Transcript from meeting on NW Savier. Rory has performed a simple Google search and asked at the Consolidated Freightways information desk to confirm that this is where Kevin works, deciding to wait. Kevin has parked and gotten out of his car, arriving at work. Rory meets him on the public sidewalk, as he is headed toward his building, on the theory that a public, daylight meeting would be the least threatening and intrusive point of contact. This single contact with Kevin Balmer will be the basis for Carter’s assertion that Bowman is trying to browbeat Balmer for information with which to harm her.

K: Hi.

R: Kevin?

K: Yes.

R: My name is Rory Bowman.

K: Oh hey. How are you doin’?

R: Care to have lunch?

K: Right now?

R: No, no. Not right now: at some point.

K: Uhhh. How did you find me here?

R: Google.

K: Oh. Umm. I don’t know.

R: My rationale is that I apparently am more of a psychic presence in Cate’s life than I want to be. I showed up on Tribe and she sent what I thought were ambiguous messages and so I thought she might be engaging.

K: To you?

R: Yeah. I didn’t show up on Tribe for that. It was like a public place and I was there for clients. I saw her and I assumed she saw me. I think that a large part of what is wrong with the world right now is a lot of fear, and I think this is the single biggest fear that I can do something about. It would make her uncomfortable if I were to contact her directly but you are, I think, perceived as her protection. And so contacting you so that you’re clear about where I am decreases the amount fear in the world and increases communication. I have no idea what she has told you about me, so I am presenting myself in the interests of communication.

K: Okay.

R: I thought it would be good to touch base with you directly, and I understand that you’re at work now.

K: Well, I guess if you’re on Tribe I can get ahold of you on Tribe.

R: Oh no. I’m not on Tribe. I left Tribe on Cate’s birthday.

K: Oh?

R: Yes. It was  a gesture, like “hey man, my bad!” I didn’t know my presence was going to be an issue. I mean, I’d seen her on Tribe and I assumed she had seen me. Then she freaked out and my girlfriend asked me “did you contact Cate?” I’m like “nope.” “Because she has this thing on Tribe.”

K: Yeah.

R: And it created some friction for me at home.

K: Okay.

R: But that’s cool now, so think about it. I sent a letter to your home, which you’ve probably received already. I sent it to you because I wanted you to make a decision where Cate was.

K: Okay.

R: I don’t know where she is; I haven’t talked to her in like, um, seven years?

K: Yeah.

R: Seven years or something like that. I was surprised when she freaked out on Tribe, but there’s a charge there and there’s a charge that I might be able to do something about. And I think a lot of it has to do with her mother’s death. A lot of it has to do with Marcus’ death. A lot of it has to do with various things she was doing in her personal life, like magic and drugs and such

K: Yeah.

R: So I just wanted to make myself a human being, connect with you as a human being, and give you the sort of information I would want if I was in your situation.

K: Okay.

R: And it would help me resolve the concern that someone I cared about a great deal at one time has, you know, bad feelings about me. In a certain sense, if she is mentally ill or whatever, I can’t do anything about that: I can’t help her, she’s not going to let me in there. And it’s not really – I don’t want to be cold, but it’s not my problem.

K: Yeah.

R: But you can, and I think that you and she and the entire world would be better off if she wasn’t freaking out about things she doesn’t need to freak out about, and if she didn’t think that I was the bogeyman.

K: Right.

R: So think about it. Whenever. Here’s my card. You can contact me at your convenience. If you don’t want to contact me, that’s cool too. I’m not overly invested, but I wanted you to know that I’m not the bogeyman and you don’t need to do things that make your life harder.

K: I know. It takes a lot, it takes a lot of gumption to approach me, and I appreciate your efforts and candor.

R: Well, anyway, have a great day.

K: Yeah, see you later.