Over in the great state of Maine, Doctor Kenneth Richardson was attempting to enjoy retirement. Things were mostly good; he actually had time to spend with his daughter now, Jenna didn't tell his ex-wife about the little incident, and the girl seemed much more eager to chat with him. The problem was with what she talked to him about.
"Daddy, please! Why can't you tell me more about the blurry man?"
"I'm more resolute in not telling you anything, the more you ask. Now have a hot dog," he said while passing her a fresh bratwurst off the grill.
There was a knock at his front door but, knowing who it was, Ken didn't even take off his apron.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Richardson."
"Ongo, Che dongo."
The first voice, while sounding like English in his head, was really just a series of clicks and shrieks. It belonged to what could best be described as a squid stuffed into a suit. Its fingers were a series of tentacles, its mouth was a beak, its skin was a deep purple, and the way its figure swayed in the air suggested it had no bones. In one of its hands was an FBS badge reading
"Detective Al Ien"
The second greeting came from a man so backward, it would be a disservice to say he lived under a rock; this fellow clearly just got thawed out of a glacier! His clothing consisted of nothing but a black loincloth and homemade flip flops. He had a compact, bulky frame brimming with thick muscles. He appeared to have never shaved a day in his life, as body hair covered him nearly everywhere. In one of his hands was a club carved from a mammoth tusk, and in the other was an FBS badge reading
"Detective Neo Thal"
"Ah, its you two again."
"Can you please lower your face mask, Dr. Richardson? You know I need to read your lips to understand you," Alien asked politely.
Richardson complied, but his tone remained curt.
"Can't you come again another day? My daughter is here!"
"Daddy? Who is it?"
"Damn it..."
"Oh! Caveman! Let them in, Daddy! He promised to show me a trick!"
The party moved back to the backyard. Neanderthal busied Jenna with fantastical druidic displays, such as making squirrels dance and instantly growing plant seeds. His partner, meanwhile, grilled the grill cook.
"So, Dr. Richardson. Have you changed your mind about sharing that security footage with us?"
"I've told you a hundred times, that all got destroyed in the riot."
"I don't believe you. Just show us what you kept in your secret stash and we'll quit hassling you."
"Don't you all have to get warrants, now? Operating out in the open must be tough."
"Mhm, so you say..."
A device in Alien's pocket beeped. It pulled out a cylinder covered in small tubes and buttons, and held like a flute to its beak. A melody echoed forth, joined in duet soon after by the flying saucer parked out front. When the song finished, a neighbor mowing the lawn stopped and gave it a standing ovation.
"What do you know? My scanners picked up a basement not listed in your plans to the home owner's association. Since I don't have a warrant, I might as well just report it to them."
"You wouldn't dare..."
"I don't know what you are so hell bent on hiding, nor do I care. My investigation only covers a patient in your Juvenile wing. Surely, you can help us out with just that much?"
Richardson, despite having made countless people disappear back in the secret world, still feared the might of an HOA. He looked around, as if searching the environment for a possible excuse to decline. His eyes landed on Jenna, and an idea suddenly formed.
"Are hidden rooms the only thing your scanners can find?"
10 MINUTES LATER...
"So, you wanted me to help you find a diary?"
Confusion was evident even in the click-shrieks underlying Alien's speech. The two had regrouped in the Doctor's office here at the new home. Richardson was sat behind a mahogany desk, studying the entries intently. Alien, meanwhile, was awkwardly slumped in a chair opposite him.
"Hush," Richardson commanded. "Just give me a minute."
He had to know just how far her obsession with the 'blurry man' went.
7/28
Dear Dad Diary,
I have decided to create you out of the need for secrecy. All my life, I've dreamed of the fantastical. Now that I've discovered it, I can't have mom finding out! She suspicious enough as it is, after the last visit. Dad has moved in state now, so I should be able to pester him much more. Just you wait, blurry man! Detective Jenna is on the case!
...
"Oh god, it's worse than I thought."
"Is something wrong, Dr. Richardson?"
"Nothing! Give me a minute!"
"She can't have found anything," he thought to himself while flipping to the most recent entry.
…
3/26
Dear Dad Diary,
I have found the blurry man!
...
"Shit!"
"Dr. Richardson? Can we talk about those tapes, now?"
Slamming the diary shut, Ken focused his attention on the FBS agent in front of him.
"I can give you all the tapes I have on your patient, barring the night of the riot. You have to understand, I owe my daughter's life to the man who helped me that night. Are you willing to do the same to assuage my guilt in handing those tapes over?"
"This is why I hate dealing with humans. Let me talk with my partner, first."
Neanderthal was called, and the two agents descended into hushed talks. Alien used exclusively clicks, the lack of accompanying shrieks rendering the speech unintelligible. Neanderthal, meanwhile, used a type of sign language. They continued this back and forth for several minutes, before Alien finally gave their response.
"What is the task?"
"Jenna wants to go visit this 'freshman 15' nonsense out of state, in a few days. Can you babysit her?"
"Tapes now, and we have a deal."
Their mission successful, the two agents returned to their office under an abandoned newspaper plant. They studied the footage carefully, and printed a picture of the 'blurry man.' On a cork-board labeled "Star Children," they thumb tacked his image next to several others in a section labeled
"Active."
They then moved a photo of Terry Swanson from the active column to one marked
"?"
The photo's new location was adjacent one of Jeffrey Phillips, his column labeled
"Eliminated..."