Chapter Thirty Five: Into the Night*

Marie and Officer Green pulled up to Rolf's rural property just after sunset. Marie had worked out a plan to wait and interview Jonathan when her FBI backup arrived. She had decided it was time to go above local law enforcement to bring the case to a close. Her old boss was happy to lend a hand and was in his way, due to arrive the next day. In the meantime, her and Green were going after a smaller target: Rolf.

The house was dark, with no sign of movement inside, but a faint glow emanated from the barn out back. The two exchanged wary glances.

"Doesn't look like he's home," Green said, his voice low as he surveyed the quiet surroundings. "But we might as well check the barn. Could be something in there."

Marie nodded, gripping her flashlight as they stepped out of the car. The air was cool and thick with the scent of hay and damp earth. They made their way through the overgrown grass toward the barn, its large wooden doors slightly ajar, creaking in the evening breeze. Inside, the flicker of an old lamp illuminated the dusty interior. The barn was cluttered with tools, crates, and a few old vehicles—nothing immediately suspicious, but Marie's instincts told her something was off.

"This doesn't feel right," Marie muttered, sweeping her flashlight across the shadows. "Rolf's always been slippery, but this… it feels like we're walking into something."

Green nodded, his hand hovering near his gun. "Stay sharp. We don't know who's watching."

They moved deeper into the barn, checking every corner, every shadow. The silence was unnerving, and just as they reached the back of the barn, Marie froze. She felt something, an instinctual tug at the back of her mind, a sense that they weren't alone. She motioned for Green to stop, but before she could say anything, a blur of movement came from behind them.

A heavy blow struck Green in the side, sending him stumbling out of the barn and into the yard. Marie spun around, but it was too late—Rolf was already on her. His fist connected with her jaw, and the world spun violently. She collapsed to the floor, pain shooting through her head as everything went dark.

Outside, Green scrambled to his feet, disoriented and breathless. He could hear Marie struggling inside the barn, but fear gripped him. He wasn't sure if more people were waiting in the shadows, and he didn't have backup. The FBI would be there in the morning but he couldn't wait that long. At that moment, there was only one group he knew he could rely on—the Eds.

Green turned and ran, his heart pounding as he left Marie behind, sprinting toward his car. He had to get to the Eds. They would know what to do.

--

Back at the Eds' apartment, Eddy was leaning back on the couch, flicking through TV channels with a bored expression while Edd sat at the kitchen table, poring over paperwork related to their latest podcast episode. Ed was in the kitchen, humming to himself as he whipped up another one of his culinary masterpieces.

A sudden, frantic pounding at the door broke the peace, jolting them all to attention.

"What the—" Eddy grumbled, standing up to answer the door.

When he swung it open, Officer Green practically fell into the apartment, panting and wild-eyed. His uniform was disheveled, and there was a desperate urgency in his voice.

"They got her. Rolf. He—he took Marie."

Edd was on his feet instantly, his face paling. "What do you mean he took her?"

"We were at Rolf's place, checking out the barn. Rolf ambushed us," Green gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "I—I got away, but he knocked Marie out and dragged her off. I didn't know who else to go to. The sheriff can't be trusted. I had to come here."

Edd's heart sank, his mind racing as the weight of Green's words hit him. Marie was in danger. They had to act fast.

Eddy was already grabbing his jacket. "Well, what are we waiting for? We've got to go after them."

But Edd wasn't thinking about charging in blindly. He knew Rolf's property was vast and unfamiliar. Charging in recklessly would get them all killed, including Marie. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to think clearly despite the terror twisting in his gut.

"Green," Edd said, his voice steady but firm. "We need to think this through. Did you see where Rolf took her? Did he say anything?"

Green shook his head, still rattled. "No, I—I didn't see. He just knocked me out of the way and grabbed her."

Ed, now serious for once, stepped forward. "We should search the barn again. There could be something there that tells us where he's hiding her."

Edd nodded, formulating a plan in his mind. "We need to move fast, but we can't go in guns blazing. If Rolf's working with someone else, there could be more people out there."

"Then let's go," Eddy snapped, already at the door. "We can't waste any more time."

With Green's help, the Eds prepared to return to Rolf's property. They didn't know what they'd find, but they weren't about to let Marie disappear without a fight.