Cold Weather

As Doug settles into his new life in Portland with his sister Gail, the past slowly begins to fade away. Fresh out of Chicago, where he had abandoned his studies in forensic science, Doug is attempting to restart his journey. He spends a quiet evening with their mother and stepfather, before turning his attention to his sister's workplace. With characteristic persuasive charm, he convinces Gail to take a spontaneous break at the coast, marking the beginning of a newfound bond between the two. Meanwhile, Doug finds employment at an ice factory, where he forges a camaraderie with co-worker Carlos, a man with a passion for music as well as mysteries.

However, Doug's life is soon disrupted by the arrival of his ex-girlfriend Rachel, who has flown into Portland to train at her employer's office. As they reunite, Doug invites Carlos and Gail over, and the four engage in lively games and laughter-filled nights. Carlos, it turns out, is not only a skilled DJ but also a voracious reader, with a particular fondness for Sherlock Holmes novels. Rachel, on the other hand, finds herself bonding with Carlos over their shared love of science fiction, attending a Star Trek convention together.

But when Carlos confides in Doug that Rachel failed to show up at his latest DJ set and has gone missing, something clicks into place. Initially, Doug is dismissive, but as he and Carlos pay a visit to her motel room, they uncover signs of foul play. A suspicious figure in the parking lot, watching them with an air of menace, sets their alarms ringing. It's then that Doug begins to piece together the puzzle, starting with the cryptic code Rachel had left behind.

Gail joins forces with Doug, and together they decipher the baseball statistics-based code, leading them to a series of clandestine meetings and payphone encounters. As they dig deeper, they uncover the truth: Rachel had been hired for an online photography job by none other than Jim Warden, the man in the cowboy hat. It turns out that he had asked her to deliver a briefcase full of cash to Portland, only to swipe it from her motel room before she could complete the task.

Doug's determination is ignited; he vows to track down Jim and help Rachel recover the stolen briefcase, marking the beginning of an adventure that will test his mettle as both a detective and a friend.

As the investigation unfolds, Doug meticulously pieces together the puzzle of Jim's whereabouts, leveraging the photographic breadcrumbs left behind. He and Carlos converge on Jim's residence, awaiting his arrival with Gail by their side, parked discreetly outside. When Carlos departs to join Rachel, Gail slips into the driver's seat alongside Doug, and they settle in for a stakeout.

Their patience is rewarded when Jim emerges from his abode, and Doug and Gail assume a surveillance role, tracking him to a nondescript building where he retrieves a briefcase. Undeterred, the duo follows Jim to a local eatery, where he's set to meet an unknown confidant. It becomes apparent that this is their chance to strike, and they decide to pilfer the coveted case. Gail dons a disguise, while Doug takes care of business by swapping out their vehicle's license plate. With newfound anonymity, they arrive at the restaurant's entrance.

Gail seizes the opportunity, snatching the briefcase as Jim momentarily turns his back. She makes a swift exit to the waiting car, where Doug is already seated, ready to provide cover. As they speed away, Jim valiantly attempts to reclaim the stolen goods, but ultimately comes up empty-handed. Gail navigates the vehicle to an abandoned parking garage rooftop, where they finally find themselves alone.

Doug takes a moment to connect with Carlos and Rachel, briefing them on their current location before settling in for some quality time with Gail. As the music drifts through the speakers, they indulge in a moment of levity, basking in the thrill of the heist.