Take a ride to town (Proceed)

Having digested enough information from the bunker, you head out to your vehicle, a black modern sedan unassuming enough for you to blend in.

You take a drive around the lake, headed to town, enjoying the scenery as you pass forested roads and mountainsides. The main town is further down the road, a distance away. You tune into the car radio, and listen in. Between the contemporary pop tunes, the local radio DJ talks about events in the town. Of interest, there was mention of increased military presence in the area, despite confirmation from HQ that there have been no official military personnel stationed there by the army. You reckon that this might be mercenaries from the Axel Arms company, having quite recently set up operations in the area.

You tune back into the radio.

Just as the music gets going, you notice flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror, and come to a stop as a police cruiser pulls up behind.

The officer walks up to your car, and you can't help but notice the svelte figure of a blonde woman with pretty huge assets. As she approaches your driver's window, you roll it down and look square in her eyes.

"Sir, I..." the female officer speaks as she leans on the car door. "Sorry, miss. I was mistaken."

You nod.

"I look like a sir to you?" you jest with a smirk as you turn to face the woman.

"Sorry! I was not paying attention, I just assumed..." she fumbles.

"It's okay. What is it?" you laugh.

"I was..." she stumbles.

"I know your sheriff buddy is nearby, just ask him to come over." you roll your eyes and speak.

A man approaches as the girl taps out and moves away. He places an arm on your car roof and leans in to the window.

"Sheriff Dunley." he speaks with a confident, slightly arrogant tone. "Sheriff of Highwater."

"I can tell." you smile and nod. "So what's my crime?"

"Nothing, miss. Didn't recognize your plate, and I know everyone in this here mountains."

"Yeah. I just enrolled into the Academy." you reply.

"That's a-mazing." he laughs. "The Academy can definitely do with a gorgeous chick like yourself here!"

"Well thanks, sir." you smile. "Do you happen to know if the things they say about this town are true?"

"What about?" he leans closer and folds his arms on the door.

"The paranormal stuff...."

The sheriff backs out and places an arm on his hips. You take the cue to begin a mind link to read his mind, but the link is abruptly cut. The sheriff places his hand on his forehead in pain as he kneels on the ground. "Arghh." he grunts.

"What's wrong?" the blonde steps up and asks as she supports him back up.

"Just a sudden pain in my head..." he gestures as he recovers.

"You okay there?" you sheepishly ask.

"I'm fine, miss." he replies. "I think you should go."

You nod and close your windows, setting the car to drive as you wonder why your mind link failed on the sheriff. Perhaps some sort of psychic shielding? There was definitely something off here. You could read the blonde very clearly, and she was just a human woman who signed up recently and cheats on her husband by sleeping with the sheriff on the regular. There was definitely something to investigate further here, and perhaps the woman is your way in?