7:25 AM
Carter sat at his kitchen table, putting spoonful after spoonful of Cheerios into his mouth. The Hollow Gazette was spread out in front of him and he was reading the top story: ‘Has the Harvest Slasher Returned to Stewart Hollow?’
He read the article, which was chockfull of lies and rumors, shaking his head as he read.
Amber Gibson walked in from the living room in her bathrobe. She leaned in and kissed Carter on the cheek. He smiled, instantly forgetting about the Gazette article.
“Good morning,” Amber said.
“Morning,” Carter said, holding up his empty coffee mug.
“Um, I don’t think so. We’re not married yet, Ben,” Amber said, brushing it aside with a smile.
“What time do you have to be in today?” Carter asked.
“Rachel said around ten or so. I’ll probably be working late though, so you’re on your own for dinner.”
“I’m glad your hours are finally starting to pick up.”
“Me too. Every hour is more money in the savings account.”
“Very true. And the bigger our savings get, the longer our honeymoon will be.”
“Hawaii?” Amber pondered, wrapping her arms around him.
“Bahamas.”
“Well, which ever it is, it’s not Oregon.”
She kissed him on the cheek as he glanced at his watch.
“I have to get going. The Mayor is really adamant about getting this case solved quickly, you know, before his precious election next month. Did I tell you he brought in an FBI agent?”
“No. Why?”
“Well, obviously he doesn’t have enough faith in his own law enforcement. Supposedly they go way back – I’m not sure how though.”
Carter’s phone began to ring, sending Amber into a goofy jig to the sound of his ‘Lady Madonna’ ring tone. He answered it, trying to keep a straight face.
“Carter,” he said sternly.
Harper Cole spoke on the other line. “Sheriff, we need you at the station. Now.”
Carter arrived only a short ten minutes later. He entered the station and was greeted by a panicking woman in her early forties. The woman had been crying and shrieking hysterically. Her make-up ran down her pale face and her clothes appeared to have been just thrown on, as nothing matched. The woman was yelling at Deputy Jamie Dart and Harper Cole, who were standing at the front desk.
“Whoa! Calm down, ma’am!” Carter said, approaching the woman and resting his hand on her shoulder.
“Sheriff,” the woman said, seeing the man she wanted to see.
“What’s going on here?”
“My daughter’s missing.”
“Since when?”
“Last night. I went to wake her up for school this morning and she wasn’t in her room. The bed was still made and her clothes for today were still laying on top of her dresser.”
“What’s your daughter’s name?”
“Samantha. Samantha Weber.”
“And you are?”
“Heidi Weber.”
“Do you have a husband, Ms. Weber?”
“I do. He’s in Vancouver for business.”
“When was the last time you saw Samantha?” Carter asked, nodding to Dart, who took out a pad of paper and pen.
“Um, I saw her,” Mrs. Weber began, trying to remember, “I saw her last night around six. After dinner, some guy she goes to school with came over. I’d never seen him before.”
“Do you remember his name?” Carter asked, nodding to Dart once again. Dart was ready to write.
“Um, Levi something. Levi Cole, I think.”
Harper let out a gasp, and everyone’s eyes were on her.
“What?” Carter asked.
“That’s my brother.”
The Stewart Hollow Police force tore apart the Weber house looking for any signs of forced entry or clues to why Samantha may have left. There was nothing that jumped out of the ordinary. Carter and Dart met up in front of the house, and were approached by another officer.
“What do you got?” Carter asked the young officer.
“Not much, Sheriff,” he said. “There is no sign of anyone breaking in, or any kind of struggle for that matter. The girl’s phone is the only thing missing, but then again, she’s a teenage girl. I doubt she’d go anywhere without it. Maybe she ran away?”
Carter didn’t think so. “Mrs. Weber didn’t give any indication of that. As far as I know, they had a very happy home. It wouldn’t hurt to look into that possibility though.”
“Yes sir.”
The officer walked away. Carter and Dart walked to their Jeep.
“Where to, Sheriff?” Dart asked.
“The high school. We’re going to start asking questions.”
11:45 AM
The bell rang, ending fifth period, and the students poured out into the halls of the Stewart Hollow Regional High School.
Doug stopped by the water fountain and took a sip. When he stood back up, Kevin was there.
“What’s up dude,” Kevin said, startling Doug with his sudden appearance.
“Hey, man. What’s happening?”
“Did you hear about the cops?”
“What about them?” Doug had no idea what Kevin was talking about.
“Supposedly there are cops at the school right now talking to random students.”
“About what?”
“No one knows for sure, but the rumor is it has to do with Kelly Rodgers.”
Doug’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Kelly Rodgers? That reporter from last year?”
“Yup,” Kevin said with an ornery grin on his face.
“What about her?”
“Her grave was dug up the other night and her body is missing. You know that poem that’s going around? ‘Kelly, Kelly, Rise from your Tomb, Stalk and Kill…”
“Yeah, yeah I know it,” Doug said, cutting him off. “You’re telling me that everyone thinks that Kelly Rodgers came back from the dead?”
Kevin answered with yet another ornery smile.
“Let me guess,” Doug laughed, “she killed Mr. Swan.”
Kevin’s smile disappeared and his jaw dropped. He hadn’t though about that. “Dude, you’re right! It all makes sense.”
Doug shook his head, laughing at Kevin’s wild theory. Doug looked down the hall and saw Charlotte and Jasper talking by the science room. He fixated his eyes on her and shut everything else out.
She was dressed nicely again. Her clothes always seemed to be so new and clean. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had her glasses on. If there was ever someone who actually made wearing glasses attractive, it was Charlotte.
“Doug!” Kevin yelled for a third time.
“What?” Doug said, snapping out of his daze.
“Dude, just go talk to her.”
“I can’t, man, she’s with Jasper,” Doug said, shying away again.
“Then talk about the play.” Kevin was frustrated with Doug’s infatuation with her. “Look man, I’ll see you at rehearsal after school.”
“Uh huh,” Doug responded as Kevin walked away.
He made his way through the hall and stopped by Charlotte and Jasper. He gulped as they noticed his presence. Charlotte smiled.
“Hi, Doug,” she said. Doug instantly smelt her intoxicating perfume in the air. He smiled back.
“Hi Charlotte.” He looked at Jasper. “Hey, Jasper.”
Jasper nodded. “What’s up, man?”
There was a moment of tense silence between the three of then and then Charlotte spoke up.
“I think the play is starting to come together,” she said. “I think it was cast well; Props to you and Mr. Murdock.”
“Oh, thanks,” Doug said, excited about another compliment.
Jasper turned to Charlotte to quickly finish their conversation they were having before Doug showed up. “Well, if you hear from her, let me know. Okay?”
“Will do!” Charlotte said, cheerfully. Jasper threw his backpack over his shoulder and trotted away.
“Hear from who?” Doug nosily asked.
“Samantha. She was texting Jasper last night and then stopped out of nowhere. She must be sick or something, because she’s not here today. Have you seen her?”
Doug shook his head. Charlotte smiled once more at him.
“You’re shy, huh?” She asked.
Doug could feel his face turning red. He shook his head unconvincingly and mumbled, “No. Why?”
“You don’t talk much. You don’t get involved in sports or anything, and then you write this brilliant tribute to those people last year. It’s really amazing.”
“Thanks. I just know what I like to do and I do it. I like to write.”
“Good for you. I had a babysitter when I was little who said the same thing. She always encouraged us to just go for it and get creative. You just have to stay positive and everything will work out the way it’s meant to.”
Doug looked into her blue eyes. Could that mean make a move on Charlotte as well - a double meaning?
“Well, I have to get to class. See you at rehearsal!” Charlotte said. She turned and walked away before Doug could say anything else. He stood there a little while longer, basking in her scent.
Sheriff Carter sat in the Principal Molly Bain’s office with Deputy Dart. Mrs. Bain stood in the back of the room and watched all morning as the Sheriff and his partner interviewed random students and staff members. Sitting before the authorities was Levi Cole, decked out in his lacrosse jersey – number 11.
“Samantha Weber is missing. What were you doing at her house last night?” Carter asked right away.
“Huh?” Levi pretended like he didn’t know.
“Please, Levi, don’t do this to yourself. Just tell me. We want to clear you of all possible involvement.” Carter said.
Levi sighed and gave in immediately. “I went to her house because she is best friends with this girl, Charlotte Sheldon. I was looking for an easy way…”
Levi stopped, embarrassed, then continued. “An easy way into her pants.”
Dart held back a small chuckle as best he could. Levi looked up annoyed.
“What about October 1st? Where were you around midnight?” Carter continued his questioning professionally.
“Um, probably sleeping. I had school the next morning,” Levi answered sarcastically.
“This Charlotte girl, she’s attractive to you?” Carter asked.
“She’s attractive to everyone. She’s the hottest girl in school, guy.”
“She a cheerleader?” Dart asked.
“No. She’s actually in drama club.”
“Drama club?” Carter asked. Something sparked in his brain. “Is Samantha in drama club too?”
“Not really. I mean, she read for a couple parts in the play, but didn’t make the cut. She was pretty mad. But she usually sits around during the rehearsals and just watches.”
“Was Noah Swan her drama teacher?” Carter asked. Dart’s interest was peaking. He jotted notes down in his pad.
“Uh, yeah. Him and Mr. Murdock.”
Carter looked over at Molly Bain. “We’ll need to see Mr. Murdock next.”
Mrs. Bain nodded.
Carter returned his attention to Levi. “What play are you guys doing this year?”
“Actually, it’s an original play written by this geek here at school. It’s called, ‘October’s Shattered Graves’. It’s a tribute to those who were killed last year. Between you and me it’s actually not bad. There’s murder and ghosts and stuff in it. It’s pretty cool.” Levi got excited just thinking about it.
“Ghosts?” Deputy Dart asked. Carter sat back and thought as Dart stepped closer. “Levi, what do you think about that Kelly Rodgers’ rhyme?”
“Um, it’s pretty cool I guess.”
“Do you think it’s true?”
Carter looked at his Deputy. Was he serious?
“Not really,” Levi said. “It’s just a story that got passed around here at school. The Harvest Slasher’s a legend around here now. Something like this was bound to start.”
“The Kelly Rodgers’ rhyme is about her coming back from the dead to kill. What’s the play about, just out of curiosity?” Dart asked. He and Carter both looked at Levi. Even Mrs. Bain was interested, even though she already knew the plot.
“It’s about five people who were murdered, coming back from the dead to…” Levi stopped after noticing the similarities.
“Who’s this ‘geek’?” Carter asked, using Levi’s terminology.
“Doug Roberts.”
Carter looked back at Mrs. Bain, and she nodded, knowing he was now on the list.
Carter’s walkie-talkie began to crackle and finally Harper’s voice sifted through.
“Sheriff Carter, come in,” she said.
Carter took out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it.
“Right here, Harper. Just talking to your brother. What’s up?”
“We found Samantha Weber.”
“Is she okay?” Carter asked hesitantly.
“She’s dead.”