"I know you've had a terrible day, and the best thing about it is that it's almost over. The sun'll be up in about an hour. If you can take any consolation from this at all, then know that without this attack on your friends, we would have had no cause to mount this raid. And if it turns out like your young friend said, then something very bad has come to an end.
"Before we go, I have one more thing. I know you're tired, but I need this information for my official report. Who are you and why are you in our town?"
The three Strange Brains responded with uneasy silence, each looking at the others for a volunteer spokesperson.
Finally, Matt spoke. "How much time do you have?"
The detective furrowed his brow. "Not much, but make it as thorough as you can in, say, five minutes."
They learn
