Two bailiffs lead us into the courtroom. I take Sera’s hand as we enter so we appear as one unit.
Last night had been her first time home in 4 months. The rehabilitation center wanted to keep her for a few more weeks… but we couldn’t afford it. I’d been back at home for a week but I’d been checking into hotels for the night.
The house was spotless. Aria had brought rugs and repainted parts of the house to cover blood spatters the cleaning company couldn’t get up. Occasionally I’d find dried blood in an obscure corner or under a piece of furniture. Somehow I found a way to disassociate and clean it up.
Sera had refused to go into our bedroom that first night back, so I set her up in one of the guest rooms.
“What now?” She’d asked. Her eyes never leaving her hands.
“We get closure”, I’d said, “You can rest and get strong. I’ve been seeing this new therapist who you’re gonna love.”
“Then what?”
I didn’t know. I didn’t know what she wanted to hear.
When we make it to court Sera ignores of my advice on courtroom decorum. Instead of looking at the judge she looks right at the defendants. Instead of being emotionless--hatred fills her dark blue eyes. She’s worn her hair up and no makeup so the bandages and scars from her skin grafts and surgeries show. She hadn’t worn her sweater and her sundress showed the ugly raw bullet wounds on her thin emaciated shoulders. She was so on edge this morning that I paid a very expensive private doctor prescribe her a mild tranquilizer.
The defendants are hollow eyed men. They look harmless and meek in their jumpsuits and chains. I’d blocked most of that night out. Apparently when our neighbors found Sera’s bloody unconscious body at their door, they’d called the police and prayed over her until an ambulance came. I didn’t remember the SWAT team entering our house and finding my bullet ridden body at the base of the stairs with my pants down.
Less than 24 hours later Ag Hunter, An inmate and former associate of Helios’ tipped off the authorities. The brothers had confessed to the crimes after a ten hour interrogation. Both insisted Helios Thantos had hired them to carry out the hit and make it look like a burglary. Jorgen Crux was supposedly the middle man but he claimed to only know the brothers through friends.
Helios Thantos was
questioned at my request. Afterwards he disappeared. He’d likely fled the
country and hadn’t been seen in years. Ag Hunter was killed in a prison fight.
The brothers took guilty pleas, so the ‘why’ stopped mattering.
“Before we continue sentencing.” The judge says, “The victims, Harrison County Chairman Paris Prince and Seraphina Grigori, would like to make a victim impact statement for the record.”
I take Sera’s hand and step up to the microphone.
“Mr. Irons and Mr. Uphill. The night you broke into our house you changed all our live forever. I cannot explain to you the fear, anger and sadness your action have bought upon my wife and I. It is nothing short of a miracle that we are standing here today after you shot six bullets into us as we lay defenseless on the ground.”
My last words are shaky
“You took the safety of our home---our first home—from us. We underwent months of hospitalizations, countless operations and endured trauma that will be with us forever. I hope you have time to repent your actions and make something of this horrific event. I have heard your defense attorney explain the difficult and abusive childhoods you endured. I understand what it is like to be from a small town with a non-traditional childhood. I was fortunate to have the support and drive to pull myself up and out. I know the social and economic inequities in this country partially drove you to make the choices you did. I know addiction played a part as well. Because of this I would like to ask the judge.”
I turn to the judge
“Judge if you will. I ask as part of our victim impact statement that the court grant mercy to these men and allow them a short reasonable sentence that will allow them to live better fully rehabilitated lives.”
As soon as I am done speaking Seraphina wrestles her hand free and heads out the court with the bailiff chasing behind her. The judge yells for order but she ignores him
I wait patiently until I am dismissed from the stand and have a seat. I listen as the defendant’s heartbroken grandmother makes a half-hearted character statement.
Then the sentencing begins.
The compound charges of home invasion, robbery, assault and attempted murder had left each man with 45 years in prison. Uphill receives an additional five for sexual assault. My plea for mercy had done nothing.
Case closed.
I take a Lyft home to the beautiful house that isn’t so beautiful anymore.
I march upstairs and find Sera laying in the guest bedroom.
Which is where she will stay until she walks out of my life six weeks later.
+++
“Surprise!” Cami sets a bag of takeout on the bed, “Oh my God Paris. Are you okay? I knew something was wrong.” She has a lavender weekend bag slung over her matching leggings and gray Cornell t-shirt.
“Cami you should be in New York. What are you doing out here?”
“Mark said you were being cagey about next steps and not responding to texts. I was worried about your mental health. Being out here in the middle of nowhere does things to people. I tried calling you last night when my flight left but all I got back was a slew of drunk texts.”
She shows me the gibberish of emoji and emoticons I had apparently sent her.
“Sorry. I had this…pumpkin spice sangria. It was gross but effective.”
She hands me a Styrofoam container and the scent of wheat pancakes and fresh fruit is welcoming even when it’s room temperature.
“Did you get the papers signed?” Cami sits on the bed with her own cold breakfast.
I piece the night back together
My Queen
Dinner
Flirting
Deciding to hunt for a serial killer
Nope.
At no point did I remember to sign the divorce papers. Cami sets down two small cups of coffee and I down mine as fast as I can. It goes down smooth. It is way too good to be wasted on a hangover.
“Not yet…things got out of hand.” I admit.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“Yes”, I say honestly, “I mean it started as a paid session but it went further.”
“That was…fast”, she says trying to sound nonchalant.
“It didn’t mean anything.” I say honestly, “I mean it was recreational.”
“No. It’s fine”, she fights to keep her expression neutral, “We aren’t technically back together. You can sleep with whoever you want.”
She suddenly hyper focuses on her empty container.
“Cami”, I say, “You don’t fly across the country to a remote town in Washington during midterms just to check on your boss or a friend. You really didn’t have to come.”
“This is the kind of friend I am Paris Prince. That’s also the kind of wife I’ll be …when you are ready. If you still want that.”
I was ready 8 months ago. I was more than ready when I left New York last week.
Now…I’m not so sure.
“Do you still want that?” I ask.
“I think so. I mean. I don’t not want it…I’m not sure.”
“Maybe we can be not sure for a few more days.”
Cami flips the TV to the local news. She is only half paying attention as a news story about Paula and Mia’ Felton’s service flashes across the screen. I grab the remote from the bed and rewind it so I can see their faces again. They both had so much ahead of them. Were they targeted by the copycat? Or were they collateral damage to give the copycat creditability.
Cami carefully takes the remote from me. Her fingertips graze my chin and she turns me to face her. I immediately sense the scrutiny in her eyes.
“Paris? What’s going on?”
“Nothing”, I try to turn back to my breakfast but she doesn’t let me.
“What’s going on?”
Fuck. I get up and make sure the door is closed.
“Cami, you can’t tell anyone about this.”
+++
Since my rental car is still at Sera’s, Cami and I have to walk all the way across town to fetch it. Over breakfast I’d filled her in on the murders and the copycat. As we walk I give her all the details.
Except one.
I don’t tell Cami that Seraphina killed the Severance Stalker. I can’t give her that moral burden.
Google Maps is useless in this town so rely on memory to get back to Sera’s house. I get turned around a few times but once we get to High Noon—I’m able to orient myself. The dilapidated hipster neighborhood is even more depressing in the daylight. There is a little bit of activity in the small micro-breweries but otherwise it’s quiet.
Cami takes it all in as we turn down Blue Bird Lane towards Sera’s vacant cul-de-sac. My rental CR-V is still parked out front next to her Harley-Davidson.
“This town is so eclectic”, Cami says taking a 360 view of street. Her gaze lands on where the dense woods meets the end of the lane, “No wonder the serial killer hit Severance. It’s so cut off from the rest of the Sound.”
I nod and down a handful of Tylenol. I feel better knowing I’m not alone in this madcap scheme.
“So, Sera can come off a little cold”, I explain, “She’s just not great around new people. She doesn’t mean anything by it. She’s either very intimidating or extremely flippant.”
“Should I be worried?” Cami asks pulling her camel colored pea coat over her dark green jogging set
“No. I don’t think so.”
Cami knew I’d had an intense D/s relationship with my ex-wife and that we’d worked in the professional BDSM community. I hadn’t given Cami any other details. Sera and I had been separated for almost seven years when I started dating Cami. My past felt so far away.
I take a deep breath and knock on the front door. The house is silent. I hope Sera isn’t in the garage with a client. That would be an intense first meeting. I peek through the windows but I don’t see any movement.
“She’s not here.” I hope she hasn’t made a run for it
“We should check out back”, Cami suggests while studying the motorcycle, “Just in case...”
“In case what?”
“Maybe the killer came back for her?”
Cami surveys the rusted chain-link fence surrounding the backyard.
“Hold on”, Cami says
Cami takes a few steps back. The she runs forward and jumps the fence with all the ease of a former high school track star. She opens the gate from the other side. I reluctantly follow her into the backyard.
For the first time I get a glimpse of the bright orange and yellows mums neatly planted in the backyard flower bed. It looked so settled. You couldn’t tell a dead serial killer was buried underneath it.
A faded compact blue and white RV takes up most of the backyard. It has to be over 20 years old and looked like it has seen better days. The only thing that looks new is the shiny silver padlock on the front door. Cami seems to notice that too. What was Sera hiding in there?
“We should go.” I say.
“Why?” Cami picks up the lock, “We should make sure—“
“What the fuck are you doing?”
We turn in unison to see Sera about 200 feet away looking between Cami and I. From this distance I can see Sera’s stoic expression turn venomous. Sera jogs over to us, her movements restricted by her crisp black slacks, white dress shirt and bright pink suspenders.
“Sera we were just—“
“No”, she says once she’s within distance, ”No. Paris you fucking didn’t.”
“Hi. I’m Camilla”, Cami steps in front of me and offers her outstretched hand. Sera gives Cami a quick up and down then turns her furious gaze back on me.
“Paris.” she snaps.
“Cami just came to check on me.” I explain, “I didn’t ask her to come. Honest.”
“It’s true”, Camilla says staring at the worn Bible in Sera’s hands. “I decided to come on my own. Paris had no idea. Please don’t be mad I’m here.”
“I don’t care that you’re here”, Sera says finally acknowledging Cami, “I just know he told you everything. About the Severance Stalker. About the copycat and that I--”
“Whoa. How did you know he told me about you maiming him ?” Cami interrupts. Sera unclips the keys from her belt loop and opens the back door.
“Because Paris Prince has a type.”
Sera raises an eyebrow at me. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Cami that Sera had killed the actual Severance Stalker. Instead I insinuated Sera disfigured him so badly that he couldn’t possibly be killing anymore. Sera and I had carved out our own morality clause last night. I couldn’t ask Cami to play a part in helping Sera get away with murder.
Sera leaves the door open so Cami and I can follow her inside. Cami almost trips over the sneakers and yoga mats by the door. I keep her steady.
“I’m sorry Sera”, I try to explain, “but I thought Cami might be able to help. She’s actually studying forensic criminology at Cornell. On the walk over here Cami came up with a great idea to get the locals and cops to talk to us.”
“I can’t believe you want to get more people involved”, Sera clears a space at her dining table (by putting everything on the floor). Now free of crap I can see her table is actually a refurbished picnic table.
“Seraphina”, Cami says carefully approaching her, “I want to help. If Paris says you’re worth saving I believe him. I thought it might be easier to talk to people if we told them I was doing a true crime podcast on the murders. Like those old ones. Like a revival type thing.”
“Why do you believe him when he says I’m worth saving.” she asks. I realize Sera has been clutching her Bible this whole time. The same one she’d had as a teenager
“Because I trust Paris”, She says.
“Do I have a choice?” Sera asks.
“No”, I say decisively in a tone that surprises them both, “Cami and I are taking your case together. A fake podcast is the best way to get information.”
Cami’s positive smile goes a bit uneasy under Sera’s icy glare.
“Okay”, I said setting out my legal notes, “So I think we need to focus on the copycat killer’s victims. SO far there have been five. Mickie and Paige on Labor Day Weekend. Kim Harbinger in October and Paula and Mia Felton three days ago.”
“Is there anything you can tell us about the victims?” Cami asks holding out her phone’s audio recorder
“I though the podcast was a cover.” Sera remarks.
“It is”, Cami explains, “But if we discover who the copycat is I can use the podcast for my capstone project. I could even study the killer in grad school. We don’t have great American serial killers anymore…”
Cami trails off realizing what she is saying.
Sera picks up the newspaper with Kim Harbinger on the front page.
“Kim retired from the city and came back to Severance because her family owned the community market. She wasn’t afraid of hard work. She managed it. She worked the register and stocked shelves. She was sweet. When I’d start training she would keep a hidden stash of hard to find things for my diet so I wouldn’t have to drive to Olympia.”
“What about the copycat’s first victims? Mickie and Paige?” Cami asks. Cami lingers on the image of the two young women who’d only been a few years older than her.
Sera turns the paper over.
“I didn’t really know them. They had a cabin by Elma Lake. They were grad students. They mostly stayed out by the lake doing field work. They only came into town for supplies and sometimes the bonfires. Sometimes they’d have a beer.”
“The Bonfires? Is that like a band?” Cami asks
“No. Actual bonfires. They have them over the summer”, I explain, “Bev told me.”
“Yeah.”, Sera explains, “They are actually having one tonight in Mia’s memory.”
Sera picks up today’s newspaper which has a picture of Mia and Paula in front of the ‘Welcome to Severance’ sign. Their Arms are wrapped tight around each other. Sera picks up a pair of scissors and starts to cut the picture out.
“Paula had boring job at a boring high school. She had her life together and I liked that. We met because her book club was reading some brewery themed murder mystery novel. Paula came in looking for something unique to take. I knew shit-all about beer but I faked it for an hour so we could keep talking.
Mia was an adult so Paula was ready for a new phase of her life. I was more than ready to give it to her. She thought I was exciting and mysterious at first. She would always say I was holding back. She was right. She loved how wild my life seemed. We fizzled out …I can’t imagine anyone would want to kill her. I just can’t.”
Sera blinks a few times.
“What about Mia? Beverly and Jasper at the hotel hinted that she might have enemies?” I ask.
“Mia and I didn’t really talk.” Sera says unclipping the pink suspenders, “She thought I was taking her mom away from her. They were really really close.”
I bet your neighbor’s kid might know more about Mia.”
“What do you mean?” Sera asks. I’m a little too focused on the way she absently unbuttons her starched white oxford revealing a gray undershirt.
“When he drove me home last night I fell asleep on a graduation tassel in his car. Class of ’24. He graduated high school the same year as Mia.”
“He doesn’t know anything”, Sera says.
“Let’s ask”, Cami suggests, “He can be our first interview.”
“I don’t—“, Sera began.
“Trust me, Sera. People will want to help.” Cami says.
Sera laughs to herself. It was the laugh she used when she’d found something
devious to amuse herself
“You really have a type, Paris”, Sera says.
“What does that mean?” Cami asks suddenly a little self-conscious.
“Gorgeous. Stubborn. Bossy.” Sera explains.
Cami falters a little, “I’m just trying to help.”
“Hmmm…Relentlessly optimistic”, Sera says, “That’s new.”
Sera turns on her heel and heads out the door.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Cami asks her.
“I thought you wanted to talk to Larry’s son. Let’s do it now. Larry has been through a lot. He gets to decide if you talk to his son.”
Sera continues out the door but Cami hangs back.
“Should I be afraid Paris?” Cami asks.
“No. I actually think you’re doing great.”
“Was she…coming on to me?”
“No. You’re not exactly her type.”
“What? Why?”
“First of all you’re straight. Second you’re very put together and have direction.”
“Right. Let’s go."
+++
Larry’s house is somehow in worse shape than Sera’s. The bright red and green house is on the complete other end of the lane. Maybe a ¼ mile from Sera’s. It’s so faraway that if Larry or his kids saw anything they the night Sera killed the stalker, they wouldn’t know what is was. The small yard is overgrown and the porch is littered with dead potted plants.
“So, are you and this guy are close?” I ask.
She nods.
“We used to work at the boatyard together. He was patient with me. He’s okay. A Widower. Look, he tries…so don’t make a big deal about anything. There was an accident a few months ago.”
Sera knocks on the door before slowly opening it. I instantly understand her warning. The living room smells like cat piss and fried bacon. A larger man in his early 60s is sitting in a cracked Barcalounger tepidly opening a Tupperware container. His short gray hair is full and little overgrown. He has an impressive beard that hangs halfway down his chest. He has on a shirt and pink tie that’s been untucked. A loud cop show blares from the TV.
I see a few cats peeking out from behind furniture. Used dishes, garbage, sneakers and empty containers are piled up in the corners. The place wasn’t beyond repair. It just looked neglected. Clutter always fucks with my anxiety but this place is unclean. It feels suffocating.
“I see you brought company”, Larry sits up and I see a walker is folded next to his chair. His right leg is propped up and secured in a painful looking brace. He makes to get up but Sera gestures for him to sit back down back.
“We won’t be here long”, Sera sits comfortably in a papasan chair covered in cat hair.
I accidently trip over a teenage boy sprawled out on the floor with an old Nintendo Switch. He glares at me and turns back to the game.
“That was some program, huh.” Larry turns down the TV, “Granger get our guest some drinks”
The teenager tosses the game and slinks into the messy kitchen. Sera nods but doesn’t look Larry in the eyes.
Program?
Fuck.
Paula and Mia’s memorial service. I’d forgotten all about it when Cami came into town. That’s where Sera was this morning.
“Larry, this is my ex-husband Paris and his…” Sera starts introductions.
“Assistant….and friend”, Camilla says, “We are working on an audio project about the Severance Stalker. We thought we could talk to you and your son about the murders and what you want people to know about the victims.”
The kid, Granger, comes back in and offers us some bottled water. He tosses Sera a light beer that she doesn’t open.
Larry sizes me up and readjusts his painful looking leg brace, “This? This is your ex-husband?”
Sera nods and I wonder what conversations they’ve had about me.
“So”, Cami interjects, “Do you have any thoughts or statement you want to make about what’s been going on?”
“It’s evil plain and simple”, Larry says, “This isn’t the kind of place you expect that to happen. To the locals this is a little piece of paradise. Severance isn’t much. We’re losing bits of it to all those breweries and roasters. But what’s left is ours.
“Are you not a local?” Cami asks as two tabby cats settle around her feet.
He shakes his head
“My wife was. Her Dad gave us this house 30 years ago so we raised a family here. Believe it or not, to some I’m still an outsider.”
Cami considers this.
“Is there anything you want to share about the victims?”
“I didn’t know Paula that well. Mia maybe came by the house once or twice when
the kids would hang out. I was always too busy working to know any of my son’s
friends. Shame what happened. Sera, this is why you have to be careful living
out there alone.”
“I think I can take care of myself”, Sera says playfully flexing. It makes me feel things I’m not sure I want too right now.
I clear my throat and sit on a clean patch of the floor next to Granger, “Must have been hard losing a friend.”
“What? Not really. Mia was older than me” He says not looking up from his game
“I thought I saw a tassel in your car last night. Class of ’24. Aberdeen High? You graduated with Mia, right?”
“Nah, that was my brother AJ’s tassel thing.”
“You wanna talk to him? Larry asks, “ Mia was kinda in his little circle with Madison and that trench coat kid. Granger go and get him.”
Granger storms off saying something about wishing he had a phone.
“We should go”, Sera says, “It’s been a hard enough day.”
“It’s fine”, Larry says scratching his beard.
I start to open the water but Sera subtly shakes her head telling me not to. A stack of overdue bills and half-completed worker’s compensation paperwork is all over the coffee table. The water was generous considering Larry and his sons were struggling to make ends meet.
“Boys are a handful”, Larry says to fill the silence.
“You’re doing fine”, Sera says
“May I ask what happened?” I chime in.
“Car hit me while I was crossing the road then sped off”, Larry looks at his leg, “Imma get back to myself. Might take a while.”
“I’ve been showing him things I learned in physical therapy”, Sera says, “I always tell him how seven years ago I couldn’t walk or feed myself. Now I lift 325. It just takes time. Right, Paris?”
“It’s like I got my own private coach”, Larry jokes but his eyes give way to a more uncertain future.
I nod hesitantly. I am shocked how easily she brought up her recovery, considering everything that happened afterwards. I had a feeling Larry’s injury wasn’t just broken bones and tissue. There were a lot of overdue notices from spinal cord specialist and pain therapist. He was in a bad way. Physical therapy would make him strong but he’d probably never work again.
There is a loud thump as something flashes by the window. Cami and I both jump as a black-clad figure pops back up and runs away from the house. Larry makes some unintelligible noises and shakes his head
“What’s he doing now?” Larry calls up to Granger.
“I don’t know. I told him someone was asking questions about Mia and he bolted.” Granger says coming down the stairs.
Cami helps me off the floor then we both head outside.
“Hey”, Cami calls jogging to catch up to AJ, “Hi. Wait we aren’t the cops. We just want to ask you some questions about Mia.”
“I don’t want to fucking talk about Mia.” he calls and picks up his pace.
“Why not?” I ask with all the little breathe I have left. He stops and turns at the sound of my voice.
“Because Mia Felton was a fucking bitch and I’m glad she’s dead.” He says.
The kid stares at us waiting for a response. Too bad anything else I have to say flies out of my head. AJ takes a few minutes to catch his breath then jogs out the neighborhood. Cami makes to follow him but I stop her.
“Paris, we have to talk to him. Did you hear what he just said? Fuck. I wish I was recording.”
“Let him go.” I whisper.
“What? Why?”
“She lied to me.”
“Who?”
“Sera. She lied. Her being here isn’t random. It’s the kid. He’s the reason she’s here.”
“What?”
“That’s her son.”
+++
Dun Dun Dun
Yes, this is an Arrow expy and no I won’t be explaining why he name is AJ. That’s just how it came to me.