Okay, guys, I can’t quite believe it, but I think Max + I have figured it all out. Or, at least, most of it. Some of it. Enough of it. We don’t have much time to think about our next move, so we need as much help as we can get.
Send me your questions, your theories, your thoughts - maybe if I answer whatever questions you guys have, something will shake loose.
Alright, let’s get down to this. Lots of questions from you guys - you’ve given me…a lot to think about.
What can you tell us about your family? Siblings, parents? How do you get along with everyone?
Someone asked about my siblings specifically below, so I’ll answer that part there, but in general, I get along with my family fine. My parents work a lot - my dad’s a lawyer and my mom teaches at the elementary school. We try to have dinner all together every Sunday night, and that’s always chaotic but pretty okay.
What’s your favourite subject in school, and what do you think you would you like to do for a career when you get older?
God, I have no idea. I really like history, and science is pretty cool too, but mostly I just want to get out of Hastings. I figure I’ll figure out what I want to do in college? I know my dad wants me to be a lawyer too - or at least one of his kids to be a lawyer - and that definitely sounds kind of interesting? But I’d rather do law in a bigger city I think.
Joe Miles described you and Max being ‘at war’, not that long ago. What brought that on, exactly?
I’m sure Max would say that it’s because I’ve spent a lot of the past few years being a nuisance and…well, I guess that’s not totally incorrect. After her parents died, I don’t know…I feel like I wasn’t the best at comforting her? I tried to be around, you know, just be there if she ever needed anyone. But I think maybe I just pissed her off–she was kind of on edge for a while, which makes sense. It really started when she stole my basketball because the bouncing sound was annoying her and then I got her back and she got me back and it’s been like that ever since.
What made you want to start sleeping in the treehouse?
I share a room with my older brothers and they’re loud. They’re literally always talking or playing music but they go to college next year, so I’ve decided to just get whatever peace I can until then. The treehouse is a good solve.
from @nocluewhatshappening
Hi Ross! I’m not sure if this is relevant info, but Ms. Honeywell got the Inn because Ms. Maplethorpe recognized an old family name “Mason”. And Riley’s birth certificate shows that his mother’s name is “S. Mason”. Ms. Honeywell also said that “she’d seen bright young women destroyed by nice boys with clever smiles”. Could she have meant Ransom getting Riley’s mom pregnant? And if so… Why would she start dating Ransom? Any theories?
I have no idea how Honeywell fits into this, but it sure feels like she does. I feel like Ransom would have recognized her if she was his old girlfriend, but she’s gotta be connected to Riley’s mom somehow, right? But she doesn’t seem to have known anything about Riley going missing, so I don’t think she’s involved with that but…I don’t know. It feels like there’s a lot of Archer family drama.
Out of the three possible theories which is the most probable in your opinion?
When I think of Hastings, I think of the Archers and the mine. Those are the two things that prop the whole town up, so Riley being a threat to those things feels like a good reason for him to go missing. Them moving up the demolition makes me think that what Riley found–that any evidence he might have about the new mining project–is scaring someone.
Do your parents know about your investigation with Max? Also when you were spying on Mr. Beatty and staying in the treehouse for whole nights… did they not notice?
They don’t and they’re not going to find out. They usually go to bed around 9pm, because they both get up super early for work, so I usually just sneak away when they go upstairs. And my brothers just think I’m still downstairs doing homework I think.
from @mzchiefmanaged
My theory is that Ms. Honeywell’s friend is Sherry and that the “wrong person she fell in love with” is Ransom. I think she decided to investigate the whole thing and that was her true motive in moving to Hastings. I think she took the date with Ransom to get the stolen documents in order to get proof of her theory. I suspect she drugged him and that’s why he can’t remember anything and also why his hangover, the next day, was so bad.
As for where/why Riley went missing - I haven’t fully figured that out…
That honestly makes a lot of sense–Ms. Honeywell has to have a reason to be dating Ransom and knowing Sherry would be a good one. And she has to be the one who drugged him, right? Who else would have had the opportunity?
Hi Ross! What theory makes more sense to you: that the mining company tried to kidnapped Riley or that the Archer’s tried to? Or maybe that Riley left because of the revelation of his parentage.
I think if Riley left because he found at that Ransom was his dad…actually, no I don’t think Riley would leave because of that. Riley doesn’t run away from stuff, which is what makes what happened with Max at the Inn so weird. I feel like he would have confronted Ransom, or his parents–maybe he did confront his parents. But he knows that the whole town would freak out if he just up and disappeared so something must have happened.
Another question from me, if you’ll indulge me. If Max can truly trust you, why did it seem like people had been talking to you about her behind her back? Sheriff Combs for example seemed under the impression that you were “supposed to be looking out for her”. Is there something here we should know about?
Uh, I mean, I haven’t been talking about Max behind her back or anything. I wouldn’t do that. She definitely can trust me. But, like, I don’t know, I guess the Sheriff and some other people are maybe under the impression that I…I don’t know, like, pay attention to her or something? Or that I want to keep her safe? I mean, everyone wants to keep her safe–and all the kids of Hastings–but, yeah, maybe some of the adults who have known us for a long time can tell that, like, I’m there. For her. Like, as a friend person, someone to watch out for her and stuff, you know?
Thanks, Ross! I hope you and Max figure it out!
Me too.
and from a bunch of anonymous folks (I like your style)
How many siblings do you have? And what are their ages?
I’ve got four–Buckley and Chris are identical twins, they’re seventeen; Charlotte is ten; and Ansel is seven.
Why does your family keep stealing gnomes?
It’s something Buckley and Chris started when they were kids and I guess it’s become a bit of a…family tradition. Or competition or something. No one’s beat Buckley’s record yet of stealing 22 gnomes from around the town. A lot of people in Hastings like gnomes.
Is your family part of a Satanic cult? Asking for a friend.
No??? What a weird question. Who’s your friend?
You’ve said you don’t sleep much. Are you a vampire?
Ha, yeah, totally. And I guess all these questions count as an interview, so that makes me Brad Pitt.
Alright, fess up. How long have you been crushing on Max?
Uh, what?? Who told you that? Who is this? If you’ve heard something, well, I don’t know, don’t trust everything you hear, everyone in Hastings is always trying to be in everyone’s business but that doesn’t mean that stuff is true–I mean, like, why would anyone think that? Does Max think that?
Hey, this mining project is supposed to be Warren Archer’s baby, right? He even wanted to be the one to push the plunger. So how are they moving it up to so soon when he’s not due in town for three days? Does he even know about this?
Right?? Isn’t that weird? I assume he knows because I think Ransom would probably tell him, but I don’t know if he’ll be there. Moving it up feels urgent in a way that’s very suspicious.
i know max isn’t sure what to do, but what do you think will get you guys the most information? also, why is talking to ransom as urgent? mr. beatty has his deadline and obviously the demolition, but couldn’t you talk to ransom later?
I know Max would make fun of me for always suspecting him but Mr. Beatty definitely seems like he knows a lot more than anyone else. Like, what was with that money? What was with the Charleston Chews? Why is he always going places late at night? There’s something there. And yeah, we definitely could talk to Ransom later, but what if he knows where Riley is? What if his dad has done something to Riley and he’s in trouble?
Mostly irrelevant but important question: Do you like cheese?
Hell yeah.
what’s your plan once you get the environmental survey? are you going to bring it to the demolition?
That’s the idea–I know that the Mayor and everyone isn’t going to believe a couple of kids who say the new mining company is bad, especially since we’d be accusing the beloved Archers too, so the more evidence we have, the better. But I have no idea if I’m going to be able to get it in time and get to the demo, but I’m sure as hell gonna try.
Okay, guys, I can’t quite believe it, but I think Max + I have figured it all out. Or, at least, most of it. Some of it. Enough of it. We don’t have much time to think about our next move, so we need as much help as we can get.
Send me your questions, your theories, your thoughts - maybe if I answer whatever questions you guys have, something will shake loose.
