Happy Hunting

Summer 2021, Week 5

Tuesday evening

Email

Malware (Digital)

To: Elizabeth Jones
From: R3дa€+3д   I understand you have recently suffered a great loss. My research tells me that we have a common interest: the person responsible for the heinous act. Attached is a file that will detail the location of a flash drive containing a clip of video that will reveal the culprit.   This email and its contents are set to be deleted in 6 hour's time, and the message enclosed is encoded for my security. I would suggest making your own copy before that time is up.   Happy hunting
-Malware

 

Storyteller

Enclosed was a simple Google document attached to a generic looking Gmail account.

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Text Message

Elizabeth Jones

To: Nicole
Hey, you know about those crazy word puzzles right? The ones you always talked about in school. Think you could solve one for me?  

Storyteller

To: Liz
Chick
Cryptology is my major
If i cant solve a classical cipher then i have bigger problems lol
Hit me with it  

Elizabeth Jones

To: Nicole
This is what I got, and thanks a ton. This is pretty important so keep it between us, alright?
This message was immediately followed by an image, a screenshot of the cipher as it was displayed in the email Elizabeth had received.  

Storyteller

To: Liz
Of course ill keep this between us who do u take me 4? lol
Well that seems simple enough
U already got the keywords so all u need is the cipher method used
And u got 2 clues that tell u its a 4square
1 sec
BRIAPARKSORROWINJOYY
Bria Park, sorrow in joy.
Briar Park?
Did they forget the r?
With that much of the message coherent it has 2 be the correct answer  

Elizabeth Jones

To: Nicole
I guess so? Thanks for the help, even if this leaves me with just as many questions.  

Storyteller

To: Liz
What the hell is this about?
Seems shady af  

Elizabeth Jones

To: Nicole
I'm not that sure yet either, but you shouldn't get any more involved than you already have. Try not to worry about it.  

Storyteller

To: Liz
Bitch
U know me
Im going to worry when things seem sketchy
Even more now that u told me not 2 ffs
But alright ill take ur word 4 it this time and not get involved
Just dont get kidnapped or killed or some shit  

Elizabeth Jones

To: Nicole

I don't plan on dying any time soon. I just gotta be careful, and when have you ever known me to be careless?  

Storyteller

To: Liz

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Wednesday midnight

Briar Park, The Heights

Elizabeth Jones

Elizabeth, not wanting to waste any time, hurried to Briar Park as soon as she got the decoded message back. 'Briar Park, Sorrow in Joy' .. What exactly is that supposed to mean?   Unsure where exactly this was supposed to lead her, she wanders the park for some time as she just looks around at the few different statues and art pieces that were scattered about. One couldn't really be blamed for thinking she was a tourist or newcomer to the city if they saw her like this.   Eventually though she comes across a set of statues with a title that catches her eye.  

Storyteller

The plaque reads 'Joy In Sorrow - AGG' and refers to a depiction of two children reaching out to one another, a pair of blissful youths ignorant of the worlds troubles. Surrounding the two statues are wireframes of adult figures sitting back to back, expressions of frustration and sadness apparent in their body language.    

Elizabeth Jones

'Joy In Sorrow' .. 'Sorrow in Joy' .. she ponders the connection between the phrases as she looks more carefully at the statues. Then she suddenly notices the relatively large rock directly between the two statues, easy to miss among all the rocks scattered around yet perfectly aligned in the center of the space. She heads over to it and picks it up. Nothing at first, but just as she's about to place it back down she notices the dirt seems loose. Extra careful, huh? she thinks as she digs a bit into the ground where the rock once sat. It isn't long before she fishes up out of the dirt what she's looking for, a small container just big enough to safely contain a flash drive. So this has the deleted video.. I- I'm going to learn who's responsible.. she thinks, her resolve wavering before she shakes it off and gets back up. Time to head home. The longer I wait the worse it'll be.