Although they offered to have Abed stay with them, he refused and insisted on finding a local lodge. Not having a lodge in the swamps of Atlanta, they arranged for him to check in to a motel nearby. Once understanding his limited options, he seemed satisfied with this. Shirley didn't know how he was paying for anything, but he reassured her that he had plenty of funds.

She wondered what that boy was up to. And since when did Abed have money to fly out here and presumably stay for an indefinite period?

And what on earth was he doing with that darn recorder?

"The accommodations are adequate, if not charming," He narrated into his device. He then proceeded to tour the modest accommodations, stepping over to the wood-paneled walls and then smiling slightly as he let his hand touch it.

Shirley clutched her bag and shook her head. She exclaimed, "You don't even drive. How on earth are you going to get around town?"

He whipped around and replied, "While you were yelling at the manager, I made an inquiry into a taxi service. They're sending someone over."

"I wasn't yelling, I was merely making sure that man understood you needed clean towels."

She didn't know how that boy survived. He was certainly going to shower, wasn't he? She began to make her way over to the bathroom to inspect it further before Abed lightly touched her arm.

"You don't need to worry about me, although I appreciate it."

"Abed, what is going on in your life? You can't just drop everything and come to help me. You have other things you need to do."

She watched him blink several times, and she felt a pang of motherly concern. Everyone knew Abed hadn't been able to make it in LA, and she strongly suspected he hadn't been able to secure meaningful employment since. But it was one of those things she felt she needed to tread lightly about now that he was here.

She missed her Greendale family so much, and she didn't want to drive him away.

But was this really the best place for him?

Startling her out of her worries, he was now gently pushing her toward the door. He said, "Shirley, I can meet you and Detective Butcher at the crime scene tomorrow morning."

She frowned and clutched her bag, pausing a moment to take in his expression. Something was going on.

"Let's have dinner."

There was an almost imperceptibly flash of something in his eyes, something she almost registered as annoyance. But surely he wouldn't turn down a good meal?

She added with a sweet tone, "My treat."

He hesitated and then cocked his head, glancing past her as she stood in his now open doorway.

"No need. I'm sure you need to get back to the swamp."

"It's no trouble, A-bed. I can show you a lovely place on Evening Street." At his now evident agitation, she let out a loud sigh and said, "Fine. We can go back to the diner. Will that make you happy?"

"I don't want to go back to the Double R right now."

Having no more of his nonsense, she exclaimed, "That's not the name of the place! It's called the Twisted Spoke!"

He merely shrugged in response and then she scrunched up her face in frustration as he now almost forcibly pushed her out of the door. It was when she was about to smack him with her bag that his expression changed, and she realized he was now looking over her shoulder, his gaze transfixed.

It was an expression of awe.

She slowly turned, smelling a flowery perfume that certainly was nice. Her heels clicking along at a leisurely and somewhat sauntering pace, was a pretty young girl of perhaps twenty, raven colored hair, startling blue eyes, and a porcelain complexion. She was dressed in an odd manner, with a skirt that reached perhaps slightly lower than a usual short hem on young girls these days, but definitely not matronly low. Her sweater was fitted, portraying a modestly curvy bosom, and Shirley was so stricken by her beauty that she almost didn't question why on earth the girl was wearing a sweater during the sweltering heat of Atlanta.

Something strange was going on.

The girl neared, and offered a bemused smile, seeming to think twice about something before deciding to change course and then said, "Mr. Nadir?"

Abed nodded, his dark eyes glimmering with intrigue, and Shirley about smacked him again.

Well she did, actually, and he winced which she supposed was something of a normal reaction in this again very strange circumstance.

And that boy was not normal.

But she realized he seemed just about smitten at the present, his hand slightly shaking as he offered it to shake.

He smiled slightly and said, the hint of waver in his voice, "Yes, and you are?"

The girl actually batted her lashes twice before replying with the hint of a purr, "Name's Audrey. Audrey Hormel."

"Nice."

Shirley just about had enough, which was saying something. She turned to Abed and poked him in the chest, noticing a hint of glee on his face, as she barked, "You hired an impersonator? I thought we went over this!"

Abed's eyes widened, and he shook his head emphatically as he said, "I swear, Shirley, I didn't." He then peeked past her and almost squeaked, "But she's here!"

Shirley closed her eyes and willed herself to pull it together. She could hear Abed's whispered, "This is a magical place."

Opening her eyes, she spun around and stared at the girl, noticing she didn't seem that weirded out by Abed in the least. She huffed, "Now, whatever your name really is, I'm going to request you go home this instant. This boy can't pay you, why he just lost his job…"

She trailed off as she instantly regretted her words, as out of the corner of her eye she caught Abed's hunched shoulders. She didn't want him to feel ashamed, but she had to stop this. He couldn't afford it.

The girl seemed to snap into mode and offered quickly, "You must be Mrs. Bennett. Pleased to meet you. I'm from the taxi service, here to pick up Mr. Nadir."

Shirley smelled something funny, and it certainly wasn't the girl's perfume. She wondered how she knew her name, as she doubted Abed had given her that information. Casting a look over at Abed and noticing he was cocking his head once again, seemingly intrigued, she replied, "Why yes, I am. My name's Shirley." She offered her hand, and the girl took it, giving her a firm and businessy shake.

She added with an arched brow, "You drive a taxi?"

The girl giggled, and it was slightly annoying. She then replied, "Well, yes, technically, but it's only part-time. I'm a student at the local community college, and this helps me pay my rent."

"I bet it does."

"I'll take good are of him."

Shirley inwardly startled, aware she was missing something, but as she was about to speak, Abed once again pushed her out. With a heavy sigh, she gave him one last hug, smiled politely at Audrey, and then made her way back to her car.

She mumbled under her breath, "I'm sure you will."