Eli stuck around long enough to answer a few questions. No one really wanted to believe him. However, they didn't have much choice in the matter. They all knew him by reputation and sadly, personal experience. They knew he wasn't one to lie, or to be trifled with. When the question seemed to be done, or at least at short stopping point. Elijah escaped into his run down shack of a house and took one more long pull on his bottle. Packing a few more things into a duffel bag and got ready to leave. 

If there was one thing you could always count on in these hills, its that every shit apple redneck was looking for a payday. Cops were no exception. Eli tossed two rolls of money on the table as he walked passed Linehouse. "Going to the station. Problem?" It wasn't a question. Linehouse shook his head and hoped to all that was holy that Elijah was telling the truth. If worse came to worse, Linehouse would tell people he just escaped. 

Elijah was a bit of a... Folk lore. The hermit or troll in the cave to stay away from. One day as a teenager he just up and left. Some months later he sent a letter detailing that he had join military and would return one day. People followed his exploits, well they followed as best they could, but details became more and more harder to find. Then one day, out of the blue he had returned. Every now and then some friends would show up and spend a week or two with him but they always kept themselves and stayed out town. All anyone saw of them was a vehicle coming and going. 

As time went on, rumors started to spread about Elijah. Why he was always alone, what he did the military, Elijah never listened nor did he care. He just went on about his day and tried not to say too much. Silence was always the best counter. Rumors ranged from a family that was murdered or left him to him being wanted for war crimes. No one was really sure to make for him so they left him alone for the most part. The only people he really ever talked to where those at cash registers, the waiters or waitresses and bartenders. Elijah was may have been cold and silent, but he wasn't rude or impolite. People were scared of him, even law enforcement officers were worried about him. They had good reason to be, he wasn't one to out looking for trouble, but if it found him... G-d help anyone around because it was going to be bad for everyone involved.

Eli wondered how long it would take for him to get pulled over, but the cops never came. As truck sat at the edge of the road. He figured if he was gonna leave these hills, there was only one person he owed anything to. A trip to the grave yard would solve that issue. He pulled into the grave yard and walked to an isolated part, all of the tombstones had the same name of Craigh etched on them. He walked to one with the Ophelia A. Craigh and sat in front of it. 

"Well Mama, I've done this time. I think I really stepped in it this time. You know that Wilson boy? Always covered in grease and oil? Found him tied to a tree in the front yard... Looks like he'd been skinned alive." His voice was a bit shaky as he stared off into the distance. Say what you will about Elijah Craigh, but even bad men loved their Mamas. "Adalida and Riley are doing good I hear they moved in some family..." Eli said trying to find the right words. 

"I don't know what's going yet, maybe I'll find out but I can't stay here. Every methhead and oxyfiend will be after me before long, and the cops ain't worth a shit around here so I gotta go or be ready to kill a lot of people." He rubbed the side of head with a now sobering hand."I'm sorry I didn't turn out any better. Lord knows you tried Mama... I'll... Tell the girls you said hello if I see them." He bent over, kissed the tombstone and patted it a few times before leaving with a heavy sigh. 

I didn't take much longer for Eli to get to the Sheriff's office. He walked in and made his way to the break room and placed one of his bags against the door. "Lorrie." Was the only thing he said, the name of the front desk lady. He sat against the wall, ready to get at least a little sleep before someone came in. There was feeling he was going to need every bit of rest he could get.