Whispers by the Water

"I sure am if someone else is paying," Burt says with a grin. "Is this a popular spot for the locals, Mr. Crane?" There's only a few cars outside, but it looks like a nice spot.

He locks his truck and looks around. "This is the hot spot for the area, but it's the end of the season. Not many folks around and those that are are at the festival."

"Tell us everything you know about the mystery you want us to investigate, sir." Artur asks again.

Huerago settle himself in. Orders something simple & some coffee. He is rather quiet and listening.

After your all in the restaurant and seated at a table, he says, "The mass murder occurred at the height of the resort’s popularity in the summer of 2004 when 13 guests and staff were killed by an unknown assailant. The killer was never caught."

The waiter comes, takes your drink orders them leaves.

"The killer’s final victim, Alice Moore, was found with symbols carved into her body, and her spirit is said to haunt the lake."

He waits for a second for that to sink in, then adds, "Local witnesses report strange lights over the water and muffled voices at night."

Artur notes that down, then asks. "You wouldn't happen to have pictures of those symbols, perhaps...? What was the final victim's background? What was the murderer's weapon? Were there any people present at the resort that day who weren't killed? Was your brother the owner at the time of the murders?"

Hoffmann isn't even listening, he's just wolfing down his expensive meal.

"Wow, that's pretty grim," Burt says as he stuffs rare beef into his mouth. "Why do you want us though? I thought places like this loved to talk about how they were haunted."

"I have no pictures, or information on that. Sure, there were people who survived, but I don't know if they witnessed anything that really tells the story. Certainly none of those I spoke to know what happened. That's why I need experienced investigators, to ask the good questions."

"Sir, can you provide names of those survivors? And also answer the three other questions... Oh, and does this place have cops? I think the cops should have pictures, although I don't know how we could convince them to share..."

Myles looks at eh others as he downs his second shot of 101 and takes a drink of beer to wash it down. As he cuts his rare steaks "Sounds like an interesting time. Y'all know I will drive. Do you have any of those proton packs like the Ghostbusters had?"

He says, "You'd have to ask the police. They're about an hour away in Dindlesville. As far as I know, they're treating this as a, how do they say, cold case?"

As Miles starts joking, he grows impatient, suspecting he's just wasted a thousand dollars. He gets up and says, "Here is a key to the gate on the road. The rest of the grounds are open. When you find something out, here's my number, and I'll have your money. I'll make sure your meals are covered and you have bottles of water for the day tomorrow, and the night I suspect." H

He leaves a business cards and flees before he changes his mind about hiring a bunch of bozos.

"Ok, food and water, plus a phone number to keep in touch. I guess that answers my questions," Burt says, packing more food into his mouth. "I suppose we start immediately?"

"Let's go." says Hoffmann, having finished his food. Meanwhile Artur is feeling suspicious towards our employer...

Huerago is ready, "No better time then the present."

It's still evening, do you want to go to the haunted cabin in the woods at night, or wait until morning? If you wait for dawn, where do you sleep?

"I would imagine stuff goes down night. Let's get it." He will head out the door toward the van.

Blue, his attention in his smartphone, has been researching whatever the past media showed on the house, and it's Terrible events (thus the roll below).

"Yes, Zoot is right, we should probably go and take a look now."

"Stakeout?" Burt says. "Sounds like a plan."

Russian Huerago mentions, "Should have brought some sandwiches. " and he thinks, "A bottle too would have been nice. "

Owen considers what's he's heard of this place. The site is the subject of urban legends and unexplained phenomena, drawing in curious investigators. Strange sightings, eerie sounds, and disappearing locals near the lake keep the legend alive. Just what is the source of the paranormal activity, if anything, remains a mystery. Whether it's the ghost of the murderer bent on finishing his or her task, or vengeful spirits of the victims, or something dark haunting the nearby woods, no one knows.