Chapter VIII - The Missing Files

ecosystem long term. It's another thing entirely to know that they're poisoning the groundwater, and yet here it is. Is there any chance that Riley could be wrong? I mean, I guess, but I mean he wrote new project proven to be poisoning groundwater, County Environmental Surveyor has environmental impact report. That's pretty cut and dry. But I mean, there's all kinds of stuff about the minds both of them. In his notebook, it looked like he was mapping all the

old mine entrances or something. Maybe it was a theory. It doesn't sound like it was just a theory. But how would he know? Oh my god, Miss Honeywow, what about her? When she went to city Hall the first day she got here, Riley was there. She said she saw him eavesdropping. He was leaning against an office door. How's office? No, No, that's what's weird. She said. It wasn't the mayor's office. Okay. Who else has an office in city Hall? The public Works foreman, she'd be involved

with all kinds of planning stuff like the mine. There's also the deputy mayor. What Ms Halleran, she's one hundred and two. She's more of a town mascot than anything else. The sheriff, No, no way. Maybe this county surveyor person was talking to Mr Collins about the water, but Mr Combs wouldn't hide that. Do you think how would at No? I don't think how would put anyone in Hastings in danger. But he'd do whatever he could to protect the town's reputation.

But just because Riley overheard something about the new mind being dangerous doesn't mean they're not actively trying to fix it. I mean, the project hasn't even been officially launched yet. Yeah, I guess that's true. I'm sure whatever is going on with it, if there really is something wrong, that everyone who needs to know knows, and they're doing everything that they can to fix it. But why is Riley missing? Now?

This seems like too much of a coincidence. Jenna said he was working on some kind of political scandal piece, and this was clearly it. Maybe he wasn't eavesdropping on How, but that doesn't mean that How doesn't know. So what do you think How kidnapped Riley to keep him quiet with what end game prevent him from writing an article until the pro ject can open? But if it's true, it would do just as much damage regardless of when

it comes out. Maybe the contracts aren't signed. How has been talking about the kind of money this is gonna bring Hastings. We need more info. We need to give this to the sheriff. Wait, not yet, Max, Look, I trust Sheriff Colmes. I do. I don't think he'd ever do anything to put Riley or anyone else in danger. But if he was who Riley was eavesdropping on, I just want to know more before we go. Making accusations and turning over evidence is the same thing as making

accusations in your head. We don't know, that's the problem. Fine, I'll hold onto it for now we can we can keep it here, added to the pile of things we're not telling the responsible adults. Thank you? But but what? Okay? There was one of the weird thing in the notebook. Jeez, what is it now? This section here? I didn't read too much because it seemed personal, but Ross just spit

it out? Did Riley mention anything about his parents to you? What? No? Why? Wait? Actually, the last time we spoke he was going on about family. Why does it say something about his parents in here? He talks about needing to go to city hall to talk to the county clerk about his parents, And then he just wrote they lied? What on earth? Jenna said he'd had some family drama. But maybe this is what Riley was eavesdropping on. But what would it be? What

were the Stevens lying about? And is it bad enough that Riley would have run away? All right? Tomorrow morning you go to city hall and try to talk to the mayor? What? What? Why? Me? I've already been sniffing around his office too much. He knows how to dodge my questions. But do you think he'll talk to me? I think you're annoying enough to get some information. From him. Yeah, gee, thanks, what are you going to do? Tomorrow's Sunday? So no one other than Hall is going to be at city Hall.

But I bet I can find the four minute the tavern and ask her about what's going on with the new mine. They're not going to let you into the tavern. Max. You don't know that you four and very strong willed. I've been told from a typical artists and I heart radio. You're listening to Maxi Miles. This is chapter eight the Missing Files Max Maxi Files. We'll up a second of high Ransom Lucky. I ran into you you are Yeah, I need your help? Yeah, this is Look, do you

mind if we talk about this off the street? Are you all right? Ransom? You look really awful to be perfectly honest. Yeah, thanks for that. You'll understand when you're twenty one. Oh hangover? Yeah? Can we just go inside? Please? The general story is closed today, Ransom family owned. Remember, Plus, I can really use a cigarette? Do you mind if will you stop? If I do? I'm not a total jerk, you know. In that case? Second hand smoking is horribly dangerous, right, See,

I can be considerate of other people. What are we doing here? Ransom. I actually have places to be. I'm sure you do out solving little crimes and saving cats. My friend is missing, Mr Archer, in case you hadn't noticed, Yeah, you're right, I'm sorry. Well, Mr Archer, I didn't want to be rude while I yelled at you. Right listen, I've got another mystery for you to solve. Look, I'm happy to help you out however I can on any other day. But I really, I promise you this isn't frivolous.

I know you're worried about your friend, but if you help me with this, I'll see what I can do to help you. What what do you mean are you withholding something that could help Riley? No, God, of course not. I just meant I heard that he may have run away to Berlin, and I also know that you're currently under house arrest. Oh my god, how does ever play cards with your uncle and Walt? They called to cancel this weekend's game because someone needs to be looked after.

Speaking of which, where does Joe think you are right now? Um? In ross Teller's tree house? Right, of course? Please don't tell him that I'm downtown. Your secrets are safe with me. I broke plenty of rules when I was your age. I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying your time as a teenager. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm doing, which is why I'm offering to drive you to Berlin this week. If you want, I can tell Joe that I'm taking

you on as an intern or something. I actually do have some meetings in Berlin on Tuesday, and you can see what you can dig up about Riley. If he's there, you'll find him. I have no doubt really you do that. I don't know much help, but it really be I know Walt is already coordinating with Gorham in Berlin, but am I easier mind Sheriff Combs is expanding the search again. He's gotten as many community watch groups involved as you can. I haven't found Earlei in Hastings, so he must be

somewhere else. That's the theory. Anyway, this really is a lot more serious than I think you realized, Max. I think it could become a county wide missing person's case. I don't know why everyone keeps assuming that I'm not taking this seriously. I feel like I'm the only one who's doing anything. I know it feels like that, like you've got some good folks in your corner. The grown ups in this town are actually trying to look out for you. You say that like you're not one of them. Well,

I'm not that. I don't care, I do. I'm just not a grown up. You're not according to my father, my wife, no kids, no new ideas for the Archer Empire. Still just to screw up. Not to be rude, but oh no, please go ahead. You are asking a fourteen year old for help. That's a very fair point, speaking of I was robbed last night. What someone broke in? What is happening in this that's the weird thing. There

was no break in? Not really. Then I was out last night, right the hangover Saturday night at the tavern, get a little wild? Actually I wasn't at the tavern, really, believe it or not. I was on a date really, yes, oh oh god, you were on a date with miss Honey. Well, weren't you? How do you know? Wild? Guess you don't have to sound so disappointed. No, it's not. I really like miss Honey well, and I know, and let me guess you think she could do better. I didn't say that.

You didn't have to. Look. I know I haven't been the warmest person in Hastings, but Alanna is. She's wonderful, smart and witty and beautiful. Are you in love with her? What? No? No, I've only known her for a few weeks, so it wasn't love at first sight. I'm not sure leaving that kind of stuff. No, no, no, it's not that. It's the instantaneous thing that I'm not sure is real in my albeit very limited experience. Falling in love isn't about

seeing someone in lightning striking attraction can be like that. Sure, having a crush a crush, Well, don't those sometimes lead to love? Sure? Maybe, But I'm talking about the kind of first sight crush where you fantasize about who someone is and what could happen. But it's still just a fantasy, and that version is always far better than any reality could ever be. And that's what you're doing with miss Honeywell, no,

that's what I'm trying not to do. It's always a disappointment if you stay in that fantasy in your head for too long. It's better to live in the real world, even if it's imperfect. That's surprisingly ground above you. Well, I'll take that as a compliment. I think I know what you mean about having a fantasy in your head of what could be really what You don't think I'm the type of person to have a crush, No, I think it's pretty unusual for a teenager to realize that

they're idealizing someone. Everything feels so big when you're young, it can be hard to tell the difference. Does it really matter? Then? If it feels like love, then it is right. That's an interesting perspective, but I think it does matter in the action you take. What do you mean People make a lot of big decisions based on big feelings. Those big feelings aren't rooted in something real. You could be making a big mistake something like that. Then how do you know when it's love? Real love?

Love is quieter. It can happen all at once or very slowly. Sometimes it's both. It comes from knowing someone, from trusting them. Loving someone else isn't about you, it's about them. You sound like someone who knows how it feels firsthand. I know it might be hard to picture, but yeah, I do. What happened well, I was doomed from the start in some ways. What do you mean we were fifteen, and I didn't do anything smart. When I was fifteen, I would have screwed it up one

way or another. Not to mention my parents were well, it doesn't matter. But it wasn't just a teenage crush. May have started out that way, but you trusted her with my life. I'd only known her for a year, but she understood me more than anyone ever had made me feel like she was actually talking to me when she was talking to me, not just telling me what to do. Everyone was always telling me what to do. Oh yeah, what's that like? Yeah, I figured you'd get that.

And Cherry told me what to do all the time. She was bossy as hell, but it felt different, like she wasn't just saying things to say them, but like we were together, partners, you know, even when we didn't agree, I still wanted to listen. Yeah, Yeah, I think I know what you mean. You okay, Max? You look rattled? Yeah, I'm fine. Of what happened to her. Her family moved away suddenly, and she she stopped talking to me. She told me she was leaving, and then I never heard

from her again. Ouch. Yeah, Jesus. Anyway, Uh, that's enough of that. Sorry, I don't know how we got on that. You were talking about the woman you're currently dating. Yeah, yeah, of course, and Allan is great. Reminds me of Sherry a bit. Actually, Well, anyway, it's the first good thing that's happened to me in a while. So of course I probably royally screwed it up last night. So we went to a nice dinner. Everything seemed would be going great.

I had maybe two glasses of wine, we ordered dessert, and then the next thing I know, I'm waking up at four in the morning in my office. What about six hours or just completely missing. And that's not all that's missing. The safe in the office have been open. Someone stole money from you. No no, no, no, not money. Files. Why would someone steal your files? Well, they're not even mine.

It's technically my father's office, not that he deigns to come here very often, but it's the office in the back of Archer's Archery, the first Archer business from eighteen whatever, and it's always been my dad's favorite. He's sentimental about the family like that. So it's his safe. And you didn't have the code. As far as I know, my dad's the only one with it. Where is he right now? Oh, somewhere in West Virginia buying another mining company once he

gets locked on something. Anyway, he's not supposed to be in Hastings until the festival starts later this week. He wants to be here for the demo, push, the plunger and all that. So if your dad isn't in town and you don't know the code, then how would someone get into your safe? It's pretty old, might be original to the building for all I know, So it's not like it to be the hardest thing to crack, but you presumably still have to know what you were doing.

I knows. I've never gettn it a go. Do you have any idea what was in there? Um? I think just old historical family documents, the original defunct land deeds, maybe some family trees. Nothing of real value unless someone was looking to target the Archer family first. The graffiti from the other week, Yeah, but target us with what letters from the nineteen teens Archer's Archery and everything in it is more of a museum than it is a

business investment at this point. If someone wanted to target us, steal from us has to be a more efficient way. Is there anything embarrassing in those files any family skeletons? Are you asking for the Archer family dirt if there's any to be found that. I don't need to know why someone stole these files. I just need to get them back. If you know what's in them, that will

help me figure out who took them. Look, all I know is that I'm missing a full six hours of my life, and my father is going to be here in three days, and I really don't need to give him more ammunition to come at me for being a funk up. I think you can work with that fine, all right. First step then figuring out when and how they broke in. Could someone have drugged you? I don't see when they would have had a chance. Uh, I don't know. Maybe I went to the tavern for a

late drink. Certainly would have been the first time, and someone would have known to find you there exactly. Well, lucky for you, I need to head to the tavern today anyway, getting some points and darts in looking for someone. Actually, not that it's any of your business, and the end is on the way. We can stop either and ask him as honeywell, if she remembers anything that might be useful. She's very observant. I've discovered it. Come on, time to

do some questioning. Oh, I think i'll hang back. Is your hangover really that bad? My capacity to feel bones shaking? Embarrassment? Is that bad? Sending a teenager around town to ask after your whereabouts isn't embarrassing at least I don't have to witness it firsthand. Fine, I'm off to the end. Then, Hey, Max, thank you. Don't thank me yet. I haven't solved anything. Yeah, but you will. I know you will if you really believe that. You know that if I find the files,

I'll find out what's in them too. Are you going to be okay with that? Deal's a deal. You find my files, I'll drive you up and down Route three O two as much as you want. Whatever else happens happens, Miss Honeywell, Miss Honeywell, Mabel Thorpe ghost. I'm sorry to just barge in like this. The door was open. Hello. You know you really should get the locks changed, especially considering what ross s? What? What's going on? What are

you doing here? I was on my way to meet you with the tavern when I remembered what you said about seeing someone run away from the inn yesterday. So you just thought you'd break in, Like you said, the door was open. It's an end. It's a public business. It's not open. Just listen. I went to the back door where you saw Riley. I'm not sure who or what it was. You were right, it was Riley. What how do you know this? I found this snagged on the back door. Hinge? Is this a shoelace? Part of one?

It must have gotten caught and snapped off when he was running away. But what how? What? That doesn't mean it was Riley. This could be from anything except look the baseballs. I know these shoelaces. Oh my god. Wait, you're right. I recognize they're from the Baseball Hall of Fame, from when you and your family went to Cooperstown that one summer and I brought back souvenirs for everyone. You got me a patch for my girl Scouts vest, and I got Riley these shoelaces. I I can't believe it.

I can't believe he's still wearing them. I gave them him, and like the fourth grade good thing he is. This is ross. This is a big deal. I know he was really here. I really did see him. It sure seems like it. What was he doing here hiding out? I guess, I mean it's smart. No one's here, but a bunch of the rooms are still outfitted with beds and stuff. He could have been sleeping right here all along for all we know. But why why not come home? Why hide? And why run from me? I have so

many more questions now? Yeah, speaking of which, I have some new info. Oh yeah, how was city hall? You were wrong? How wasn't the only one there today? Really? Who else was in? These two guys? They don't work for the town, I don't think. Okay, then who were they? I didn't get a chance to find out, But I bet it's something to do with new mind. They looked familiar. I just can't place my finger on it. Did you ask how well? How was being all? How smiling and

upbeat and unhelpful? Maxine Miles? Why that's the most unkind thing you've ever said about anyone? You must be rubbing off on me. Yeah, well it's mutual. I think I'm getting a hang of this slew thing thing. Oh, come on, tell me what you found out. I think he definitely knows about the groundwater issue? Really did he admit to it. No I I didn't come right out and ask I

just generally asked about the mining project. And he was going on and on and on and on about how it's going to be so good for Hastings and the archers of the backbone of the town, bringing new business, blah blah blah blah blah. Which is why he's moving up the start date. What I thought it was supposed to start the last day of the harvest festival, which isn't for another ten days. They're starting tonight. What yep,

they're detonating the old mine, collapsing it. Oh my god, we have to find what if he I mean, what if he's digging for more evidence in the minds all those maps of the mine entrances in his notebook. Whoa, whoa, We still have no idea. That's why Riley's hiding out. What do you mean he overheard something about the mind being dangerous. He was hiding out. Now they're rushing up the detonation. Something here isn't right, except I don't think

that's what Riley overheard. Hal said that the day Riley came in to talk to him, Hal found him snooping around the Public Works office looking through papers and stuff. Okay, so if he found out through some files and not eavesdropping, then then maybe whatever is going on with his family is what made him run away, Except we don't know that he did run away, not to begin with, because there's still the whole thing with Mr Beatie and that weird phone call and the fact that his backpack was

in the middle of the woods. Ah, come on, Max, we can figure this out. I know we can. Russ Teller is giving me a pep talk. Things must be really dire, must be. I really do appreciate what what's wrong is that? What are you looking at? Something's Max? What are you doing? Look that board in the ceiling. It's crooked? But I can't h here? Let me whoa, what the hell? Reach around? Yeah, there's more. What are you okay? Yeah? I'm fine? You Ross? Yeah, do you

mind getting off of me? Right? Yeah, of course, sorry, I mean it's it's fine. What the hell is miss Honey Well doing with these papers in your ceiling? Well they could have been here for a while, it sure looks like it. This is a lot of old, boring crap deeds, some type written letters. Wait a second, this is ransom stuff. What these papers were stolen last night. I was just talking to him about it, which means, oh my god, what what is it? Oh my god?

Max this this? What is Is this a birth certificate? Is this Ransom Archer's birth certificate? Look at the date? Wait a second, Ransom wasn't born in the eighties? What our Archer was born in the same year we were. I think I know what happened. Excuse me? Is someone here? Shit? Hello, come on, we gotta get out of here now. Maxine Miles was created by Lauren Hibbin and it's a production

of A Typical Artists and I Heart Radio. This episode is written and directed by Lauren Schibbin, Diala, editing and sound designed by morriscy Ewing of Hemma Creek Productions, with editing exsistance from Laurian Davis and Melissa Ponds. It featured Jordan Cobb as Maxie Miles, mix A Follow as Ross Teller, Andrew Nook as Ransom Archer, and Jacqueline Landgraf Asmas Honeywell. Original artwork by Shane McMullan. For more information about the show, Who's visit Maxie Miles dot com and follow at A

Typical Artists on Twitter and Instagram. Maxie Miles is executive produced by Laurence Shippen and I Heart Radio, and for more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Thank you for listening and keep curious.