The guards shuffle and shift nervously, glancing at one another.<br/><br/>"Sorry, ma'am.  They didn't tell us you were expected," one says to Sophronia.  He gives the pony-tailed man another look, looks like he's about to say something, then shakes his head and backs out of the man's way.<br/><br/>The geologist just blinks as if unable to believe the sea change that just landed on him with both feet, but nods jerkily and gets into his jeep, rolling slowly forward as they open the gate to admit the lot of you.  Driving carefully around the digging equipment, he stops a few moments later just outside the mine entrance.<br/><br/>"You would be Doctor Whitman from Miskatonic State College, I presume," he finally says, giving Sophronia another suspicious look.  "Willard Reed, You Ess Gee Ess."  He gives the rest of you a careful, guarded glance as well.  "Your staff, Doctor Whitman?"<br/><br/>He tilts his head to one side like a curious dog.<br/><br/>"Funny.  I would have thought you'd be more..."  His mouth twists for a moment.  "<em>Masculine</em>.  Who are you, really?  Not that I'm going to tattle or object.  You got me past those Blackwater types."  He grins conspiratorially.  "Been trying to get in here for weeks.  Owner's one of those small government types who seems to think that safety regulations are for other people.  On top of that, there are questions about missing workforce afterwards.  But they're just workers, so who cares?"<br/><br/>Oh, no bitter sarcasm there, nope.<br/><br/>"So let's go see what's going on, shall we?"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Hey, Jenny...</div><div class="spoiler_body">Willard is lying about something.  You're not sure what, exactly, so it's almost certainly a lie of omission, but you can almost taste the incomplete truth lingering in his words.</div></div>