug. "If there are others, I've never met them."

"Is there any way to kill like this without a Note?"

"Not unless biological warfare has advanced significantly in the past seven years."

Mason turned back to the screen with a thoughtful stare. "Do you think L knows that's not me?"

Bill narrowed his eye. "I know where this is going, and you need to drop it. Getting involved with the investigation will only be trouble."

"Or it might be exactly what I need to prove my innocence," Mason countered. "After all, why would Alcor want to help the people chasing him?"

"To convince them of his innocence," Bill replied dryly. "They're gonna see right through you kid."

The sound of a key in the apartment door lock kept Mason from responding.

"Hey Dipper," Stan greeted as he walked through the door. "I'm guessing you saw the whole Alcor thing just now."

"You knew about it?" Mason asked.

"Course I did, though I had to deal with Gleeful to do so.

Mason scowled as the bright shirted man came to mind. "Please tell me you gave him a hard time about the whole thing."

Stan shrugged. "I told him L was a sphinx, don't know if that counts." He pulled a beer from the fridge before settling down in his usual seat at the table. "So how's it been goin' in Dipper land recently? Since we haven't been able to talk much thanks to the case."

Mason twidled his thumbs idly. "Things have been okay. My grades are still good."

Stan nodded. "Alright, good to hear."

The two sat in awkward silence for a moment before Mason spoke up.

"About the message from Alcor…"

Stan took a sip from his beer. "What about it?"

"I don't think it's Alcor."

"What makes you say that?"

Mason's mind raced as he tried to find an excuse.

A nudge at his side drew his attention to the triangle floating there.

"The reporters," Bill whispered.

"The reporters," Mason repeated. "They don't match the profile of Alcor's usual victims. His targets are usually convicted criminals. The four reporters killed weren't convicted for any major crimes."

"He killed Xanthar," Stan pointed out. "As well as several FBI agents who were helping with the case. He might just kill anyone who gets in his way."

"And how were the reporters doing that?"

"All four of them openly opposed him. Said he was just as much a criminal as his victims were. Based on the timing of Xanthar's death, it seems like he doesn't like people doing that."

Mason sighed. "Okay, so I might be wrong. Can you at least pass my theory onto L?"

Stan took a long draw from his drink, setting it firmly on the table. "How'd you like to do that yourself?"


Mason felt like a herd of butterflies had been stuffed in his chest. Was he nervous? Giddy with excitement? He couldn't be certain. All he knew was his heart pounding a million miles a minute as Stan fiddled with the computer.

Depending on the outcome of this conversation, I'll either cement myself as L's ally or seem more suspicious than ever.

"Okay," Stan muttered. "Just give it a second to connect and here we go."

The screen changed to the familiar image of an elegant letter L over a deep red background as the computer's tiny speakers crackled with a distorted voice. "Detective Pines, this is unexpected."

Mason couldn't help the puzzled expression that crossed his face.

I've already met L in person, why's she hiding now?

Stan was apparently thinking along the same lines. "Is this really necessary? You told me you've met Dipper already."

"False security has been the downfall of many. There's always the potential that our communications could be hacked. So I'd prefer to conceal my identity when we aren't speaking face to face. But that has nothing to do with why you've called. I assume Alcor's little message played a part in this?"

"Dipper has a theory he'd like to share with you," Stan said as he turned to Mason. "Just tell L what you told me."

Mason took a deep breath. "I think the message was sent by an imposter. A second Alcor, so to speak."

"West Coast Tech is wise to laud you as their greatest student. I had come to a similar conclusion myself, though I'm curious to hear your reasoning."

"Alcor's primarily targeted convicted criminals, the reporters killed today, don't fit that mold."

"Incorrect. Alcor targets anyone impeding his so-called justice. While today's victims are far less active than previous ones, they still fit the profile. The key difference is the fact that there is a message at all."

Mason frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Alcor doesn't seem to care for attention. Any more eye-catching interactions have been for the purpose of misleading, or even killing me. This second Alcor wants the public's attention, they're encouraging the following the original Alcor ignored. If I had to guess, I'd say their ultimate goal is to get the attention of Alcor himself."

"I see," Mason replied. "Who'd be motivated to do that?"

Stan pressed the mute button on the computer before L could reply. "Alright smarty-pants, I'm glad we're making progress, but in case you haven't noticed it's late and last time I checked we all required sleep. We can continue this tomorrow."

He unmuted the computer, allowing L to speak again. "Very well then. Dipper, you've intrigued me. I'd like you to accompany Detective Pines tomorrow. We will meet at the Twin Oaks Hotel, Room 156. Unless you're no longer interested in the case?"

Mason shook his head. "I'm interested."

"Then I look forward to working with you."


Back in the hotel room, Ford pressed the button to end their conversation, watching as the video feed of his brother and his former apprentice faded to black.

A cold hand pressed over his own. "You okay?"

Ford turned to face his partner, plastering on a strained smile he knew she'd be able to see through. "As okay as I can be, given the circumstances."

"Aren't you excited to see him again?"

"Under different conditions, I would be, I am! I just… I can't let myself forget he's a suspect, an incredibly probable one at that!" He sagged back in his chair. "He's going to hate me."

"He could never."

"I abandoned him at what was likely a highly traumatic time. I've lied to everyone about my very existence. I'm still lying to them now."

Sweater-clad arms wrapped around him. "You did what you thought was best, and you're doing it for a good cause."

He buried his face in her hair, ignoring the chill that pulsated from her body. "I'm worried that this may be all my fault."

He felt her shake her head. "It's not, it never was." She lifted her head to look him in the eyes. "It's Bill's."


First of all, thank you lauramaris for favoriting!

Explanation: I've been struggling with some health issues since the end of 2021. While I've been sick, I was reading a lot of family fluff-type stories, which put me in the mood for working on my other story Faded Reflection. The feedback I got was so kind and positive it just motivated me to focus on the story even more. It wasn't until my little sister asked me when I was going to add more to this story that I realized it had been so long since I updated.

I never forgot this story, and I refuse to leave it unfinished. I know how annoying that is. So thank you for your patience, I'll try to make sure your next wait isn't so long.