The Home Office puzzle solved.

Tagosto at the Unfiction forums said:

I got it!!!!

"jude" was the answer - I used the Hide in Picture program to desteg it.

This is confirmed by me using the same program.

A text file is extracted that says the following:

Thomas -

You're still alive. How did you survive Chicago? I mean, it's a good thing, right? It's just been so long I can barely remember what we both looked like then. It's different, now.

I don't know what I could possibly say to you to make everything right again. You followed me in and I never treated you the way I should have. In my defense, I can smell the alcohol coming off you from here. Finesse has never been your strong suit.

If only you could play the guitar or something, you know? I could be looking past all this. (Drums don't count.)

I've been running for too long. I've had too many close calls. I miss having a somewhat-normal living situation. I miss not having to constantly look over my shoulder. I miss having a car, home, flatmates. I miss it all.

I know you're working with someone else, now. Whatever they're about, it doesn't matter. What they pulled off last week was enough for me, at least for now. I want to come in. There's so much I know that they don't. I can help them, but they have to be able to protect me.

I don't want to do it alone. You're really the only person I know who... I don't know. But if someone can bring me in, I'd like for it to be you.

Can we meet, just the two of us, before I figure out what I'm going to do? Somewhere east. Chapter Thirty-Five. A cozy sleeper car.

-7