Record DownsideUp Bean West Cayce
Information known to your hunters through the news:
Three days ago, two friends from town went hiking up Cowles mountain (a hiking place about a 20 minutes drive from Santee). The pair never returned. In the search that followed, authorities realized that the pair had hiked higher than the popular trails. The searchers moved into the higher ground and one Search & Rescue crew member went missing. Her dog was discovered unconscious with a deep slash in its side. Could it have been a Mountain Lion?
The day was promising to be a warm one. It was ten a.m. and the sun was rising on a clear sky. Tayla finished dressing and found a voice message on her phone.
To Talya
Chrissy was placing some pressure on her to gather his cell together. Never had his Union contact done this to her before...
To all who come to Chrissy's home:
Thirty minutes later...
"Are you sure its safe, honey?" You hear Steve's voice as you approach the Hollandale household. Chrissy and Steve stand in thier driveway. You see that Chrissy's Honda fit has the back door open and a trail back pack is being placed within. You can see a 7'' knife peeking out from a side flap before Chrissy moves the flap to cover it.
"It wasn't safe for those people. Thats the point. College kids go up there all the time- and what if they haven't watched the news?"
Chrissy stood a 5'5 and was a very petite woman. Besides her 6'0' husband, she looked even smaller. Yet Eli had heard that she was no shrinking violet in the face of a monster.
"You'll be careful?" Steve hedges. "And Ethan and Ray will be with you?"
The unknown man nervously tugs the hem of his shirt again. As he raises it up, you see the pistol holster the man is wearing under his shirt. Chrissy sees it and takes her husband's shoulder, directing his attention away from the unknown man.
"No." Chrissy replied. You can see her hands clench behind her back, but she smiles to her husband.
"I promise." Chrissy smiles winsomely. Steve bends and gives his wife a kiss before turning to go into the house. Chrissy turns and glares at the unknown man, striding towards him and shoving his hand away from under his shirt.
"Jose, enough." She whispers. Tension between the two radiates. The formerly nervous and fidgetting man draws himself up, staring into Chrissy's blue eyes.
"You don't talk to me like that. I paid a lot of money-"
"Money." Chrissy shakes her head and turns away from Jose. Her eyes looked conflicted. She bit her bottom lip and looked to be considering something. Jose seemed chastised and looked away.
Chrissy sees you standing there.
"Eli, Talya, glad you could make it." Her eyes move over you.
"Hello, guys. " She smiles at you. You know that she's hosted many community get togethers at the Hall. You've never seen this calm woman seem so distracted and concerned.
"This is Jose."
She gestures to Jose. Jose makes a half hearted wave and turns away, tugging at the hem of his shirt. His face is contorted with anxiety and he bounces on the heel of his feet. Chrissy looks at him and sighs. It was out of character for the encouraging and warm doctor to express dissapointment so openly.
"I'm sorry that I didn't say much on the phone." She speaks to Talya.
"I didn't want to worry my husband. You've all seen the news reports about the three missing people at Cowles mountain?"
Her eyes now move over the group.