I bury myself deeper under the covers and ignore the knocking at the door. Last night I'd shown Cami the video from Hippolyta’s stand---but she kept wanting to talk about something else. My feelings or some shit like that. I vaguely remember buying a chilled bottle of vodka from the gas station and drinking the entire bottle.
Fuck me. I’d thought I was so fucking above it all. That I was one of those people with an amicable civilized divorce. We just grew apart. It was mutual. Fuck that. It had been ugly and sudden. There had been relief and regret. The hotel lock whirs and Cami barges in.
I’m starting to regret giving her my key.
I can hear her shuffling around the room and throwing things around.
“Fuck. Paris. Wake up. What happened ?”
I sit up, “Hmm?”
Cami is kneeling by the safe. The door is wide open. It’s completely empty.
“Shit.” That wakes me up. The evidence is gone. The knife and the phone.
“Do you think it was the Copycat ? or Sera ?”
“I don’t know. I…fuck.” I can’t think until I get some coffee. I hear Cami talking to me as I take a quick shower but I can’t make out any words. I try not to focus on the fact that someone was in my room last night and I’d had no idea. I could feel a panic attack coming on but it was dulled by my hangover. Cami follows me down to the lobby and –
“Checking out ?”
I almost do a double take. Bev is behind the counter this morning.
“Not yet.” I say pouring a large cup of coffee.
Bev glances at computer, “Mr. Prince, your card on file declined this morning. So….”
“Use mine.” Cami says while handing over her card.
Bev forces a smile as she take the card.
“Bev. Where is the phone ?" I ask.
“Excuse me?” She asks a little too politely.
“Come on.” Cami says catching on, “Who else has keys to the room safes.”
Bev’s smile falters a little, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Bev.”, I start, “That was evidence in there.”
“I just think some things need to be left alone. It seems to me like you two have been digging up a lot of shit that should stay buried.”
She gives her best customer service smile and turns her attention to the guest coming in the door.
Cami and I head to the patio to regroup. Unfortunately we aren’t the only ones out there. AJ is sitting with his lawyer, Lydia Dupont. I wonder if they realize that Mickie Green’s mother is sitting a few feet away from them on her laptop. This town really needed another hotel or Airbnb.
AJ is clean shaven with his hair pulled back exposing a sharp widow’s peak. He seems to be half-following whatever his lawyer is saying to him.
I take a seat next to his lawyer.
“Hey. Restraining order. Remember ?”, AJ says.
“I doubt you had time to get a restraining order.”
Ms. Dupont clears her throat, “My client is accused of larceny. He hasn’t been charged with anything related to your podcast."
“Not yet”, I look at AJ, “Have you told your lawyer everything?”
There is a glimmer of curiosity in his eye.
“I’m with my client Mr. Prince. This is extremely unprofessional”, Ms. Dupont folds up her notes.
AJ is hyper focused on me. He must have noticed the knife he’d hid at Larry’s house wasn’t where he left it.
I show AJ the video from Hippolyta’s stand. The stolen Order cross is still dangling from the cords around his wrist. I don’t believe in curses but the stolen cross looks ominous.
“What is that ?” Ms. Dupont asks.
“Nothing”, AJ forces my phone down before she can see it.
“Nothing ?”, Ms. Dupont echos, “We’re talking to a detective in two hours. If something has changed you need to tell me.”
“A detective ?”
“Nate asked me to come in questioning”, AJ answers, “Some detective from Olympia is helping him.”
“Enough”, Ms. Dupont says, “Please. Leave us be.”
“AJ”, I wait until he gives me his full attention. The intense look in his eyes is so familiar, “We’ve been to the cabin. We know what happened. I can help you.”
I lie just a little to push him to my side. AJ was at Mickie and Paige's cabin, no doubt, but what he’d done there was impossible to know.
AJ abruptly stands, “I’ll…be right back. Uh.. refill.”
He rushes back into the hotel.
“What are you playing at ?”, Ms. Dupont asks.
“The truth.”
“That’s not exactly–”
“Shit.”
AJ had left his cup on the table.
I run back inside to look for him. I search the bathroom and lobby with zero luck. I head out to the parking lot and spot him instantly. He’s pulling an ignition out of a Mitsubishi.
“What the fuck”, I pull him out the car.
“Back off.” He shoves me away.
“What are you doing ?”
“Look man, I know how this ends.", He starts working the car again, "I walk in there over some larceny charge–.”
“Alleged larceny charges”, I remind him.
“Whatever and next thing I know I have 25 years to life for murder. Fuck that. I’m an outsider. I don’t stand a chance.”
“Nate doesn’t know about the cross. He doesn’t know about the knife you hid at Larry’s or that you were at Mickie and Paige’s the night they died.”
“You and Veronica Mars are eventually going to tell him, right?”, AJ settles back into the car, “I don’t want to be here for that.”
“Running will make you look guilty. You can’t run forever.”
“Bet I can”, he says and I can tell he means it, “I shouldn’t have stuck around this long.”
“You can still leave. But it will be better with a clear conscience. Tell me about the knife. Tell me what happened at the cabin.”
He briefly looks back at the car’s dashboard, “If you can get me out of the larceny charges I’ll tell you everything.”
I open my phone and scroll through my national law app to read a few highlights on Washington law
“Fuck. Okay. I try to remember what was said that night he was arrested, “Mia’s bags were found at a consignment shop in…Port’s Bay?”
“Pawn Shop. The owner knew about the murders and called it in as a tip–”
“The stuff from the other victims was found where ?”
“...in my room. Under the bed. I–”
“We’re good. I got it.”, I text Cami a few legal things to look up, “Put the ignition back in that car, fire your lawyer and meet at the station in 10 minutes.”
+++
I’m 50 % sure Lydia Dupont is on the other side of the two way mirror fuming. She hadn’t appreciated being fired and refused to hand her notes over about AJ’s arrest report.
Detective Morley from Olympia is an underwhelming figure. He’s short with a sturdy build. He looks unassuming which I know is a tactic. He’d done all the niceties and made comments about the weather. Nate sits next to him. Nate looks uncomfortable in his uniform or maybe he doesn’t like the city infringing on his territory.
I’m not sure I can keep AJ out of prison but I can at least try.
“Tell me about this side hustle of yours”, Morley starts, “Let’s get this all figured out.”
“Side hustle ?”, AJ raises and eyebrow, “What am I a bored stay-at-home ?”
“He’s a reseller”, I add. I forgot to tell him to cut the sarcasm, “AJ. Tell him about your reselling business.”
AJ sits back in his chair, “I refurbish and resell stuff so myself and my former foster family doesn’t starve. Or die. Or become homeless.”
“What are some places you sell too ?” Morley asks unphased.
“Pawn shops and consignment shops.”
‘What sort of things have you sold ?”
“Bags, clothes, vintage tech…shit like that.”
“Where do you supply your inventory ?”
AJ glances my way briefly. I’d advised him to be honest. To tell the most positive truths he could.
“Flea markets. Dumpster diving mostly. ”
Nate sets out pictures of the items AJ sold to the pawn shop.
“These bags look pretty expensive.” The detective points out.
“Those were given to me.” AJ says.
“By who ?”
“Mia Felton. My ex-girlfriend."
“She gave you her monogrammed bags.”
“She has–had–closets full of stuff she never used. “
“When did she give these bags to you ?”
AJ thinks for a moment “I don’t remember."
“Did she bring them to you ? Did she let you pick stuff out of her closet.”
“…her–”
“He said he doesn't remember”, I cut in. The detective was getting way too close to leading the narrative.
“What about Kim Harbinger’s customized sound system and desktop? We found that in your room. Did you get those from her too ?”
I say the one thing I am sure of, “The scope of this interview is about the products found at the Port’s Bay Thrift and Pawn shop.”
“Wrong”, Nate finally speaks up, “He also needs to answer for the other items we found.”
I try not to let my cards show.
“Can you remind me where the police found those other items?”
Nate thinks he knows the right thing to say, “Sitting out. Right there on the floor of his room.”
“Your Deputy Daniel had a body cam on, right ?” I ask even though I remember seeing it that night.
“Yes, he did.”
“Did Deputy Daniel capture when you got my client’s permission to search his room?”
Nate smiles and shakes his head, “Nice try. Larry Henderson, the homeowner, gave me permission. The minute I pulled up. He said ‘do what you need to do’.”
“Larry Henderson can’t give permission to police to search my client’s domicile.”
“It’s Larry’s house”, Nate counters..
“His house but AJ rents the room. According to state law the homeowner can give you permission to search common areas. But rented rooms are the domain of the renter.”
Detective Morley lets out a breath, “Do we need to call the DA.”
“No”, Nate says, “No. AJ doesn’t rent a room. It’s his foster son.”
“He’s 20 years-old. He doesn’t qualify as a foster kid. I’m sure AJ can attest to putting a portion of his earnings towards housing costs. That’s rent.”
“Let’s see the lease agreement”, Nate shoots back.
“The law doesn’t specify a lease agreement is necessary”, I bullshit that. I’m not sure if there is a legal definition of renting in Washington.
Morley flips through his notes, “Let me call the DA about this. You didn’t get a search warrant at all ?”
“There wasn’t time”, Nate says, “We had to get to him before he could get rid of the evidence. I got permission from the homeowner. That was sufficient.”
“Procedural shit matters. Let me make a call”, Morley steps out.
Nate glares at the two way mirror. Then he leans in close to AJ and I.
“I’m not letting this go. I know what you did, AJ. What you’ve been doing.”
AJ leans back in his chair and smirks which is absolutely the wrong thing to do, “Nate, I wish I could be as bad at my job as you are–”
Nate lunges across the table but stops himself before he can wring AJ’s neck.
“Oh. Can we press assault charges”, AJ says with a smug smile.
“Don’t push it.” I warn him.
“I know you have something to do with these murders.” Nate says, “I know it.”
Someone taps loudly on the door. Nate shoves his chair back and takes his time leaving.
We sit in a cautious silence for about thirty minutes. Morley siddles back in alone.
“The DA is going to review the reports and statements.. We’re going to make plans to follow-up on this. Stay in communication.”
AJ can’t get out of the room fast enough.
+++
“Shit”, AJ says when we get outside, “We should get drunk together or something. Nah. We'd have to share a bar stool with the sheriff.”
Cami is waiting by my car with her recording equipment in tow.
“Care to speak on the record”, she asks AJ
He leans in close to the mic, “The Severance sheriff department is the most corrupt, lazy and incompetent police force to ever exist. “
“Woah. You’re not off the hook yet”, Cami reminds him.
“They can follow-up with me if they can find me. I’m leaving tonight after the party. You are coming to my farewell party, right ? I owe you a shot.”
“Wait”, I stop him from walking off, “We had a deal. Tell me what happened at the cabin, AJ.”
He handles the cursed cross and looks back at the station. Nate is staring him down.
“Not here.”
+++
We drive about five miles outside of town. AJ has us take side road that cuts deep into the forest.
“Stop here”, He says.
I pull off the road. AJ hops out and steps off the main road.
“This way”, He says inclining his head to the forest, "Bring the recording equipment."
“I hope we aren’t making a mistake”, Cami says as we trudge deeper through the woods, “ I think I'm losing service.”
“That’s kind of the point.” AJ says
“I think we can both take him if need be.” I whisper to Cami.
AJ stares down at his phone. When his screen goes blank he pockets it.
“Alright. You can record this." He stretches his neck a little, “I was at Mickie and Paige’s cabin the night they were murdered, but I didn’t do it.
The night of the bonfire Mia and I got into a big fight. I didn’t want to date her anymore.We’d always kind of been friends so I figured I could put up with her until she got bored. She’d made my entire summer even more hell than usual. All the back and forth and mind-games. One minute she was trying to get me to fall in love with her and the next she was trying to make me jealous.
She stormed off after we broke up.Then she came running over. She told me that Larry got hit. I thought she was lying to get my attention…but she got really serious.
We drove over to the scene. They were loading him in. I was so angry. I didn’t care about myself. I thought about Granger and how Ms. Marcia told me to take care of Larry for her.
Mia pulled me aside and told me Mickie and Paige that hit him. Those uppity city bitches from the university. They partied way too hard and were always causing trouble at The High Noon. She had this video of them…. I just saw red. I stole a car and drove to their cabin in Elma Lake. They just hit and left him like roadkill.
When I got to the cabin the door was open. I slipped on the floor. There was blood everywhere. I heard…gurgling. One of them..Mickie I think …was still holding on. The knife was still…in her. I knew the Severance Stalker did this. I pulled the knife out because it looked like it hurt. I tried to stop the bleeding but I couldn’t.
I just looked at her and I said, ‘Why did you leave him.’
Mickie shook her head. Then she…tried to say a name. I don’t know what it was. I think she was trying to tell me who the stalker was. Then she was gone. For a second it felt like justice.
I didn’t want to put the knife…back... so I took it with me. I grabbed some expensive looking shit from the cabin and bolted. I figured people would assume the Severance Stalker took it. I…think the stalker was still in there. I think he saw me. I didn’t realize he stayed in the homes. I remember hearing something upstairs but I thought it was the wind.
I saw Mickie's ugly ass green car sitting out. I tried to move it so I could sell it for parts later…but I got it stuck in the forest by mistake. I saw the video on Mia's phone...but the car was in pretty good shape. It didn't make sense. I got freaked out and bolted.
“Why didn't you report the murders?” Cami says.
For the first time he looks genuinely guilty.
“I figured they would be found the next day. I forgot about the holiday weekend. I was just so angry. I’m pretty sure Mia thinks…thought I killed them. She worked in the Sheriff's office so every now and then she’d give me random updates on the case. One day she showed me pictures she’d stolen from the file. It was pictures of the scene that showed my cross charm. I didn’t even realize I’d lost it.
“So you stole another bracelet to cover it up.” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“ We used to steal shit from the mall all the time in high school when we were bored. It gave us an idea. Ms. Harbinger didn’t have kids so we both took stuff from her house. Mia joked that if the stalker got her I could have her handbag collection. Then it wasn’t a joke anymore. I’m garbage. Nate was right about one fucking thing. I didn’t kill anyone. I swear.”
“...I believe you”, Cami decides.
“Me too”, I add, "You've been up Nate's ass this whole time even though you knew who hit Larry."
"I couldn't tell him", He says, "I was there. I...I don't for a while I wondered if I blacked out and killed them. I just wanted that asshole to do his job and figure it out himself."
He folds his arms, “So where is the knife ?”
“Bev stole it from the hotel safe. I think she destroyed it she probably threw it in the bay.”
He breathes a sigh of relief, “Good. I guess I can make a clean break. Give me about 2 months to disappear. Then you can give Nate my confession. ”
I nod.
“Who do you think is doing this ?”, Cami asks.
He shrugs, “I don’t know. Whoever it is I don’t think they have a simple motive or whatever. I think they just like chaos.”
+++
“We are back at square one”, Cami says while observing her murder board.
“Maybe we just need to consider the basics. For example, we know they have access to a car. I mean look how far apart all the crime scenes are. Plus everyone opened the door so it wasn’t a stranger.
Cami peers down at her phone
“Paris, Mark wants you to call him.”
“Mark wants me to make a career decision. Something I can’t do in this headspace.”
“Have you thought about choosing neither? You were pretty quick on your feet playing defense lawyer.”
“I got lucky. To be honest I’m leaning towards Minnesota. I need a fresh start. A real one this time.”
“Paris, if you want to give us another try I could delay law school for a year. Help you get set up in Minnesota. See what happens.”
I shake my head. I’d learned my lesson,“You might resent me for it in the future.”
"That' s bullshit, Paris. I can’t resent you for my choices.”
“Tell that to my ex-wife.” I say more to myself, “Cami, when I asked you yo marry me last year I thought I had some momentum in my life. I thought I was going to be mayor and it was going to open doors for both of us and we’d be able to make real change. I’m at a standstill right now, but you’ve still got momentum. I don’t want to slow you down.”
She sits in the chair across from me. It’s remarkably similar to the way we were sitting just a few weeks ago after the election, “Don’t do this again, Paris.”
“What do–”
“Don’t spend almost two years making someone feel smart, worthy and cared for just for it to lead to …nothing. ”
“You were the one who turned down my first proposal.” I remind her.
“I’m glad I did.” She admits, " Because you are still in love with your ex-wife. It seems to me you will always be in love with your ex-wife. Promise me when you get to Minnesota you won’t do this again unless you are really really sure.”
What the hell have I done?
“I promise. I’m so sorry Cami. I really thought…I’m so sorry.”
She rests her head on my shoulder, “I guess ..solving these murders will be the last time we see each other. ?”
“Maybe. If I grovel enough I can get the SoHo condo. We can sit on the rooftop terrace and debate torte law.”
She laughs to herself, “I used to be so impressed whenever you mentioned owning a penthouse.”
“That’s why I used to love mentioning it”, I say half seriously, “It could also be the narcissist asshole part of me.”
“Paris, I told you not to read Instagram comments.”
“Apparently that’s what my ex-wife thinks of me. I guess that also could have been her leaving the comments.”
My phone lights up from the nightstand. It’s Mark. He’s going to love that Cami and I are going to be thousands of miles apart.
I grab my phone off the nightstand. I don’t let him get a word in.
“Mark, I’ll be in Minnesota next week. I still have some things to wrap up here.”
+++
Cami and I drive to Port’s Bay in an uncomfortable silence. I think as long as we are in proximity to each other there is still the small chance one of us might change our minds. Or we’ll get too comfortable and fall back into each other.
“What if we can’t solve this.” Cami asks, “I have such a good feeling about making this podcast, but what if it ends with no answers."
“The sad truth about a lot of those shows is they didn’t solve anything. They reveal things about people and systems, but most of them never solved anything.”
“I wanted to do both”, Cami admits.
The Pourhouse Bar is packed. Based on the signs it looked like some local band is playing tonight. I pull in next to Granger’s Toyota.
I semi recognize a crowd of people at a corner booth. Granger is tying a balloon to the back of AJ’s chair. I notice that Larry isn’t there. I hope his disability is the only thing that kept him away. Jasper is there along with a few clerks from the grocery store. One or two people seem to acknowledge Cami from the bonfire.
Scott is admiring the paraphernalia on the walls while Madison cuts a small cake.The band on stage is in the middle of a very loud set. The place is backed with young alt-rockers sporting 21 and under bands. This probably wasn’t the best night for a going away party.
“Whole place is like a jump scare”, Scott jokes as a kid with a mohawk and ripped kilt walks by.
“It’s very loud”, I say over the music.
AJ looks…annoyed. But he’s not. It’s a look that says 'this is more for you than me, but it’s also nice that it's for me.’
“Drinks are on me”, AJ points to me and then signals the server over.
“Gin and tonic.”
“And a screwdriver”, Cami says.
The server takes note and heads back to the bar.
“I can’t believe I owe my freedom to The Joker and…Harley Quinn.”
“Name calling is his way of saying thank you”, Scott puts his hands on AJ’s shoulder. AJ shrugs them off.
“I figured that.”
For the first time in a while I find myself unable to indulge in small talk with the people around me. I kept getting distracted by Cami. She’s drawn a small crowd to her as she talked about her graduation plans and the podcast. She was so animated and bright. I’d fucked up so badly with her. I’d never be apart of the amazing future she had infront of her.
I had no fucking idea what awaited me in Minnesota. I hope I don't fuck things up more than I had in Severance.
“You sure you want to leave”, I say sitting next to AJ. The band had finished their last set so I could think properly, “Look at all these people who showed up for you. You’ve got a community.”
“They showed up because there is nothing to do in town. Except get murdered. What ? Too soon ?”
“AJ, I grew up in foster care too. I know what it ‘s like to have your foster family reject you. In the end everyone regrets it. You have to reconcile with Larry now because it gets harder the more years that pass.”
“No. I’m good.”
“You have my business card. If you ever need anything at all…call me. Anytime.”
“We’ll see”, he says.
The server brings over our drinks. My gin and tonic is just tonic.
I glance over to the bar. I’d seen a Harley-Davidson out front and hoped it wasn’t hers. It’s kind of odd seeing Sera at the end of a bar instead of behind it. She doesn’t notice me watching her. She picks up two empty shot glasses and makes her way over to the table. In a few strides Her shadow looms over the table. She gestures for me to move out of the way and I slide out from beside AJ. She doesn’t sit next to him though.
“I’m sorry.” She says to AJ.
AJ considers this, “I’d be sorry to if I was middle-aged and most of m income came from Only Fans and muscle fetish sites
Sera considers him, “AJ, you’ve been abandoned your whole life. You’re about to go out on your own for thirst time and you’re going to learn that the world is unrelenting when you have no one and nothing to anchor yourself to. It will crush you and push you to the depths of hell. You’ll fail mercilessly. Life will be hard and if you are lucky you’ll figure it out. All of these people are here because they care about you. Remember what they've taught you. Remember what they’ve done for you. Don’t ever forget them. Except for me. You can forget me. You might be better off.”
AJ blows out a breath, “Uhhh…what was your name again ?”
Sera has a very expensive bottle of rare Blue Scythe Eastern European vodka from the Old Country. She pours a shot into his empty glass and tops off the shot glass in her hand.
AJ starts to say something…but thinks better of it. Instead he slightly inclines his head and takes the shot with her. AJ chokes his back. I know from experience it burns from the inside out. She tops everyone off in the party (except for me) before heading out.
“It’s okay”, Cami says finishing the generous pour, “Go. You should talk to her.”
“I don’t think I can get emotionally wrecked again.”
“I think you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
I push through the crowd and out the front door. A part of me hopes Sera is gone before I get out there. I’m not that lucky. Sera is sitting by her motorcycle finishing off the bottle. She stands defensively when she sees me. She's a little unsteady on her thick 4 maybe 5 inch block heeled boots. I'm sure her ripped vintage Ed Hardy shirt would have scored points with the crowd inside.
“Are we going to blame each other for almost getting us killed again?” She sits back down.
“That fight brought up a lot of shitty memories for me. Like how it ended.”
Sera takes another drink.
“Sera, I know you aren’t good at ending things. But you should probably tell AJ before he goes off the grid.”
“He’s better off not knowing.”, she doesn’t sound confident when she says it.
“Sera I’ve been to enough therapy sessions to know why I lashed out at you. I’m mad because we waited 7 years to talk to each other again. I lashed out because of what could have been. I can’t tell you how many times something amazing happened to me and I immediately wanted share it with you. How many times I wanted to end a hard day in your arms. Or how a topic or headline would pop up and you were the only person I’d want to talk about it with. The countless hotels rooms I wanted to fuck you in. There is no getting over you. Not for me. I wish I could have told you that seven years ago.”
“You fucking were right by the way, Paris.”
“About what ?”, I unclip the keys from her belt loop.
“Leon”, she says, “I told Leon I was going to inform on Helios. Turns out he told some of his ex-marine New York state trooper buddies to keep an eye on us. Rumor is Helios had informants in the department. That’s how word got back to Helios. The attack was my fault."
"No--"
"It was." She says, "I can live with that."
"We were victims, Sera. The only one to blame is the perpetrators."
She finished the last bit in the bottle, "I'm going to turn myself in. I'm going to tell Nate what I did to the real Severance Stalker."
“Sera. Please don’t turn yourself in. You killed a murderer. The system has no nuance. This will ruin you.” I’m practically begging her.
“This might be the best way to stop the...copycat", She considers the empty bottle, “Maybe it will scare them into stopping or slipping up. Maybe this will help you find them. Or put more eyes on the situation. That could work, right ?"
"Maybe ?" I consider this, "But I don't like it."
Sera pushes herself to stand. She'd already made her decision, "Before I do this there is one more thing I need to fix.”
“What ?”
“You and your kink shit.”
“I think we’re pass that.”
“I made you a promise. I think I know exactly how to fix you.”
+++