“You’re not the first person to notice out-of-towners on the road up there, but I don’t have any inside information,” Sheriff Armel said. “I’ve seen in the private groups for regional sheriffsand the other law enforcement chats that it was sold, but the details are hazy as to what they will do with it, and who is putting up the money. Why are you interested?”
Justin didn’t want to mention Scott’s project and possibly get his boyfriend sideways with the sheriff. He smiled and hoped it looked innocent. “I’m always intrigued when the men in black show up.”
“I’m surprised that there’s interest in the mine instead of the old ski resort,” Armel replied. “There’s a lot of real estate tied up in that. But I don’t know anything else about the mine project.”
“Thanks,” Justin replied. “I can’t help being curious.”
“Humph. Just stay out of trouble and don’t go trespassing,” Armel warned. “I heard about the critter the VFD got called out for. We set traps but haven’t gotten anything yet.”
He leveled a look at Justin. “Not for general distribution, but that poacher who got shot? Nothing matches the bloodstain left from the missing dead animal. Which makes me think it might not be something that’s normally from here, if you get my drift.”
Cryptid,Justin thought. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“And for heaven’s sake, steer clear of the old mine. I’m surprised it hasn’t been imploded by now just to avoid liability,” Armel added.
Justin promised to be good and wished Armel a nice evening.
He checked the time when he got home, and realized he still had an hour before he was due to call Scott. Justin poured a drink and settled in at his computer, checking if he could find any permits or official paperwork for the owners and funding of the new development at the Platt Mine or the old ski resort.
Justin didn’t find anything official for either site, although the chat boards had several recent posts speculating about the outsiders. He knew Scott had found something on the new owners, enough to be suspicious, but Justin couldn’t find anything.
Hmm…I’m not the only person to hear rumors, but no one is posting any actual details. Interesting.
He checked those same chat rooms for mentions of strange creatures, but nothing matched what he had seen. The trail cam hadn’t picked up anything new, and he wondered if they had frightened whatever-it-was back to where it came from.
Justin glanced at the time and still had fifteen minutes before his call, which he spent randomly poking around on the internet, looking into large mining projects from the period that had been the Platt Mine’s heyday.
He navigated chat boards and mining history websites, as well as sites by mining enthusiast clubs, something Justin hadn’t known existed.
Two topics stood out to him. One involved the Mob’s involvement. The second were the legends about supernatural creatures, like Knockers, who were said to live in the mines and either help or hinder miners’ efforts.
Justin started following the trail of articles about the Mob, and by the time his alarm went off for his call to Scott, he felt like he had discovered a whole new, sordid part of history that he had never heard mentioned in school or by local elders.
He bookmarked the sites to visit again later. Then he ran a hand through his hair, straightened his shirt, and hit the contact on his phone for Scott, listening as it rang.
“Right on time!” Scott smiled on the video screen.
“Been looking forward to talking with you all day,” Justin replied. Scott’s blond hair was mussed, and the golden plaid color of his flannel shirt brought out the brown in his eyes.
“Same here,” Scott replied.
“How was your day?” Justin asked
Scott shrugged. “I was busy, but with the kind of things you can cross off your to-do list but that don’t sound like anything when you tell someone about them.”
“Mine was fairly quiet,” Justin replied. “I got the maintenance out of the way, so I don’t have to worry about it when you’re up here. Then I let my curiosity get the best of me. Liam and I flew up to Platt Mountain to get a look at the mine and the old ski resort. I know you have to use the university’s pilot, but I wanted to see for myself.”
“How did it go?” Scott asked.
Justin had worried that Scott might feel that he had overstepped by previewing his trip. He relaxed when he didn’t sense anything in Scott’s tone or expression more than curiosity.
“I think you get really cool assignments. We saw new equipment and buildings at the mine,” Justin said. “But almost nothing at all from the ski resort.”
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it? I’m glad you got a firsthand look because a lot of the photos don’t do it justice, or they’re very out of date,” Scott replied. “Even though we’re not landing and I’m not going to actually get close to anything, I feel like Indiana Jones.”
“The ruins were huge from the air. I can’t imagine how big they must be if you’re on the ground next to them,” Justin said. “Although I’m surprised at some of the mine buildings that have been left standing. They seem like a tragedy waiting to happen.”
“I was happy that the university wanted the article series, and the other sites are pleased with the history and old parks focuses,” Scott said.
