Swamped

"Let's start by seeing if we can catch up with Mortimer. Keep our distance so as not to draw attention" - you glance a little in Arlene's direction - "but we should at least make sure he's okay. If he needs help, we'll help him. If he doesn't... I say we make the rendezvous on the wizard's behalf."

"Ah, I see where you're going with this," Minnie says. "Might be able to get Mortimer or the person we're contacting to help us out on whatever else we end up having to do."

"Pretty much," you say, nodding your head. "It might not work out, but it's worth a shot in case we can. Arlene, which way did Mortimer go?"

She starts rushing off. You groan a little as you follow her.

"You know, he was worried you'd draw attention to yourself! Maybe be a little more discreet?"

"It'll be fine. She's weird, but she's reliable," Minnie says.

After a while, it becomes clear where you're headed - you catch a glimpse of Mortimer walking towards some trees, and disappearing into them. Arlene stops running, and starts pointing her arms at the spot where he vanished.

"Yeah, I saw," you mutter. "Is this the Grove?"

"I've heard it called that," Arlene says. "Isn't that another thing you mentioned?"

"Yeah, the wizard suggested looking into it," Minnie says. "Though he didn't expect any activists to be here at this hour, and that's what we were looking into. Might be something else going on here."

"Or at the council hall," you muse. "I think he said it was close by."

"It is," Arlene says. "It's right over there."

And just as she points at it, you spot someone climbing out one of the windows. Guess something's going on over there after all.

You're about to suggest catching the thief when you hear a scream coming from the trees. Seems this would be a good time to split up.