1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,800
Chapter 2

2
00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:09,000
Jack, come on, we have to keep going.

3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,960
Steven's voice said in the distance as we ran across the woods,

4
00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:14,520
You better catch up.

5
00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:20,660
I ran as fast as I could, the heat of the sun beating down on me, my tiny legs sprinting.

6
00:00:20,660 --> 00:00:26,560
It was late spring, the tree's leaves swayed back and forth from the slight breeze.

7
00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,360
As I ran, Steven's voice faded.

8
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,120
Steven, where are you?

9
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:32,800
I can't lose you.

10
00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,760
I screamed.

11
00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:40,480
Birds flew from the nearby tree as I looked toward the sound of the birds flying away.

12
00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:42,960
A black crow lashed at me.

13
00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,960
In fear I put my hands up.

14
00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:50,200
The crow stopped, its face morphed into an unrecognizable figure.

15
00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,120
The shadow whispered into my ear.

16
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:54,700
It's your fault.

17
00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:58,080
I closed my eyes hoping I would wake up.

18
00:00:58,080 --> 00:00:59,900
I gasped.

19
00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:04,720
My body jerking awake, sweat clung to my body.

20
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,040
Blood still stained my face.

21
00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:12,800
The nightmare started when I was a kid, but Steven has never been in one until now.

22
00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,280
The reality of Steven's death set in more.

23
00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,760
I laid in bed for a few minutes numb.

24
00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:26,120
As I stepped out of bed, broken glass and water lay waste across the carpet.

25
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,560
There goes my wake and bake, I thought to myself.

26
00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,320
It was already eight o'clock, too late for work, as if I gave a shit.

27
00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:40,200
I groaned as I moved to the kitchen, the coffee maker empty because I didn't set the timer.

28
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,200
Fuck.

29
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,880
I ran to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face.

30
00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,400
I put on a graphic tee, a beanie, and a black bomber jacket.

31
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,880
I decided the best place to find the piece of shit that killed Steven and the others

32
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,880
was the police station.

33
00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,900
I left my apartment in a hurry.

34
00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:03,000
As I turned around to lock the door, an envelope was taped to it.

35
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,160
I opened it to find a notice from the landlord.

36
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,880
It stated the rent was overdue.

37
00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,640
The rent was always due, and it would have to wait.

38
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:14,280
It was another cold morning.

39
00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:19,200
I could sense a snowstorm brewing, unlike my coffee pot.

40
00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:24,240
I drove to Doug's to get a cup of coffee before heading to the police station.

41
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:30,240
I thought to myself, if there had been four other victims, why haven't they requested

42
00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,280
any help?

43
00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,600
This police force doesn't have the resources to write a fucking parking ticket.

44
00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,260
I pulled up to Doug's.

45
00:02:38,260 --> 00:02:42,840
The ugly yellow of the building stood out compared to the other mundane buildings in

46
00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,600
this town.

47
00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,360
As I approached the door, I stopped.

48
00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:52,640
I could see Susan standing behind the counter making espresso.

49
00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:54,840
Two old men sat at the bar.

50
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,360
Steam rose from their coffee cups.

51
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,720
It looked like any other morning in this town.

52
00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:06,640
I entered the shop, and before you could hear the bell ring on the door, a sweet voice said,

53
00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:09,880
Oh my God, Jack, I'm so sorry.

54
00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,120
Susan said as she held back tears.

55
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,840
I walked to the front counter, hesitation in each step.

56
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,200
A classic Christmas tune played on the old vintage radio.

57
00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,880
Yeah, I can I just get my cup of coffee, please?

58
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,640
Susan ran and made me my regular.

59
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,920
She looked shocked to see me.

60
00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,120
Doug told me, I'm so sorry, Jack.

61
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,000
Let me know if I can do anything, okay?

62
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,720
No, Susan, I just want to be left alone, okay?

63
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,160
I grabbed my coffee and ran out the door.

64
00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,480
I couldn't take the sympathy, not even from her.

65
00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,040
I've been told I should be more emotionally available.

66
00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,840
I didn't want Susan to see me distraught.

67
00:03:51,840 --> 00:04:00,080
It's almost the end of 2024, and yet I still hold on to outdated ideas of masculinity.

68
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:05,520
As I left the coffee shop, I turned to see Susan looking out the window.

69
00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:10,600
A look of worry followed by an attempt at a smile as she saw me look back.

70
00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:15,320
I walked back to my car as light snow began to fall.

71
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,760
It melted as soon as it touched the ground.

72
00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:23,840
Nature's beauty being the only calm I felt.

73
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:29,400
As a kid I can remember sitting by the window, the winter's cold creeping in through the

74
00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:30,400
cracks.

75
00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:34,840
The flickering flames in the fireplace danced, and the crackling sound sent warmth down my

76
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:36,040
spine.

77
00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,700
I would sit and watch the snow fall.

78
00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:41,720
My father would be working on his photography.

79
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,100
He threw himself into work once mom passed away.

80
00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,760
I remember the peace I felt.

81
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,480
As nature's beauty fell onto the cold, hard ground.

82
00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,600
This was before the pain.

83
00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,960
I used to think I could increase the flames of the fire with just a glance.

84
00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:02,920
The vivid imagination of a kid.

85
00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,800
As I entered my car, the snow began to fall harder.

86
00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,640
I thought to myself how much less it snowed these days.

87
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:16,040
My windshield wipers swayed back and forth like one of those air dancers at a used car

88
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:17,580
dealership.

89
00:05:17,580 --> 00:05:20,920
I drove through town as people went about their day.

90
00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,920
The local shops opening to the living.

91
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,160
The sight made me think about my own mortality.

92
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:32,200
One day I'd be gone, and the shop lights would still flicker on.

93
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,200
The open signs would still flip.

94
00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,760
The world would keep spinning while I would have come to an end.

95
00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:46,220
Stephen had been gone for less than a week, yet the only sadness I saw was within myself.

96
00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:48,120
This made me think of his family.

97
00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,120
They must feel this too.

98
00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,800
I decided to drive to Stephen's house before going to the police station.

99
00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,760
As I approached the white picket fence that enclosed a beautiful colonial-style house

100
00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:05,640
with white columns reaching through the heavens, I noticed a blacked out Ford parked on the

101
00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:06,640
street.

102
00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,920
I parked the Saturn close to the fence's gate.

103
00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:16,280
In the gate a tell wagged like my car's windshield wipers.

104
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:19,360
The tell belonged to the family's dog, Sage.

105
00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:24,080
Sage was a golden retriever, her long golden hair soaked from the snow.

106
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:31,240
Good girl, I told Sage as I petted her, leaving my hands smelling like wet dog.

107
00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,360
I walked to the entrance of the house, hesitation entering my mind.

108
00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:42,400
I didn't want to be an interruption nor a lingering reminder of someone Stephen was close to.

109
00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,120
Before I could get to the door I heard, Uncle Jack!

110
00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,380
Stephen's son, Skyler, came flying out of the house.

111
00:06:50,380 --> 00:06:57,040
Skyler wrapped his small arms around me, and I could sense the grief in him that I felt.

112
00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,920
Tears fell from Skyler's young face.

113
00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:04,280
He was only ten years old and had an uncanny resemblance to his father.

114
00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:06,200
We better get inside, I told him.

115
00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,580
It's too cold out here and you don't have a jacket on.

116
00:07:08,580 --> 00:07:15,200
As we passed the threshold of the house, which once felt like a home, it now felt empty,

117
00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,160
as if its heart had been ripped from its body.

118
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,000
I looked down at Skyler's face.

119
00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,480
Hey, bud, where's your mom at?

120
00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,960
She's in the living room.

121
00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,120
Speaking with a cop, he replied.

122
00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,720
I could hear echoes of voices speaking in the distance.

123
00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,640
The cries grew louder as I walked toward the living room.

124
00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,440
Family pictures lined the walls.

125
00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,160
I even saw one of me and Stephen as kids.

126
00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,880
It made me stop in my tracks.

127
00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,600
God damn it, I wish it had been me.

128
00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:45,600
Fuck!

129
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,180
I wish I was a fucking one dead.

130
00:07:47,180 --> 00:07:52,600
I wasn't sure I was ready to be in this place, the place Stephen called home for most of

131
00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,560
his adult life.

132
00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:59,400
Despite the fear, I knew he would want me to be here for his family.

133
00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:04,160
I began walking again, taking a deep breath in anticipation.

134
00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,240
The old wood floors creaked with each step.

135
00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:13,280
He got some nasty emails from some tree-huggers a few times, but that's it.

136
00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:18,440
Everybody loved Stephen, I heard Jessica say as I approached the living room.

137
00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,880
Jack, Jessica's voice broke as she saw me.

138
00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:24,440
Jessica was Stephen's wife.

139
00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,640
He had met her when he moved here to work at the factory.

140
00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:32,600
She had long, brunette hair and was quite pale, but on this day she looked even more

141
00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:33,600
so.

142
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,520
As I entered the living room a cop stood up.

143
00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:38,160
The local cops loved me.

144
00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:44,240
To them I was a waste of space, a lazy stoner who sometimes overstepped.

145
00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:49,880
Jack, the man said in a not-so-warm tone, Detective Morrow.

146
00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:54,840
I said, matching his lack of enthusiasm, would you like some coffee?

147
00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,640
I can make some coffee.

148
00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:01,680
Let me make some coffee, Jessica said, her demeanor one of someone trying to forget about

149
00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:02,680
her reality.

150
00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:06,840
I'm okay, do you need anything I asked?

151
00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,520
I need my husband back, can you do that?

152
00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,040
Oh, I uh, hmm.

153
00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:16,360
Ah fuck, I'm sorry Jack, I know you're here just to help.

154
00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:22,200
I just don't know what I'm going to do with the kids, they're barely old enough to understand.

155
00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,000
It's okay, don't worry about it.

156
00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,680
I said softly, Jack, can I talk to you alone for a sec?

157
00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:35,000
Detective Moron, I mean Morrow asked, yeah sure whatever man.

158
00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:39,840
We walked to the next room, a small office with a piano facing the window.

159
00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,240
The snow continued to fall outside.

160
00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,720
Can you tell me where you were when Steven was killed, Jack?

161
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,880
Are you fucking kidding me right now?

162
00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:54,240
My best friend is dead, we're in his family's house, and you're asking me if I killed him?

163
00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,440
Look Jack, I'm just doing my job.

164
00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:02,400
We have a witness who saw a man matching your description with Steven the night of the murder.

165
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,080
The pain on my forehead increased.

166
00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,880
I haven't seen Steven in over a month, he took off time to spend Thanksgiving with his

167
00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:09,880
family.

168
00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,760
Who's the witness?

169
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:16,360
The cop looked at me like I was one of his fish waiting to be reeled in.

170
00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,360
That's confidential.

171
00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:23,580
I'd recommend you stay in town and lay off the grass, you smell like a skunk.

172
00:10:23,580 --> 00:10:26,040
The detective walked out of the room.

173
00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,720
My emotions were all over the place.

174
00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,920
This room was a sanctuary for Steven.

175
00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,160
It was a place of peace.

176
00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:44,360
As I walked out of the room I could hear Steven playing the piano.

177
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:59,280
My messed up mind was playing tricks on me.

178
00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:05,360
Detective Morrow left the house, which let the cold creep in as the door slammed shut.

179
00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,680
I walked back to the living room.

180
00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:12,600
Jessica was sitting in a lounge chair, her hand grasping her forehead.

181
00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:13,600
What did he want with you?

182
00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,640
Oh, he wanted to make sure you were going to be okay if he left.

183
00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,160
He wanted to get a head start on finding you did this.

184
00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,040
The lie hurt to speak.

185
00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,400
Hello, it's Abigail.

186
00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:30,840
I could hear from a distance Jessica's sister Abigail walked into the living room.

187
00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:37,480
Oh, I'm so sorry, Jess, said Abigail, pushing me out of the way.

188
00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,760
The two hugged and then looked at me.

189
00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,200
I better get going, I've got some things to do.

190
00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,300
I said to Jessica.

191
00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:51,200
We hugged and as I moved away I whispered, Jess, we'll find this piece of shit, I promise,

192
00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:52,200
okay?

193
00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,200
I promise.

194
00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:59,320
Jessica nodded and I walked out of the living room, my heart hurting more than my forehead.

195
00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,280
I walked to the front of the house to see Skyler and his sister sitting on the bottom

196
00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,040
of a large staircase.

197
00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:10,240
I walked over to them, their faces as pale as their mother's.

198
00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,420
They both looked up at me.

199
00:12:12,420 --> 00:12:16,840
The eyes of children in mourning are something you don't want to see.

200
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,400
It hits you on a primal level.

201
00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:26,480
Lily, her name true to her essence, a delicate flower at her young age, her iridescent, hazel

202
00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,320
eyes glassy from the tears.

203
00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:35,360
Although I could see the delicate nature of her youth, I could see strength in her eyes.

204
00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,000
She would grow to be strong like her father.

205
00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,500
Skyler had blue eyes.

206
00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:43,800
In the tears I could see the wisdom of his name.

207
00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,600
I could see the blue skies of his future.

208
00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:52,000
These impressions gave me a sense of hope despite the current reality.

209
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,680
I got on my knee to meet their eyes.

210
00:12:54,680 --> 00:13:00,440
I wanted to look strong for their sake, so I held back tears.

211
00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,800
Your father loved you both very much.

212
00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,800
He's in a better place.

213
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,920
Silence filled the space after I finished speaking.

214
00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,560
I didn't believe in a better place, but I do believe in the power it can have on such

215
00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:15,680
occasions.

216
00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:19,080
As the silence became deafening, Abigail approached.

217
00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,600
Come, kids.

218
00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,360
Your mom wants you to help her out in the kitchen, okay?

219
00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,840
The kids got up from the staircase and walked off.

220
00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:33,880
I think it might be best if you stay away a while while the family processes this, Jack,

221
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,720
Abigail said as she looked at me with disgust.

222
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,040
Abigail wasn't a fan of me.

223
00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,200
She thought I was a bad influence on the kids and Steven.

224
00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:49,160
I didn't say anything as I left, the bitter cold punching me in the face.

225
00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,480
Despite one cop already accusing me of killing Steven, I knew the best place to start would

226
00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,520
be the police station.

227
00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,760
There had to be a reason the cops weren't getting anywhere.

228
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,980
I drove to the police station, which was only a few miles away.

229
00:14:03,980 --> 00:14:09,160
As I got out of the car, I could see cops chatting, laughing and drinking warm coffee

230
00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:10,800
through the windows.

231
00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,960
My friend's dead and they're in there just chatting it up.

232
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,920
It was a small police station with only a couple of cop cars parked outside.

233
00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:25,000
I opened the door to the station, already decorated for Christmas.

234
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:30,440
A woman in a uniform sat behind a counter that was made before she was born.

235
00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:35,480
Hey, my name is Jack, I was a friend of Steven Spellings.

236
00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:40,000
I was wondering if I could have a word with the lead detective on the case.

237
00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,600
I knew the lead wouldn't be Detective Morrow.

238
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:49,080
He was too green and less bright than the Christmas light bulbs surrounding the station.

239
00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,120
The young cop looked up at me.

240
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,720
She had a nice smile and must have been a rookie.

241
00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,760
We usually don't let family and friends of victims speak with the detectives out of the

242
00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:58,760
blue.

243
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:04,080
Okay, well, tell the detective that Jack Moore is here and wants to speak about me being

244
00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,040
the last person seen with the victim.

245
00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,900
The cop's face had a look of confusion.

246
00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:15,360
Even a rookie knew the first person you speak to is the one last seen with the victim.

247
00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,640
She got up and walked to the back.

248
00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,220
The station smelled of stale coffee.

249
00:15:20,220 --> 00:15:25,700
On each desk sat a computer out of date, despite the Christmas decorations.

250
00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:29,000
The station still felt like the coffee smelled.

251
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,080
Still, the rookie came back after a few minutes and said,

252
00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,940
This way, sir.

253
00:15:34,940 --> 00:15:36,640
I couldn't help but smile.

254
00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:41,440
I knew the lead detective would be curious as to why his colleague lied about a witness

255
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,100
to try and rattle me.

256
00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:48,720
As I walked to the back of the station, the two cops sitting at their desk gave me looks

257
00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,320
like I was interrupting their naps.

258
00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:52,800
I entered the detective's office.

259
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,480
It was small, but cozy.

260
00:15:54,480 --> 00:16:00,920
He had a signed football standing vertically behind his desk and more sports memorabilia

261
00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,080
scattered around his office.

262
00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,120
Shocker, a local high school jock turned cop.

263
00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:07,760
Who would have thought?

264
00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:09,240
The detective walked in.

265
00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:14,580
A strong smell of cologne and cigarettes entered my personal space.

266
00:16:14,580 --> 00:16:17,560
He was tall, maybe six foot three.

267
00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,920
Bulky, but not fat like the other cops.

268
00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,020
He had a suit that needed tailoring, but not a wrinkle in sight.

269
00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:30,640
The other cops at the station looked like they took the doughnut stereotype a bit too

270
00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:31,640
seriously.

271
00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:37,040
The rookie tells me that Moro said you were the last person to see Steven Spellings alive.

272
00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:38,440
Is that right?

273
00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:39,440
Yeah, he said that.

274
00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,880
He isn't much of a fan of me since I solved his case he didn't want to do anything about

275
00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,880
a few years back.

276
00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:47,880
I replied,

277
00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,880
Oh, and what case was that?

278
00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,200
Doug from over at Doug's Cafe.

279
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,920
His girlfriend went missing and Moro wasn't doing anything.

280
00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:02,160
I was able to find the girl and Moro didn't like a civilian doing his job.

281
00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:03,760
I see.

282
00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,240
What city were you a cop in?

283
00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:11,600
The detective must not be too bad if he was able to detain I was in police work.

284
00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:16,920
I worked a few years down in Denver PD, then I did some P.I. work.

285
00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,040
And now you're working at a factory in Ivy Hollow?

286
00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,720
The cop asked in a confused manner.

287
00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:27,840
Yeah, well, shit happens, I replied.

288
00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,000
It sure does, doesn't it?

289
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,520
So what brings you here, Jack?

290
00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:37,800
The detective laid back in his chair and put his black dress shoes, recently polished,

291
00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:38,800
on his desk.

292
00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:43,880
Well, for starters, I want to know why you aren't doing shit about these killings.

293
00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,200
Steven was my friend, my best friend.

294
00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:50,280
Whoa there, cowboy, we are doing our best.

295
00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,520
Even have any leads?

296
00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:52,520
We have a few.

297
00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,960
If you don't fucking tell me, I'll go figure it out myself.

298
00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,560
The cop looked intrigued when I said that.

299
00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,560
He took his feet off his desk and looked at me, squaring the eyes.

300
00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:09,400
I tell you what, since you used to be one of us, I'll let you in, okay?

301
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:15,320
The detective leaned closer and lit a cigarette, his gray hair and wrinkles, where the background

302
00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,680
of the smoke floating in the dim office light.

303
00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,680
These killings aren't normal, as I'm sure you can tell.

304
00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:28,760
I've been a cop in this town since I turned eighteen, and I've seen some things.

305
00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,160
Things you can't explain, alright?

306
00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,680
I've seen people mauled by an animal that others claim is just a mountain lion.

307
00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:41,920
I've seen people drained of life, and I'm not talking about their soul.

308
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,120
I'm talking about their blood.

309
00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,120
Gone.

310
00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:49,480
They turn into raisins, shriveled with nothing left.

311
00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:55,640
I've seen people burned alive, with no signs of fire other than the body being burnt to

312
00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,240
a crisp.

313
00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,480
If I were you, kid, I'd stay away from this.

314
00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,200
As the detective spoke, the pain on my forehead worsened.

315
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,560
I knew he was just pulling my leg, trying to get me out of his hair.

316
00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:13,880
I'm all for a good fantasy book too, detective, but you might want to try harder to scare

317
00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:15,440
people away.

318
00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,120
I warned you, kid.

319
00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:21,440
The detective got up and put the cigarette out in the nearby ashtray.

320
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,360
He grabbed his card and handed it to me.

321
00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:27,200
If shit hits the fan, don't call me.

322
00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:32,840
The card read, Detective Matthew Golding, Homicide and Everything That Goes Bump in

323
00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:54,160
the Night.