11
October 21st, 10:15 AM
The phone at the Sheriff’s Department was ringing off the hook. Bethany was down the hall filing a vandalizing report and came jogging back into the front of the station. Out of breath, she answered the phone.
“Sheriff’s Department. How can I direct your call?”
“Bethany?” a bothered voice sobbed on the other line.
“Yes?” she asked, trying to put a face with the voice.
“It’s Abe.”
“Abe? What’s wrong, honey?” Bethany was concerned. She looked at her watch. Abe usually had the mail delivered by now.
“I found a body. I’m on my route right now.” Abe was trying to stay calm, but it was obvious that he was distressed by what he’d seen.
“Where are you?” Bethany was quick to grab the nearest pen and notepad.
“Plain Woods Road.”
“Abe, do you recognize the body? Who is it?” Bethany said, crossing her fingers for an immediate answer.
Abe’s voice trembled on the other line. “I…I can’t tell.”
Bethany’s heart began pounding. She slammed the phone down and ran back to Carter’s office, calling for him.
10:35 AM
Sheriff Carter’s cruiser came to a screeching halt, painting the road with black tire marks. He kept the lights flashing as he leapt out and raced to the idle mail truck. Reed jumped out from the passenger seat and quickly followed his Sheriff.
Sirens ignited in the background as Carter and Reed rushed to Abe, who was sitting down outside of his mail truck.
“Abe! Where’s the body?” Carter came off as demanding, but it was necessary.
Abe had been vomiting. He lifted his shaking arm and pointed to the ditch on the side of the road, just ahead of his truck. Carter bolted for the ditch and Reed was right behind him.
Carter stopped and looked in horror into the ditch. It was worse than he imagined. The mangled body of one of Stewart Hollow’s very own was spread out in the ditch. Limbs hung by single tendons, deep cuts had spilled blood into the grass, and the throat had been completely ripped out. The slashed face had been beaten to a pulp and was covered in blood. It was impossible to identify the victim, although it was clearly a female.
12:16 PM
There was a media circus outside of the First Untied Hospital five miles outside of town. Police guarded the entrances as every single reporter and photographer was trying to get in. Flashing lights shot from cameras and reporters were yelling at one another, speculating as to what was happening.
Inside the hospital, down a clean, bright hallway, a room held the gory remains of the girl on Plain Woods Road. Stacy Reed left the room and entered another one where Carter and Reed stood by. The town’s Mayor, Bernard Hopkins, stood by Carter, angered.
Stacy approached the three men in her blue scrubs and pulled down her surgical mask.
“We have an ID on her. Her name is Kristen Keller. Looks like she worked at…”
“Let me guess,” Mayor Hopkins eagerly interrupted, “the community center?”
Stacy nodded.
Mayor Hopkins turned to Carter, who cowered. “Sheriff, it appears you have not done your job here. You have let some sick psycho walk all over this town for the past 20 days, killing innocent people for his own sick pleasure. You have no person of interest at the moment, no leads, no clues, and worst of all, you have what use to be a peaceful, family oriented community, afraid of its own shadow. You need to do something to fix this, and you need to do it now. And if I don’t have an arrest or a solid lead by the middle of the week, you’re fired. You hear me?”
The Mayor was livid. He loosened the tie around his neck and stormed out of the room. Carter bit his lip, and tried to hold back all the emotions he was feeling. Reed patted his partner on the back.
“What can I do, Sheriff?” Reed asked calmly.
“I’m going to address the media. Get them ready,” Carter responded without hesitation. He turned and followed the Mayors exit. Reed stood there with his wife. She started to cry. He grabbed her and they hugged.
Thirty minutes later, Carter stood in front of the media outside of the hospital. Reed stood beside him, and the restless Mayor stood on the other side.
Carter calmed the crowd then spoke into the microphones.
“I’ve called this abrupt press conference to address recent developments in the killing spree that has frightening our town. The past week has been tense for everyone, and we are sorry to inform you all that we still have no leads. All of the tips the public is calling in are being looked into, no matter their severity. We urge you to keep this up. Report anything you find unusual. This morning a forth body was discovered on Plain Woods Road. I cannot confirm a name until the family has been notified, but I can tell you that it was another volunteer for the Halloween Festival. Due to these recent events, I am declaring that the Halloween Festival this year will be cancelled, and all work on it will be stopped effective immediately. This is not open for negotiations. Parents should keep a close eye on their children, and I would strongly recommend no one goes out after dark until we can put an end to this. Thank you.”
Carter stepped down without taking questions, and the media went nuts. They were shouting in every direction. Carter followed the Mayor back into the hospital with Reed right behind them. They gathered in the lobby.
“Good idea canceling the festival, Carter. Now, please, make some progress here and bring this guy to justice,” Mayor Hopkins said what he needed to, and walked away.
Carter sighed in relief. This was the first step. Canceling the festival would hopefully please the killer. It appeared he wasn’t too fond of it.
Carter’s pocket began vibrating, and he reached in, pulling out his cell phone. He looked at the incoming call: ‘Bethany’.
“Yes?” Carter cautiously answered.
His face immediately went pale. He looked at Reed:
“Laura Nelson is dead.”