If someone invites her to a potluck or fish fry, she says yes — that’s where the real town info lives.

"For what it’s worth," he said, reaching into his jacket pocket and handing her a slip of paper with a handwritten string of numbers, "you’re braver than your brother. Just make sure you’re smarter than the people you’re crossing."

"It’s worse than I thought," Ella murmured, her fingers tracing the edge of the photo.

"Get in," a voice said. It was low, rough like gravel.

Want me to adapt this into a , TTRPG character sheet , or social media caption series for Ella Hughes?

"And you?" Julian asked, finally glancing at her. "What are you too smart for?"