1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,560 Welcome to Students Incorporated, a podcast exploring the topics of business, education, 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,160 technology and design. 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:17,600 I'm your host, Mr. Jason. 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:23,960 Join me weekly as my team and I produce content that's informative, positive, fun and uplifting. 5 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,440 Episodes include student conversations, interviews with thought leaders and inspirational stories 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:29,800 with an international flavor. 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,000 This podcast is created and produced with the help of students from the International 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,720 Community School of Bangkok. 9 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:39,880 Hello and welcome back. 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:45,040 I'm Mr. Jason and today for segment one, the podcast team and I will be walking you through 11 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:50,400 the five stages of the entrepreneurship process within the context of business. 12 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:57,200 However, these stages or steps could be applied to any type of startup context, not just business. 13 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,480 Then for segment two, we'll continue with part seven of our story, the secrets of El 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:02,480 Dorado. 15 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,920 We are deep into the struggles our heroes are facing, so you won't want to miss what 16 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,560 happens next. 17 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,000 But first, let's hear our quote of the day and get some headline news. 18 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,240 Hey, everyone, our quote of the day comes from Steve Jobs. 19 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,540 He said, when you're in a startup, the first 10 people will determine whether the company 20 00:01:19,540 --> 00:01:20,700 succeeds or not. 21 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:25,180 In a startup, teamwork and collaboration among the early team members are essential in shaping 22 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:29,960 the company culture, setting the tone for future hires and determining the overall trajectory 23 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:30,960 of the business. 24 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:36,140 A cohesive and dedicated team can work together effectively to overcome challenges, innovate 25 00:01:36,140 --> 00:01:38,560 and drive the company towards its objectives. 26 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,640 Ultimately, the quote underscores the importance of teamwork and collaboration in building 27 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,020 a successful startup. 28 00:01:44,020 --> 00:01:49,160 The first 10 people in the company can make a significant impact on its success or failure, 29 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:53,460 highlighting the critical role that teamwork plays in the early stages of a business. 30 00:01:53,460 --> 00:01:55,000 And that's our quote of the day. 31 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,160 Now onto some headline news. 32 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:01,560 Here's some headline entrepreneurship news from around the world. 33 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:06,840 Starting off with our first news, according to a survey conducted by Keat, which provides 34 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:12,840 automation software for small businesses, a majority of entrepreneurs and business owners 35 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:18,600 find it a challenge to deal with growth while also managing their business at the same time. 36 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:24,240 Those who succeed in overcoming these challenges were more likely to use software to make processes 37 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:30,440 like analytics, scheduling, customer communications, and etc. 38 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:31,440 All automated. 39 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:38,120 In fact, they also agreed that the use of AI has had a positive impact on their business, 40 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,600 with more than half of business owners reporting that they plan to increase their software 41 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:43,600 budget. 42 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:50,320 Onto our next news, Canada's plan to drive fair economic growth, budget 2024, has provided 43 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:57,080 $60 million in funding to Futurpreneur Canada, a non-profit organization that provides young 44 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,600 aspiring entrepreneurs with funding and support for their project. 45 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:08,240 Futurpreneur estimates that this $60 million investment will create around 6,000 more startup 46 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:16,040 businesses led by young entrepreneurs in the next five years, adding to the 17,700 businesses 47 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:20,840 that Futurpreneur has already helped finance and support through federal funding. 48 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:26,400 Onto our final news, tech giant Apple has recently announced that they will be hosting 49 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:32,440 six sessions at their stores as part of their Made for Business program starting May, which 50 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:38,420 is intended to educate small business owners and entrepreneurs on how Apple products and 51 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:42,040 services can be used to grow and manage their businesses. 52 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:49,200 Apple's business teams, business pros, and business experts are also present at the stores, 53 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:54,200 giving aid to the entrepreneurs in searching for the right services and applications for 54 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,680 their businesses. 55 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:02,080 Additionally, Apple also offers group reservations for consultation sessions to have products 56 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:06,840 and services recommended to them, as well as boosting their productivity through the 57 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,200 insights of business experts. 58 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,720 And that ends our news for today. 59 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,880 We are back for our first segment and my team and I will be running you through the five 60 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,720 stages of the entrepreneurship process. 61 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaking from experience with several of the startup businesses I've been involved with, 62 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:30,360 the steps or stages of the process are not always as cut and dry as we will be discussing 63 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:31,360 today. 64 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,620 However, these stages do put some structure around what oftentimes for entrepreneurs is 65 00:04:35,620 --> 00:04:40,840 a very dynamic, complicated, and challenging time while they are going through this process. 66 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:45,940 So to begin, I've asked my podcast team to present these stages and offer a little example 67 00:04:45,940 --> 00:04:47,120 for each stage. 68 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:52,160 By the way, this process can also be applied to any larger endeavor or task you are seeking 69 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,160 to start. 70 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,140 We hope you find this helpful and if you miss something the first time, rewind and play 71 00:04:57,140 --> 00:04:58,140 it back. 72 00:04:58,140 --> 00:05:02,000 Okay, let's get started with the first stage of the entrepreneurship process. 73 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,080 Remy will introduce the first stage, describe it, and then share an example. 74 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,600 The first stage is called the discovery stage. 75 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,840 Here's an explanation about this first stage of entrepreneurship. 76 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:14,880 The discovery stage is where the journey begins. 77 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,800 This phase is all about identifying opportunities and pinpointing a market need that is unmet 78 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,560 or undeserved. 79 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,240 Entrepreneurs during this stage invest their time in researching, observing, and engaging 80 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,880 with potential customers to validate their ideas. 81 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,600 It's a period filled with creativity and exploration, where the initial spark of an idea is carefully 82 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,320 nurtured into a viable business concept. 83 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:40,960 The success of the stage hinges on the entrepreneur's ability to remain open to feedback and agile 84 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,520 in adapting their initial ideas based on real-world insights. 85 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,960 For our example of the discovery stage, we follow a young entrepreneur named Maya. 86 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:53,840 Maya notices a growing trend in her city for street food, but sees a lack of vegan options 87 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:54,840 available. 88 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:58,800 After discussing with local residents and analyzing food trends, she identifies a strong 89 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:04,440 market for a vegan food truck, offering a variety of tasty plant-based dishes. 90 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,240 Next we have the second stage. 91 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,160 It's called the planning stage. 92 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,620 Here's an explanation about the second stage of entrepreneurship. 93 00:06:12,620 --> 00:06:15,280 Planning is the backbone of any endeavor. 94 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:20,000 In this stage, entrepreneurs translate the insights gathered during the discovery phase 95 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,840 into a structured business plan. 96 00:06:22,840 --> 00:06:29,680 This plan details the business model, strategies for marketing, operations, and financial projections. 97 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:34,800 It acts as a roadmap for the business and is crucial for communicating the venture's 98 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,560 vision to potential investors and partners. 99 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:43,580 Effective planning not only outlines how the business will achieve its goal, but also anticipates 100 00:06:43,580 --> 00:06:46,620 potential challenges and how to address them. 101 00:06:46,620 --> 00:06:51,200 We continue with our example of Maya's food truck for the planning stage. 102 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,240 Maya develops a simple business plan that outlines her concept for a vegan food truck 103 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,200 named Healthy Bites. 104 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,840 The plan includes a menu featuring creative vegan takes on popular street foods, pricing 105 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:09,180 strategies, and targeted marketing tactics to attract both vegan customers and curious 106 00:07:09,180 --> 00:07:10,400 foodies. 107 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:16,360 The plan also outlines the routes and locations with high foot traffic, such as near universities 108 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,200 and business districts. 109 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:19,440 Next we have the third stage. 110 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,920 It's called the resource stage. 111 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,560 Resources involve gathering the necessary tools, people, and capital required to bring 112 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,840 the business plan to light. 113 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,920 Entrepreneurs must secure funding, whether through bootstrapping, loans, or investors, 114 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,480 and must also build a team whose skills and values align with the mission of the company. 115 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,600 Additionally, this stage includes acquiring technology and other resources needed for 116 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:41,760 operation. 117 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,820 Efficient resources is critical for building a strong foundation that supports sustainable 118 00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:48,520 growth and scalability of the business. 119 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:52,720 We continue to follow Maya and her food truck startup business as our example for the stage 120 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:53,720 12. 121 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,040 Maya secures funding from a combination of savings and a loan from her family member. 122 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:03,120 She purchases a used food truck and retrofits it with the necessary kitchen equipment. 123 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:08,620 Maya sources ingredients from local organic farms and hires one cook with experience in 124 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:10,160 vegan cuisine. 125 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,600 She also invests in branding, including a vibrant wrap for the truck and uniforms. 126 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,160 Next we have the fourth stage. 127 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,360 It's called the launch stage. 128 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:23,720 The launch phase is when the business goes live and enters the market. 129 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,960 This stage is about execution and bringing the planning and resources together to start 130 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:29,960 operations. 131 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:36,260 It involves a lot of moving parts, from initiating marketing campaigns to fine-tuning the product 132 00:08:36,260 --> 00:08:39,040 or service based on customer feedback. 133 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:44,340 The launch is a high-energy, high-stakes time that tests the resilience and adaptability 134 00:08:44,340 --> 00:08:46,120 of the entrepreneur. 135 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:51,220 Business in this phase is measured by the business' ability to attract and retain customers 136 00:08:51,220 --> 00:08:54,040 and to establish a food hold in the market. 137 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:59,880 For example, with Maya and her food truck, she launches Healthy Bites at a well-attended 138 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,500 local food festival, which provides high visibility. 139 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:09,160 She uses social media to announce the truck's daily locations and upcoming menu specials. 140 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:14,640 And she collaborates with local businesses and event organizers to park at upcoming events 141 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:15,640 and festivals. 142 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,080 Okay, now onto our fifth and final stage. 143 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,120 Back to Premi for this one. 144 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,280 The fifth and final stage is called the harvest stage. 145 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,880 Harvesting is the phase where entrepreneurs begin to reap the benefits of their hard work. 146 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:33,800 In this stage, the business has matured and the focus shifts from maximizing profits, 147 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,480 exploring exit strategies, or looking for expansion opportunities. 148 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,680 For some, this might mean selling the business or merging with another company, while others 149 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:45,840 might choose to scale up operations to enter new markets or develop new products. 150 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,880 The harvest stage is a time for reflection on past achievements and strategizing for 151 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,040 future growth. 152 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:56,120 And finally, with our example of Maya's Healthy Bites food truck business, after establishing 153 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:01,520 a loyal customer base and achieving consistent profitability, Maya explores growth opportunities. 154 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,440 She considers adding another truck to serve different parts of the city or potentially 155 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,320 franchising her business model. 156 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,680 Additionally, Maya looks into packaging some of her popular stores sauces and snacks for 157 00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:16,040 retail sale, leveraging her advanced reputation to enter new markets. 158 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,400 And there you have it, that's a quick overview of the five main stages of entrepreneurship. 159 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,840 To end this first segment, I did some research online about entrepreneurship and found some 160 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:26,880 interesting statistics. 161 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:27,960 Here's what I found. 162 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:32,280 The top three reasons people become entrepreneurs today are 163 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,480 Number one, they want to be their own boss. 164 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,200 Number two, they want to pursue their own passion. 165 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,160 And number three, they want to take advantage of an opportunity. 166 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,560 All right, moving on to some other statistics. 167 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:50,480 There are an estimated 582 million entrepreneurs in the world. 168 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:56,640 Next one is in the US alone, there were 31 million entrepreneurs at the beginning of 169 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:58,800 this year, 2024. 170 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,920 And yet another one is 90% of entrepreneurs are self-made. 171 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:08,760 And the next stat is 96% of self-employed people do not intend to return to work for 172 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,440 other people. 173 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:17,080 And another stat is 20% of entrepreneurs manage or own a business with a family member. 174 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:23,480 And finally, 75% of entrepreneurs said they were happy with what they are doing. 175 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,880 All right, that ends segment one of this episode. 176 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:32,760 Stick around for segment two as we continue with part seven of the secrets of El Dorado. 177 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,720 Part seven is titled revelations and connections. 178 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:45,120 We'll be right back after this short PSA. 179 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,640 Attention AP students around the world as you prepare for your upcoming exams for the following 180 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:50,640 weeks. 181 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,900 Remember that you're not alone in this journey. 182 00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:57,520 You have the support of a worldwide community of students who are also working hard to achieve 183 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:58,520 their goals. 184 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,840 Keep pushing yourself, stay focused and believe in your abilities. 185 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,800 You are capable of great things and your hard work will pay off in the end. 186 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,040 Good luck on your exams and remember that you are part of a global network of determined 187 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,720 and motivated individuals. 188 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,760 Let's show the world what we are capable of. 189 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,440 And that's our PSA today. 190 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:21,200 We are back for our second segment as we continue with part seven of our 10 part story titled 191 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,200 the secrets of El Dorado. 192 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:28,020 If you're just joining us for the first time, I suggest you pause this episode and go back 193 00:12:28,020 --> 00:12:32,280 to episode 55 where we begin with part one of the story. 194 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:37,020 Okay, part seven is titled revelations and connections. 195 00:12:37,020 --> 00:12:53,160 Before we get into part seven, Premi will give us a quick recap from our last episode. 196 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,320 In the last episode, Ava and Sira narrowly escaped the people in the meeting, ending 197 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,520 up in a ledge near the reservoir. 198 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,320 Ethan and Professor Hawthorne, having driven down from Rob's Peak, fresh with discoveries, 199 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,360 decide to make a stop at the reservoir. 200 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:11,560 Together, the four find out that Lily is missing, along with many more discoveries that only 201 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:13,840 seem to deepen the mystery. 202 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,520 We leave off with the group discussing their next steps in the very room that the people 203 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,320 earlier were meeting in. 204 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:24,240 Unbeknownst to them, they have a photo of Ava's license, yet another threat that would 205 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:25,840 endanger their lives. 206 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,840 Thank you, Premi, and without further ado, let's get back into our story where we join 207 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:39,080 Ava, Lily, Sira, Ethan, and the Professor. 208 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,880 Back at her grandmother's house and quietly enters the front door, just as the living 209 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:47,400 room clock chimes once indicating that it was one o'clock in the morning already. 210 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,280 Ava's mind was still wandering. 211 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,440 Searching and thinking about all the small coincidences and the connections her, Sira, 212 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:59,000 Ethan, and Professor Hawthorne had just discussed at the reservoir less than an hour ago. 213 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:04,360 The ride back to the town with Sira was awkwardly quiet, probably because she and Sira was trying 214 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,720 to still process what had just happened. 215 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,980 Ava also started noticing that her upper arms and wrists were quite sore from being pulled 216 00:14:11,980 --> 00:14:14,400 up off the ledge over the spillway. 217 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:19,360 The adrenaline had subsided now, and the trauma of the last two hours of events had finally 218 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:20,360 set in. 219 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,760 Wide awake still, she wonders if she should call Ted. 220 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,840 Her trusted colleague at the Bee who's helped her out in the past with quick research and 221 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,160 answers she's needed for other stories she has written. 222 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,680 Ted is single and somewhat antisocial. 223 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:39,260 Plus, Ava knows that Ted is often up late at night working anyway. 224 00:14:39,260 --> 00:14:42,680 She takes a chance and sends him a quick text message that reads, 225 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,000 I need some help on something big. 226 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,040 Can't wait till morning. 227 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:47,520 Call me if you're still up. 228 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,800 Ethan gets to show up a little before 630am, still quite tired from all the activity and 229 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,680 excitement from the day before. 230 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,380 He thinks to himself while unlocking the backdoor to his cafe. 231 00:14:57,380 --> 00:15:00,680 Was yesterday just one big dream or did it really happen? 232 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,140 He already knows the answers to the question. 233 00:15:03,140 --> 00:15:07,140 Yesterday was not a normal day for a guy like Ethan, but he feels a sense of pride knowing 234 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:11,240 that the tech projects he had been developing all seemed to work quite well. 235 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,860 The dragging device, the integrated software, and the mini drone. 236 00:15:14,860 --> 00:15:18,480 He enters the shop through the back door and turns the lights on in his office, knowing 237 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,760 that the others would be showing up through the back door in about 15 minutes. 238 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:26,400 The morning bakery crew was already in the shop kitchen preparing and plating all the 239 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,440 evening's fresh baked bread and pastries for the day. 240 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:34,200 Ethan loved this time of the day as it was calm before the busyness of the day. 241 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:39,040 As he glanced from the back room through the cafe seating area at the front windows, he 242 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,440 noticed that there were already customers starting to line up to get into the cafe first. 243 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:48,280 As Sierra made her way to the cafe that early morning, she would often walk down Main Street 244 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:53,040 and enter through the front doors about 15 minutes before her shift would start. 245 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:59,560 However, on this day, Sierra walked past the front of the cafe, past a dozen or so customers 246 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:04,400 who were waiting outside, and turned the corner to the alley and made her way to the back 247 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,920 door of the cafe as Ethan had instructed the night before. 248 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:14,080 As Sierra turns the corner to the alley, she notices that Professor Hawthorne and Ava are 249 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,200 already standing by the back door of the cafe talking quietly. 250 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,320 Professor Hawthorne looks down at his watch and he notices Sierra walking toward both 251 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:27,120 him and Ava in the alley and says, alright, let's knock on the door and get inside before 252 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,320 anyone else sees us out here altogether. 253 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:34,080 Ava knocks to Sierra as if to say hello without actually saying hello, and then turns around 254 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:39,120 and knocks three times on the back door of the cafe as Ethan had instructed. 255 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,960 Ethan hears knocking on the black door, rushes over and opens the door. 256 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,920 He is greeted by the Professor, Sierra and Ava as he gestures to them to hurry inside 257 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,960 and go straight to his office, which is situated just off the main kitchen in the back of the 258 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:53,960 cafe. 259 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:58,320 He looks at the three as they enter the back of the cafe and says, make yourself at home, 260 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,760 I've got a check on the front area and make sure my staff are ready to open and then I'll 261 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:02,760 be right back. 262 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:08,400 At this time, it was almost 7am in the morning, opening time, and the crowds from the town's 263 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,480 annual Gold Rush Days festivities were already up and mingling around the downtown area. 264 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,940 The line in front of Ethan's cafe had gotten longer as well. 265 00:17:16,940 --> 00:17:21,360 After entering Ethan's office and getting situated, Ava looks at Sierra and Professor 266 00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:25,640 Hawthorne and says, guys, I've got some news to share but I'll wait until Ethan gets in 267 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:26,640 here. 268 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:31,480 At that moment, Ethan pops his head in the office and says, guys, one of my morning front 269 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:36,400 cafe staff members hasn't shown up yet so I have to go cover for her until she gets 270 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,400 here. 271 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,440 You can get started without me, just fill me in later. 272 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,720 Ethan turns around and walks out of the room and says under his breath, man, the joys of 273 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,720 owning your own business. 274 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,440 Ava jumps right in as soon as Ethan leaves. 275 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,840 I couldn't sleep last night when I got home so I texted my colleague at the B and asked 276 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,240 for another big favor. 277 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:56,960 Thankfully, he was still awake. 278 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:02,400 Anyway, he reluctantly said yes after I persuaded him that he could be included as a collaborator 279 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,440 on one of my articles. 280 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,400 He got in touch with his confidential contact at the FBI in the middle of the night who 281 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,200 ran a tax check on the two license plates in my photo. 282 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:16,360 Long story short, one of the cars from last night is registered to the office of the mayor 283 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:18,440 of Coloma, Anthony Ruiz. 284 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,520 Ava could tell by the look on Professor Hawthorne's face that he was as stunned as she had been 285 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,480 last night when she had found out the news. 286 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,160 Neither the professor nor Sarah said a word. 287 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,440 They both just had a look of disbelief on their faces. 288 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,360 Ava goes on, guys, this gets even deeper. 289 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:39,280 The second car in the photo is registered to the office of none other than California 290 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,800 State Representative Deborah Stewart Brown. 291 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,440 You could hear a pin drop in the room. 292 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:51,360 Sarah quickly looks at both the professor and Ava and then says quietly, so we now know 293 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:56,220 the identities of three of the five people who were in that meeting last night, a prominent 294 00:18:56,220 --> 00:19:00,360 professor from the college, the town mayor, and a state representative. 295 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:03,880 Whoa, then who were the other two? 296 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:05,480 This is a big deal, right? 297 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,440 Sarah says as she looks at both Professor Hawthorne and Ava. 298 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:14,420 Professor Hawthorne speaks up now and says, Ava, how confident are you with that source 299 00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:15,420 at the FBI? 300 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:20,640 Ava responds, he's a solid source, another reporter at the BU, the same source to help 301 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:25,480 support the story we broke about next gen pharmaceuticals and the rampant fraud that 302 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,040 company was practicing. 303 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,960 Yeah, he's solid, Ava finishes. 304 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:35,320 There's nothing for him to gain or lose by feeding my colleague Ted into this info. 305 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:39,520 He just ran the tags, a standard procedure they do all the time from their office. 306 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,440 The only added bonus for us is that he did it in the middle of the night. 307 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:48,360 Professor Hawthorne then says, Wow, my good buddy Sharpton, the mayor and the state rep 308 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:50,440 Brown are all mixed up in this thing. 309 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:55,800 I mean, they seem to be involved with kidnapping two people, first gen and now Lily. 310 00:19:55,800 --> 00:20:00,400 He continues thinking out loud here, so if Lily went to the college lab yesterday before 311 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,160 she disappeared, then what was she working? 312 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,920 Ava responds before the professor could finish his sentence. 313 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:11,780 I remember her saying that she was going to test out the formula or at least try the formula 314 00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:15,300 that Shin had written on the note he gave to you a while back. 315 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:19,040 The same note where he also included the coordinates of the reservoir. 316 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:26,120 Sierra interjects, what if she discovers something about that formula and if Professor Sharpton 317 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:31,520 was there at the same time, it's possible she was taken from the lab at that time. 318 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:36,440 Professor Hawthorne responds, at some point, I think we'll need to contact the FBI and 319 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,320 report to them about Chen and Lily and give them our leads. 320 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:45,440 This could be much deeper than what we think, and I don't want either one of you or Ethan 321 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:46,440 to be endangered. 322 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:51,960 Ava Lynn says, I hear you, but I'd like to take a field trip first before we get to the 323 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:53,600 FBI involved. 324 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,080 The only reason I say this is because I think we need some more evidence in order for them 325 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,600 to secure where and to search places or arrest people. 326 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:06,960 Basically, all we have right now is a recording, a blurry photo of two license plates, an unpublished 327 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:12,240 old manuscript, a handwritten note, and the knowledge that two people we know are presumably 328 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,240 missing may be taken against their rule. 329 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,520 The FBI could say to us, for all we know, the two missing people could have just run 330 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:21,360 off with each other. 331 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:26,560 We need more evidence or a better lead in order to commit resources and secure where. 332 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:30,440 Looking right at Ava, the professor says, I know what you're thinking and we can pull 333 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,440 it off pretty easily. 334 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,440 You're wanting to go find the underground tunnels at the site of Sutter's Mill, aren't 335 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:37,440 you? 336 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:42,260 Ava nods her head and then asks, how will that be easy though? 337 00:21:42,260 --> 00:21:46,320 Professor Hawthorne looks at both Ava and Ciara and says, because I'm friends with 338 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:52,520 old man John Sutter, the person whose name is on that deed of land, the land that's 339 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,240 now a historical site and a tourist attraction. 340 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,280 Old man Sutter doesn't live there, but I could call him and get his permission to poke 341 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,740 around all over that property. 342 00:22:02,740 --> 00:22:07,440 He loves my previous archaeological work and we've had many conversations about it when 343 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:08,440 he's in town. 344 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:12,720 You see, even though old man John Sutter, a distant relative of the original owner 345 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:16,760 of the land at Sutter's Mill, his name is on the land deed. 346 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,120 He doesn't take care or manage the property. 347 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,280 He's actually paid by the state of California to not manage it. 348 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:27,220 Instead, the state manages it because it was designated many, many years ago as a historical 349 00:22:27,220 --> 00:22:28,600 state landmark. 350 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,200 Therefore, the state of California has the authority and money to manage and take care 351 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,800 of the property and its surroundings. 352 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:40,600 It's also common knowledge that the state built an exact replica of the famous sawmill 353 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:46,180 for tourism purposes because the original sawmill rotted and crumbled decades ago. 354 00:22:46,180 --> 00:22:50,840 Old man John Sutter lives a few counties over and doesn't come by here much anymore. 355 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,400 I think he's in his late 80s or early 90s right now. 356 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,520 I'll give him a call in a minute and get permission to go to his property before it opens to the 357 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,440 public and do some surveying. 358 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,760 I'll say we are doing some research for some of my classes for next measure. 359 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,440 A few minutes later, as the professor is talking to old man Sutter on the phone, the professor 360 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,640 looks over at Ava and Sierra and gives them a thumbs up. 361 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:16,900 Professor then says, yup, it's that easy and continues. 362 00:23:16,900 --> 00:23:22,200 The property opens to the public at 10 or 1030 this morning, so we should head over 363 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:23,200 there now. 364 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,360 I'll drive since there will be much less suspicion than having a stranger's car parked 365 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:29,280 on the property like yours, Ava. 366 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:34,000 Ava looks at Sierra and then the professor and says, all right, we're doing this. 367 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,240 Sierra, you have the entire day off, right? 368 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,600 Yeah, I do. 369 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,280 Sierra answers, but what about Ethan? 370 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:45,000 I mean, I can go up front in the cafe and tell him what our plan is. 371 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,040 Not sure he can leave the cafe today again. 372 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,560 Sierra leaves the office to go tell Ethan. 373 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:56,200 She returns a few minutes late and reports, guys, the cafe is slammed right now. 374 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,840 So many customers. 375 00:23:57,840 --> 00:23:59,520 Ethan said to go without him. 376 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:04,480 He also said we should each take one of his small tracking devices, which are in the top 377 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,400 drawer of his desk behind you, Ava. 378 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,960 I'll also bring Lily's backpack with me. 379 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:14,680 Professor Hawthorne responds as he points to his old worn messenger bag he never leaves 380 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:16,080 home without. 381 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,920 The manuscript pages I have are clipped together with one of Ethan's devices already. 382 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:25,840 Good idea, Ethan, Ava says under her breath as she opens the top drawer of her desk and 383 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:31,240 grabs one of the remaining paperclip tracking devices from the front part of the top drawer. 384 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,600 She continues, Sierra, here's one for you, too. 385 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,920 Let's just put them in our front pants pockets. 386 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,040 Ethan has the ability to follow all three of us now. 387 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:45,440 Just in case something were to go happen to any of us, Ethan's back here and can help 388 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,120 be supported if needed. 389 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:50,680 My Bronco is parked a block away down the street on the left. 390 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,440 Meet me there in 10 minutes and I'll drive us over to Old Man Sutter's property. 391 00:24:54,440 --> 00:25:00,320 Ava, I hope you are ready to take notes for your articles, Professor says as he exits 392 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,560 the cafe office and then leaves the cafe out the back door into the alley. 393 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:10,200 Sierra and Ava follow a few minutes later after Sierra fetches both of them a coffee 394 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:14,360 and bagel for the road. 395 00:25:14,360 --> 00:25:22,840 Meanwhile, Lily finds herself sitting on a small flimsy mattress cushion she used as 396 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,960 a bed the night before. 397 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,160 She's staring at a rocky dirt wall while a small single light bulb hangs from a wire 398 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:36,360 from the wall behind her and dimly lights up the small space she's being held in. 399 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:42,920 She noticed a metal gate to her right and left that leads to long corridors or passageways 400 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,380 that then lead somewhere else. 401 00:25:45,380 --> 00:25:50,920 She has a pounding headache that seems to be getting better, but it still lingers. 402 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,920 Lily has no idea what time it is or where she's at. 403 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,000 All she knows is that she seems to be trapped. 404 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:03,200 The last thing she remembers about yesterday is being in the science lab at the college 405 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,400 and then everything suddenly going dark. 406 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,120 Then she woke up in this small, musty space or room a few hours ago. 407 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:16,240 She says to herself, it seems to be morning because my body clock wakes me up religiously 408 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:21,200 around 730 every morning or sometimes close to that. 409 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:26,840 All of the sudden she hears footsteps approaching and then hears a familiar voice say, 410 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:33,000 Lily, I didn't expect you to get mixed up with this. 411 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,280 First Chen and now you. 412 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,200 Come on man, you both should have left this alone. 413 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,080 You've put me in a very difficult situation. 414 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:47,280 And now other people who are not as understanding and as kind as I am are contemplating on what 415 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,600 they should do with you both. 416 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,880 Professor Sharpton continues as Lily looks up at him. 417 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:57,280 It would be in your best interest to tell me everything you know and tell me if your 418 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,720 friends also know the same information. 419 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,880 Lily responds with a faint voice. 420 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,040 What information are you talking about? 421 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,360 My friends and I were just looking for Chen. 422 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:10,840 Sharpton snaps back. 423 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,120 The formula, Lily, the formula. 424 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:15,240 Where did you get that formula from? 425 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,360 That's what I am talking about. 426 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:21,600 Professor Sharpton lifts up Lily's cell phone and shows it to her, then points to a photo 427 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,120 of Chen's note. 428 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:27,200 The note that Chen had written and gave to Professor Hawthorne the week before. 429 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:31,200 Lily, you see this photo and the formula written on this note? 430 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,000 Some very important people are not happy about this note. 431 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,120 So for your own sake, tell me what you know. 432 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:39,720 He then follows that up with another question. 433 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,120 Is it just you and the other two girls that are involved? 434 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:45,040 What do they know? 435 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:51,120 He finishes by saying, tell me everything and this might end well for you. 436 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:57,280 Realizing that this is not some terrible misunderstanding, Lily pauses for a moment before answering 437 00:27:57,280 --> 00:27:58,440 Sharpton. 438 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:03,360 She then responds, the two girls who were with me the other day at the lab don't know 439 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:04,360 anything. 440 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:09,080 They were having lunch with me and wanted to ride along when I told them I wanted to 441 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,320 see if Chen was at the lab. 442 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:17,920 Then when we didn't find him there, we went and asked Professor Hawthorne, like you suggested, 443 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,760 and he wasn't there either. 444 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,040 Sharpton looks at Lily with a stern expression. 445 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,720 I hope for your sake you are telling the truth. 446 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,640 He turns around and walks back out the same dark corridor he came from and closes the 447 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,920 metal gate behind him. 448 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,600 Lily peers down the long corridor through the metal gate that Sharpton had just closed 449 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:41,880 and notices that there was another person standing further down the passageway. 450 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:47,000 She watches as Sharpton stops and talks briefly with the other person. 451 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,840 The mystery person is standing in a shadow so she can't make it out clearly who it 452 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:52,840 is. 453 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:57,380 However, she does notice that the person is much larger than Sharpton. 454 00:28:57,380 --> 00:29:02,600 She then watches as Sharpton walks off and disappears around a corner further down the 455 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:09,160 corridor. 456 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:13,220 Alright Professor Hawthorne says as he turns off the ignition, we're here. 457 00:29:13,220 --> 00:29:19,480 The three of them get out of the Bronco and pause for a bit to take in the surroundings. 458 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,560 The road they drove up on follows the American River through the valley. 459 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:29,880 It's a beautiful drive as it sits in a valley along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 460 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,880 Inside the road on this particular section is a small pull-off area where tourists can 461 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:39,520 stop and park their cars before trekking over the American River by way of a narrow wooden 462 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:41,160 pedestrian bridge. 463 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:45,120 Three will have to walk over the bridge in order to gain access to the original site 464 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,080 of Sutter's Mill. 465 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:51,160 Professor Hawthorne looks around and points toward the pedestrian bridge several meters 466 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:55,680 away and says, we'll need to cross that bridge as the original location of Sutter's 467 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,320 Mill sits opposite us on the other side of the river. 468 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,240 However, the original mill is not there anymore. 469 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:06,920 The State Parks Commission built a replica which sits on the same site as the original 470 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:07,920 mill did. 471 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,800 At least that's what the sign says. 472 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:15,720 Hawthorne's familiar with this area as he's been here before several times, mainly as 473 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:21,640 a tourist, to visit the original site of Sutter's Mill where the first gold was found, the place 474 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,520 where the historic California Gold Rush all started. 475 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:30,240 As the three are walking to the site, Hawthorne continues explaining other details about Old 476 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,960 Man Sutter's property to Ava and Sierra. 477 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:39,840 He continues, a small front portion of the property has been designated as a National 478 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:45,140 Historic Landmark and is taken care of by the California State Park Association. 479 00:30:45,140 --> 00:30:49,240 Tourists are allowed to access about half acre of the front part of the property which 480 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,380 butts up against the river. 481 00:30:51,380 --> 00:30:57,200 This half acre is open to the public from I think 10, 1030 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 482 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,680 I think the State Park Rangers take care to open and close the gate at the bridge every 483 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:02,680 day. 484 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:07,080 Professor Hawthorne continues talking as they reach the other side of the river and continue 485 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,840 trekking along a small trail along the bank of the river that leads to the replica sawmill 486 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:12,840 site. 487 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:17,440 I bet there have been some tourists out here this week because the annual gold rush festival 488 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,720 happening in town, the professor mumbles. 489 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:24,840 Ava sees the mill structure ahead and says, oh yeah, I remember coming here a long time 490 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,400 ago with my grandparents when I was a kid. 491 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:32,000 I don't remember much else but I think my grandma still has some photos of me standing 492 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,080 up on the mill overlooking the river below. 493 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,360 I don't think I've ever been here before. 494 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:41,760 I mean I've seen signs on the road to this place but we never stop to check it out. 495 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:46,320 It's kind of interesting that when you grow up in a place that tourists come to, you don't 496 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,600 really go see the sites yourself. 497 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:53,060 Professor Hawthorne continues, so true Sierra, I've noticed that with some of the places 498 00:31:53,060 --> 00:31:54,060 I've lived. 499 00:31:54,060 --> 00:31:55,700 Ok, we're here. 500 00:31:55,700 --> 00:31:59,840 Let's climb the stairs to the mill platform and that will give us a view over the back 501 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,000 fence at some of the property. 502 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:07,040 The three climb the stairs that go up about 12 feet off the ground to an open raised and 503 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:08,800 covered platform. 504 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:13,240 From this vantage point, the three can look out over the back part of the half acre and 505 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:18,240 see a little over the back fence that separates the half acre public access area from the 506 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:22,800 other 30 plus acres, which is private property and not open to the public. 507 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:27,600 The remaining 30 some acres is all fenced in and extends up the side of the mountain. 508 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,440 The slope of the property is not steep but gradual. 509 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,920 There are a lot more rocks, boulders, and trees on the restricted area of the property. 510 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:40,520 The property is somewhat a rectangular shape as it extends up the mountain and the last 511 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,940 five plus acres can be quite steep. 512 00:32:42,940 --> 00:32:46,880 The professor points toward the back right corner fence area of the half acre lot and 513 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:52,680 says Old Man Sutter said there's a small locked gate back there we can access in order 514 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:54,900 to get onto the back 30 acres. 515 00:32:54,900 --> 00:32:56,520 He gave me the padlock code. 516 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,960 If I were to take a guess and if that tunnel system is actually here, it would be on the 517 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:06,920 private property, probably hidden from sight and maybe obscured a bit by natural surroundings. 518 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:12,320 If you were to hide something, whatever it is, Eva says after a moment, her shrewd eyes 519 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,840 sweeping across the landscape, it would be this place. 520 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:19,080 The circle, sight, and tourist attraction and all, they're smart. 521 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,560 They might have done bad things but they're smart. 522 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:22,560 I'll give them that. 523 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,080 Sarah nods, a look of worry on her face. 524 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:27,080 You're right. 525 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,880 The only thing is, that's bad for us. 526 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,760 The smarter they are, the more dangerous I feel we can get into. 527 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:39,520 Eva swallows, thinking to herself, and the bigger this story will be for the bee. 528 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,040 She keeps quiet, however, before speaking up. 529 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,960 Okay, Professor, should we go and try to access the property? 530 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,440 Yes, we didn't come all this way just to look at it from up here. 531 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,800 I mean, this is quite unsettling and we need to find some more answers and evidence so 532 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:55,760 we can get the FBI involved. 533 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:59,760 The Professor says as he climbs back down off the replica mill platform. 534 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:01,880 Besides, we didn't come here as tourists. 535 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:06,480 Sarah and Eva follow Professor Hawthorne as they make their way to the back of the half 536 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:11,400 acre and finds the small metal fence gate at the right corner of the fence as described 537 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:13,200 by Old Man Sutter. 538 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,680 She looks around and realizes that they were the only people in the property and says, 539 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:21,320 we're really lucky to be the only ones here right now. 540 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:25,280 Otherwise, tourists would definitely have questions for us. 541 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:29,440 Yeah, for sure, Eva says before glancing down at her watch. 542 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:34,600 Alright, it's a little past 10, so we should hurry up as there may be some more showing 543 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:35,600 up soon. 544 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:40,160 Professor Hawthorne nods, unlocks the padlock with the code that Old Man Sutter gave him 545 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:44,940 and opens the squeaky fence door. 546 00:34:44,940 --> 00:34:48,960 After all three of them make their way through the fence door, exiting the public access 547 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,760 area and entering the private property, the Professor secures the fence door shut and 548 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:54,760 locks the padlock. 549 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,920 Don't be alarmed, but I need to shut the fence door and lock the padlock. 550 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:04,460 We don't need any curious tourists accidentally wandering back here where they don't belong. 551 00:35:04,460 --> 00:35:09,840 They begin hiking around and exploring areas of the back property, areas that are not flat, 552 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:15,720 rock formations and other natural formations that may hide an entrance to a tunnel system. 553 00:35:15,720 --> 00:35:19,920 They continue doing this as they trek upwards towards higher elevation. 554 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:25,200 After about 30 minutes of hiking around and exploring, slowly and methodically, their 555 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:26,840 efforts seem fruitless. 556 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:32,840 Suddenly, Ciara spots a large rock formation jutting out of the side of the mountain, some 557 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,340 25 or so meters up ahead of the tree. 558 00:35:36,340 --> 00:35:41,480 The large rocks were partially covered by underbrush and obscured by several large pine 559 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:42,480 trees. 560 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:47,200 The rock formation included two large boulders which rested next to each other with a small 561 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,120 space left between them. 562 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:53,400 It looked like a shallow cave at first glance from the distance she was at. 563 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,480 She yells out to the Professor and Ava. 564 00:35:55,480 --> 00:36:00,680 I see something that looks to be an entrance to either a shallow cave or something else. 565 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:05,360 She starts walking towards it and notices Ava and the Professor moving to where she 566 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:07,440 was at and then following her. 567 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:11,080 After several minutes, they reach the large rock formation. 568 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:16,120 Ciara peers through the space between the boulders at the shallow cave and sees nothing, 569 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:19,000 just the back of the cave which was just some muddy dirt. 570 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:23,920 Ava and the Professor walk around to the back of the rock formation where the rocks seem 571 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,560 to go into the side of the mountain. 572 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:31,920 Ava is out front and notices right away that there are no trees or underbrush growing around 573 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:33,160 this area. 574 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:37,840 Maybe this is on purpose for some reason, she thinks herself. 575 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:42,800 Ava looks back at Professor Hawthorne who is right behind her and says, hmmm, there 576 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:48,240 doesn't seem to be any sort of entrance around here but it does look a little suspicious 577 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:53,280 as if the underbrush and trees were cut down on purpose and recently. 578 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:59,000 I agree, Professor Hawthorne says, now walking past Ava as Ciara is now standing there as 579 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:00,080 well. 580 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:04,440 The Professor continues and says, I wonder how they would have… 581 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,400 Professor Hawthorne stops mid-sentence. 582 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:12,800 Ciara watches in slow motion as his left foot trips over something, making a metal clanging 583 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:13,800 noise. 584 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,160 He then loses his balance and starts to fall forward. 585 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:22,000 Ciara and Ava, both standing close to him, reach out and grab his arm and backpack, steadying 586 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,360 the Professor on the ground before he falls. 587 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:26,520 Oh, I'm alright, thank you. 588 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:29,920 You've returned the favor from the other night at the reservoir, thank you. 589 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:34,560 The Professor says as he bends down and rubs his shin he just bruised. 590 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:38,980 I think we just literally stumbled upon a metal door or entrance. 591 00:37:38,980 --> 00:37:43,700 That said, he walks over to the spot where he tripped, carefully this time, to reveal 592 00:37:43,700 --> 00:37:48,420 that amidst the grass and cut underbrush stood a metal lever. 593 00:37:48,420 --> 00:37:51,680 It was U-shaped and it clearly did not belong. 594 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:56,620 Ava and Ciara now stand next to the Professor as he carefully pulls the lever and slowly 595 00:37:56,620 --> 00:37:58,520 a metal door comes into view. 596 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:02,480 As it turns out, the grass and underbrush had concealed the door which seemed to lead 597 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,280 directly into the mountain when open. 598 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:09,720 Ciara is amazed at the sight of a door on the side of the mountain. 599 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:14,680 Once the Professor pulls the heavy door open and the sunlight glimmers in a bit, Ciara 600 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:19,520 and Ava are able to see the faint outlines of what looked like to be wooden stairs that 601 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:20,840 lead downward. 602 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:25,920 The stairs were narrow and the wood used for the stairs looked quite old and worn. 603 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:28,680 She is suddenly overcome with fear. 604 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:32,840 Alright, look at that, Ava says, light shining in her eyes. 605 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:34,840 Are you ready to explore? 606 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:40,560 Ava, Ciara starts and she puts a hand on her now fiercely beating heart. 607 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:43,360 I don't know if we should go in there. 608 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,080 Professor Hawthorne nods, peering down at the darkness below. 609 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,840 Ava, I think Ciara is right. 610 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:49,720 I don't know if we should. 611 00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:53,640 We need to move ahead cautiously and be smart about our next decisions. 612 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:59,200 However, this may or may not be the evidence we need in order for a warrant to be issued. 613 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,760 On the other hand, we need to remember that Chen and Lily are still missing and those 614 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:04,980 people are still out there. 615 00:39:04,980 --> 00:39:07,640 We have no idea what is down in this tunnel. 616 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,360 Besides, these are the people who took Lily and Chen. 617 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:13,400 I don't know how safe it is. 618 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,800 Professor Hawthorne thinks about his family and the girls' families. 619 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:21,160 I really don't want anything to happen to either one of you or myself. 620 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:25,700 Ava bites her teeth, thinking less about the danger and more about the excitement in her 621 00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:27,960 veins and the article for the beat. 622 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,440 I mean, she used a sign. 623 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:35,360 I know where you two are coming from and it's definitely dangerous. 624 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,580 But the only thing is, this wouldn't be enough evidence. 625 00:39:39,580 --> 00:39:43,240 The most we can do without going down is take some photos. 626 00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:45,320 That's probably not going to be enough. 627 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:51,120 Besides, the FBI could easily dismiss this as some old storeroom or, I don't know, a 628 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:55,240 door to some weird cellar in the forest on an old guy's property. 629 00:39:55,240 --> 00:39:57,560 Ava, you do have a point. 630 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:01,520 But let's not deny this could happen if we proceed. 631 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:02,520 Think about it. 632 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:06,280 We're going down into an underground tunnel without knowing where it leads. 633 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:10,560 We may run into someone from that bad guy meeting you observed the other night. 634 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:11,680 Then what? 635 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:13,600 The professor asks. 636 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:14,600 That's true. 637 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,440 But you know who might also be down there? 638 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:21,360 Lily and possibly Chen. 639 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:23,400 You're right, it's dangerous. 640 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:26,160 But Lily and Chen, they're also in danger. 641 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:32,760 Every minute we wait or hesitate, they may be closer to a terrible ending, Ava says. 642 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:36,680 That's true, Sierra says, before thinking of something. 643 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:42,160 And honestly, I'll want to have known that I tried helping the best I possibly could. 644 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:47,120 And doing the best isn't standing in front of the tunnels, where she's kept and choosing 645 00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:48,120 to go home. 646 00:40:48,120 --> 00:40:51,240 I'm a little scared, but I'll be okay. 647 00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:53,040 I'm in if you are. 648 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:57,660 Professor Hawthorne sighs, torn between his curiosity and the responsibility he feels 649 00:40:57,660 --> 00:40:59,400 for these two girls with him. 650 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:05,040 Alright, let's do this very cautiously, the professor says, ignoring the unsettling feeling 651 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:06,740 he feels in his gut. 652 00:41:06,740 --> 00:41:11,520 With that said, the professor pulls the door open again slowly and all three peer down 653 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:15,640 into the dark entrance of the tunnel. 654 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:20,360 As the professor holds the door open, Ava and Sierra turn on their phone flashlights 655 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:26,520 and one by one they carefully climb down the narrow staircase, some eight rungs down toward 656 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:27,880 the dirt ground. 657 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:32,640 Ava first, then looking up to give Sierra the thumbs up sign. 658 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:36,820 Sierra follows and then reaching to the bottom looks up at the professor who is still holding 659 00:41:36,820 --> 00:41:40,320 the door open and gives him the thumbs up. 660 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:45,080 The professor climbs down the stairs and carefully closes the door above him which makes a metal 661 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,040 latching sound. 662 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:52,800 With that, they transcend into the darkness, save for two faint rays of light from their 663 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:55,560 phones that might not be enough to save them. 664 00:41:55,560 --> 00:42:00,000 The light from the phone is enough to see just a few meters in front of them and when 665 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:05,520 Ava tilts her phone downwards, they notice freshly made footprints under their feet leading 666 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:13,160 into the dark, dark tunnel. 667 00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:18,880 Unbeknownst to Ava, Sierra, Professor Hawthorne, or Liddy herself, the underground room that 668 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:23,040 Liddy is locked in is not far from where the others were. 669 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:27,960 Liddy, after being questioned by Professor Sharpton and then watching him leave her small 670 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:31,800 room, she takes a moment to study her surroundings better. 671 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:36,000 To the right, through the metal closed gate, down the corridor that Professor Sharpton 672 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:40,120 left from, is a silhouette of the larger man she saw. 673 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:45,100 Still standing there, she assumes this person is a guard or something. 674 00:42:45,100 --> 00:42:49,840 Looking forward and toward the opposite wall that she is sitting against, she notices that 675 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:52,880 what looks like a dirty piece of clothing. 676 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:54,440 She gets up and grabs it. 677 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:57,160 It's a sweatshirt, she thinks to herself. 678 00:42:57,160 --> 00:43:05,240 It's a college sweatshirt and the initials on this inside tag spell C-H-E-N. 679 00:43:05,240 --> 00:43:06,720 This is Chen's sweatshirt. 680 00:43:06,720 --> 00:43:10,520 He must either still be here somewhere or maybe they moved him. 681 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:14,900 As she is thinking this, she looks to her left toward the other corridor that blocks 682 00:43:14,900 --> 00:43:16,320 off with the metal gate. 683 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:21,320 She looks closer and notices that the metal latch and lock on that gate is not properly 684 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:22,580 fastened. 685 00:43:22,580 --> 00:43:44,520 She lets out a soft gasp. 686 00:43:53,160 --> 00:44:01,040 As we end this episode, I hope our first segment about the topic and stages of entrepreneurship 687 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:02,860 was helpful and informative. 688 00:44:02,860 --> 00:44:04,920 Are you thinking about starting a business? 689 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:07,200 Maybe you want to take that leap and be your own boss. 690 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:12,440 Well, follow the five stages in the process as they can be your guide through that journey. 691 00:44:12,440 --> 00:44:17,760 And as always, this podcast would not be possible without the hard work and support of our International 692 00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:19,240 Student Production Team. 693 00:44:19,240 --> 00:44:25,000 All music and sound effects are courtesy of Pixabay.com, a vibrant community of creatives 694 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:28,840 sharing copyright free images, videos, and music. 695 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:31,280 And we are signing off until next time. 696 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:33,120 We are Students Incorporated. 697 00:44:33,120 --> 00:44:59,960 Because your voice matters.