Dumas had, in his own socially awkward way, been trying to make peace with White.  But he certainly wasn’t going to admit that now.  As White rolled his eyes, Dumas stretched his mouth into the sort of grin which suggested that he did indeed think he was absolutely hilarious.<br/><br/>Until his phone beeped.  Dumas didn’t get a lot of calls, so he figured that it must be either Chester or Red -- and Chester seemed much more likely.  Once again pulling the phone from his pocket, Dumas frowned at the message written across its screen.  He felt relieved that Mari had returned to her normal self.  But part of him was also a little disappointed that he hadn’t gotten to meet whoever (or whatever) had emerged from the train station wearing Mari’s body in such a different manner.<br/><br/>As for acting dumb, Dumas wasn’t sure he could sink much lower than his normal baseline.  But he’d try.<br/><br/>“I’ll have to buy you that drink later,” Dumas apologized to White.  “Chesh wants me to meet him at a motel near here.”  A slight blush darkened Dumas’s cheeks as he realized how that sounded.  And it darkened even further when he thought about how much he wanted the truth to equal the innuendo.  But Dumas quickly gave his head a little shake and clarified the situation.  “He’s with Mari.  I don’t think she knows what just happened.”<br/><br/>Dumas hesitated for a moment.  On one hand, it might be better if they didn’t all descend on Mari at once.  On the other hand, it was just barely possible that the two men they’d assaulted had gone for reinforcements, who were now searching the neighborhood.  Dumas was forced to acknowledge that White had used his stun stick with considerable skill.  Unfortunately, that wouldn’t stop him from getting shot in the back.<br/><br/>“Follow me,” Dumas instructed, heading toward the address he’d been given.  “But don’t talk until Chesh gives us our cues.”