"Hello, I'd like to pay." A man in a police uniform walked up to the gas station shop counter with two packs of chocolate and a bottle of mineral water. Bruce, standing behind the counter, picked up the items to ring them up. When he looked up at the customer, he froze for a moment.
The other man also paused when he saw him, but merely cleared his throat and said, "I'm Peter Parker, a new officer at the Xivi City Police Department. Just call me Parker."
"Certainly, Officer Parker. That'll be six dollars."
Peter took out his wallet and paid. Without turning his head, he scanned the surroundings with his eyes and casually asked, "Is this gas station yours?"
"Only the shop is mine. My father passed it down to me."
"Not bad. Get me a pack of cigarettes too."
Bruce instinctively glanced at his fingers, but said nothing. He simply turned around and got him a pack of cigarettes. After taking the money, the other man turned and left, while Bruce stood behind the counter watching his back with a rather profound look in his eyes.
After leaving the gas station, Peter returned to the car. A red-haired woman sat in the back seat, her belly swollen as though she were pregnant. Peter then drove her back to the motel.
As soon as they entered the motel room, the woman unfastened her coat and pulled a pillow out from beneath it. Her swollen belly vanished in an instant.
Peter turned around, handed her one of the chocolate bars he had just bought, and said, "You've worked hard. Once I figure out the situation at the Police Department, we'll head for the town."
"It's nothing." The woman brushed back her hair and said, "I'm just worried about my cousin.