Cami considers our little murder board.
“Paige and Mickie hit Larry”, Cami adds a sticky note to their photo, “Mia knew about it too. Can’t be a coincidence that they are all dead.”
“Bev knew too”, I point out, “Logically she should have been the next victim, but Kim Harbinger was.”
“I’m thinking Bev is still alive because AJ doesn’t realize she knows.” Cami suggest.
“AJ? You think this is him?”
Cami settles on the bed next to me, “Mia probably showed him the video. Sera said he was late to the hospital when Larry got airlifted. Who knows what he was up to? Maybe Mia became a liability and he took care of her. Paris, this town wronged him and he’s getting back at them.”
“AJ didn’t do this.”
“How do you know?”
The pain in his eyes was all too familiar to me.
“He’s an outsider in a small town. He’d want to be a part of it. Not destroy it.”
Cami flips through her phone, “He fits a profile. One of my professors published an article about how the impacts of genocide and war can have on future violent criminal offenders. Trauma like that can seep into the blood.”
“I disagree”, I study the board, “I grew up with over 100 kids who survived genocide first hand. It’s been over 20 years and none of us have committed a violent crime…outside our community anyway.”
“By community do you mean cult? I’m pretty sure I heard Sera say she grew up in a cult. You never mentioned that.”
“I didn’t grow up in a cult.”
“…but there is a cult?”
“Technically.”
I write Beverly’s name on a note and stick it on the board.
“Beverly could be the next victim. We need to talk to her.”
“We should probably keep a distance from AJ”, She says, “It won’t be good if he realizes we are onto him.”
“If he’s guilty.”
The lobby is packed with guest waiting at the empty coffee bar. Jasper is working to refill the pots while also acknowledging two truckers waiting to get checked in.
“Jasper, is Beverly around?” I ask.
Jasper dashes to the front desk to put an incoming call on hold.
“She didn’t come in today. Said she was sick.”
“I think she might be in danger. Is there any way you can call her?”
“Dude there is a serial killer lose. We are all in danger. Besides, she asked me not to bother her. She’s sort of my boss. I gotta go.”
He runs back to the coffee bar.
“I’ll text Sera. She might know who we can get in contact with—shit…I still don’t have her number.”
“I can ask Madison.” Cami says.
Within 10 minutes we are outside of Bev’s condo. The building was probably one large house at some point, but had been split into apartments.
We knock and she peeks through the window.
“What now?”
“We saw the video”, Cami says.
Bev looks behind us as if expecting the cops. She quietly sighs and lets us in. A security camera whirrs as we enter. Bev shuts the security camera off.
“You knew who hit Larry. Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask her.
She gives me a look, “Why haven’t you?”
“I don’t trust Nate”, I say. I’d never voiced it but Sera’s clear dislike of him was enough
“Imagine growing up with him.” Bev says, “Back then Nate and Scott thought this town was their playground.”
“Bev, everyone who knew about the hit and run has become a victim of the Severance stalker. We think you might be next.
She pulls on her bright blue curls, “Yeah, I figured that out. Mia told me about the video she took. I paid that little bitch $100 a week to keep quiet. You know she was probably bribing half the town. She planned to use the money to move to Seattle.”
“I guess you’re glad she’s dead”, Cami says
Bev laughs to herself.
“God no. I wanted her to leave this town. I would have given anything to be able to leave. Promise me you’ll destroy that phone. Get out of town while you still can.”
“We’re not leaving”, Cami said, “Mickie’s mom is here. She wants answers. Closure”
Bev sits down, “I know. I think Mickie was the one who was driving. She was definitely drunk. Her mom doesn’t need to know what her daughter’s last act was.”
“We can’t destroy the phone.” I tell her.
“Whatever. The Stalker is coming for me anyway.” She drags a rifle out from under her couch, “I might not make it out, but I plan to put up a fight.”
“Bev, you need to get out of town.”
“This is my town. They can’t chase me out.”
+++
The irony of Bev’s last statement isn’t lost on me. She had the perfect reason to leave, but was fighting to stay – even though it wasn’t in her best interest.
I was basically doing the same thing with my career. There was nothing for me in New York anymore. But I refused to leave. It wasn’t just because I wanted another shot with Cami. The East Coast and New York was all I knew. I put 15 years of work in and I wasn’t ready to just leave for parts unknown.
Marks is exceptionally well lit in his home office. Cami sits just out of view of my camera, but I let Mark know she is listening in to our meeting. Mark had listened intently as I told him that I wanted to move back to New York City.
“New York wouldn’t be my pick for you.” Marks says glancing at his second (or third) screen,” I’ve run the numbers and done the research myself. The Midwest is eager for more progressive candidates. A lot of tech firms are moving out there and their colleges are seeing an increase in enrollment. A brand new left leaning base is at its prime in Minnesota. The state has a large contingent of rural sex workers who often get left out of reform and legalization conversations.”
I’d always appreciated how straightforward and professional Mark was. Unfortunately, it made him hard to negotiate with. Still I try.
“Mark, I know New York very well. I can rally up donors there. I know people there. It’s where I got my start in politics and activism.”
Mark flipped through my resume as if he hadn’t memorized it the past 7 years we’d worked together, “The sex worker’s right collective? We need to find a way to reword that. ”
“I don’t think we do”, Cami says turning the camera a little towards her, “Paris’ voters, and more importantly his 200k plus followers on social media, know what he stands for. It’s sex worker’s rights. Let’s say the sex part out loud. We don’t need to censor anymore.”
“That would make a good slogan”, Marks says jotting it down.
I jump back in.
“Mark. I appreciate all the work you’ve done for me. I’m making an executive decision. I want New York. I need you, as my strategist and consultant, to make it happen.”
He sighs.
“If you want New York you have to bring half a million of your own start-up funds, otherwise you are on your own.”
“Okay I can do that.”
Marks looks a little uncomfortable, “Paris my check didn’t clear last week. Gina said hers didn’t either.”
“There is some stuff going on with my bank. I’ll get it to you next week.”
“That’s what you said last month”, Mark said. The party usually paid Mark’s hefty $6k a month fee whenever I was actively campaigning. “Paris, if you take the Midwest deal the party is promising a nice financial package to help pay for consultants, staff, moving and housing. This could be good for your career and a fresh start financially.”
I nod, “I’ll think about it. I just have to wrap things up down here first.”
“What’s going on down there, Paris?” he asks.
“More than I can explain.”
“I’ve got it handled”, Cami says leaning into view, “Mark you would flip if you met Paris’ ex-wife.”
Mark raised an eyebrow.
“Which you won’t”, I remind him.
“…..okay. Let’s talk next week. Be safe you two.”
I close my laptop and dial Bev’s number.
“I’m still alive”, she says and quickly hangs up.
Well at least we had that.
“I don’t like this”, Cami says, “Are we just waiting for another victim?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure where else to look.”
“Well”, Cami says, “I’m also going to look into Sherriff Nate. It’s a perfect episode 4.”
“You’re on episode 4?”
“I’m thinking my first episode will be an introductory episode about Severance. Then a second episode about the victims with a focus on Mia. Then and a third episode about AJ. I’m thinking I should go after the cops on episode 4. ”
“Do you really think you need an episode about AJ? What if he’s innocent?”
“What if he’s not? I’m not accusing him. I’m just following the facts. My recording stuff just arrived so I’m going to attempt narration.”
“What about interviewing the rogue lawyer?” I ask
Cami heads for the door, “Solve the case first and then we
can talk.”
Around 2am an unknown number appears on my phone. Fuck. I can’t avoid the banks forever. I reluctantly pick it up.
I just hear breathing on the other side.
“Hello?” I start
Nothing.
“Hello?”
“It’s me.”
“Fuck. Sera. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m sleeping in RV tonight…just in case the Severance Stalker comes back to my house.”
“Copycat Severance Stalker.”
“Whatever.”
“…Do you want to talk about the video?”
I hear her pouring what sounds like a beer.
“Paula didn’t deserve what I did to her. I hate that I can’t apologize. The worst part is I kept seeing Mia after that video. I gave her weed, money and head to keep her from telling her Mom about us. She used to make AJ come to the bar and would play mind games and act like she was about to tell him who I was. To be honest… when Nate said she died…it felt like someone had done me a favor.”
Fuck.
“Sera, did you know Mia was also blackmailing Paige and Mickie? They hit Larry that night.”
“What?”
“Mia filmed them. If you would have stuck around you would have seen it.”
“What…we have to tell someone.”
“Legally…it’s kind of moot.”
“Those bitches just left him there. Bleeding out on the asphalt. Larry could have died. Karma is a fucking bitch.”
“Sera, it seems like a lot of the copycat’s crimes are tied to AJ. Except for Kim Harbinger. She’s a strange outlier.”
“Kim Harbinger and I were friends. I mean I saw her every Sunday when I went grocery shopping. She even came to one of my competitions. Wanted to see what made me eat like a crazy person.”
I looked at the picture of the retired grocer. Her murder felt like the most out of place. She’d been a local, worked long hours and was beloved in the community. No enemies.
“Sera, I’m worried about you being alone. You should come here. At least until you get security cameras.”
“I can take care of myself. I’m locked in my RV and armed.”
I open my window
“The parking lot here is empty. Spend the night here. For my own peace of mind…please.”
I hear the RV before I see it. The light blue ’07 model compact Cruiser putters into the parking and settles into a space on the far end.
I slip my shoes on and walk out the back door. I don’t even know what I’m doing as I make my way across the parking lot. I just wanted to see her. I knock hesitantly on the RV door…then a little louder.
I hear footsteps and the door barley opens on busted hinges. Sera steps aside and reluctantly lets me in. There is a couch, small galley kitchen and bathroom. I look up and realize there is a built-in loft bed that Sera is probably way too tall for.
I admire the oversized corkboard board filed with photos by the small dining table. I don’t recognize half the people in the photos, but find strange comfort in the ones I do. The carefree candid pictures of the Argos girls (Harmony, ‘Thena, Helena, Hera and Persephone) are so different from the curated ones Aria posts on her accounts. I’d seen the eldest two a few times when Aria and I ran into each other at conventions. We had quick obligatory chats, always in a group setting. I still sent them birthday and graduation cards, but I’d lost them in the split.
I linger on a photo of Sera in a deep blue suit and orange tie. Harmony is standing next to her holding up her high school diploma. The younger Argos sisters are perfectly posed on either side in height order. They all have wavy blonde hair and midnight blue eyes. In another picture Sera has on a different orange and blue suit. This time ‘Thena is in the middle. Sera had dressed in their schools colors, like she had at every one of my graduations
I zero in on another photo of Sera with Harmony and Athena. They are taking shots in what looks like a Mexican resort. Sera’s hair is a soft pink, so it must have been taken this summer. Her skin is perfectly tan against a tight black shirt. My summer hadn’t looked anywhere near as good.
There are tons of concert pictures featuring New England’s infamous Millennial queer cello rock band Chaotic Hearts. Sera had been following them for years and I never had time to go to concerts with her. I notice another picture of her at Hey Mama’s 30th anniversary celebration. I hadn’t been back to Boston or Harvard since I left.
There are a few risqué photos from Dom Hidalgo’s estate. The selfies of her in a see through black dress and voluminous blonde hair stirred something possessive in me. I move on to a tamer photo of what looked like her at a rooftop book signing with Emile and his eccentric European friends. The only picture I recognize is the landscape photos from our trip to Eastern Europe eight years ago. If things had been different --we would have made that an annual trip.
There had been an entire wall of photos at her house just like this. Sera had a beautiful life. With friend and family she loved, but kept herself physically distant from. Judging by the amount of hairstyles and presentation she went through-- it was obvious that she visited everyone annually. She always went back to the people she loved. Except me.
Fuck. There was even a picture of Hippolyta who left town after the attack because Sera and I being in the hospital was ‘too much’ for her.
I turn away from the photos and am caught off guard by Sera’s icy stare. The way she is watching me is a little unnerving.
It’s hard to ignore how clean it smells in the trailer. The smell of disinfectant and mild cleaning solution is pleasant to me. Every surface is worn but has a clean shine to it. An ancient portable DVD player is propped up on the counter playing an old reality show. Next to it is a small organizer with 15 neatly labeled drawers.
The labels are worn but I can still read them ‘small’ ‘medium’ ‘large’ ‘magnum’ ‘Non-Latex’ “Warm’ ‘cooling ‘ ‘flavored’ ‘misc’.
“This is illegal’, I say staring the lecture I’m sure she saw coming, “It’s illegal everywhere. Shit like this really hurts the cause.”
“It’s been years”, she puts the organizer in cabinet.
“You. You were a working legal Domme for muckrake. A good one. I high-end one. You didn’t need to suck cock to make money.”
“I wasn’t in any shape to be a Dom for a long time. You of all people know that.”
I sat down and tried not to think about how it all ended.
“Sera, you could have asked me for money from the business. There was enough. I would have given it you--. “
“I didn’t’ want to have to fucking talk to you.” She snaps.
“Sera”, I say softly.
“People have needs”, she says matching my soft tone, “Especially lonely people.”
She sits on the small couch. She’s wearing silver basketball shorts and a cut-up competition t-shirt that barley covers her nipples.
“You’re better than that.
“Not really”, she opens a tall can of iced tea, “All the money and success Mistress Athena had? That was you. You were a good submissive husband but you were an even better manager. I’m not smart enough to do any of that shit. I function like a horny impulsive teenager. If I hadn’t married you I probably would have become a heroin addict and died in a ditch at 22.”
“Sera.”
“I told you. The only reason I’m doing mildly okay is because of what I learned from watching you. What you taught me. Functioning on my own is hard. I’m not smart like most people.”
“You’re doing okay.”
I leave it at that. Sera had been told her whole life she was ‘a little slow’. It may have been a little true but I never brought it up.
“I’m not doing okay. Paula was a good person. I didn’t do right by her. Now I can never apologize.”
I sit next to her on the worn vinyl couch.
“That’s all I could think about when you told me about the stalker. If he’d killed you that night--we wouldn’t have gotten closure. If we find out who did this. Maybe that can be your apology to Paula.”
She takes a long drink from the tea.
“What’s your future look like after this, Paris?”
I put my head in my hands
“Corn subsidies I guess. The Party is offering me good money to move to the Midwest but I want to go to New York City. I also support Cami while she’s in law school.”
“You love her that much.”
“I think I do.”
“Then why are you here with me.”
“We don’t have to be together every moment.”
“I…like her“, Sera says and I didn’t realize how much I wanted her approval, “She is everything you need in a woman. She’s pretty, smart and calls you on your shit. You should be helping her study for midterms like I used to do for you.”
“I worry sometimes that all I bring to relationships is baggage. I’ve got a failed career, a fledging law practice and a variety of mood disorders and anxieties. Not to mention all the debt from moving homes and can’t forget the childhood trauma. “
“Also the kinks and fetishes.” She adds.
“No. I own that.”
“What about the creepy scar?”
I self-consciously run my hand over my mouth “The only thing I have going for me is I have a kick-ass last name.”
Sera starts laughing.
“What?”
“You have a terrible last name”, she says.
“You liked it.”
“I hated it.”
“No you don’t”, I said, “Seraphina Prince. That’s how you address your envelopes. Also the gold weight said SP on it. What is it you used to say? I didn’t give you my last name, you took my last name from me.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes. I would have happily given it to you, Mrs. Prince. I used to love giving you whatever you wanted. I loved submitting to your every will and whim. You were everything to me. I never mean to sabotage what we had. I loved you Sera. Why didn’t you come back?”
“I’m high. So we’re not having this conversation.”
“You are?” I look around confused. It didn’t smell like she was high. I then clock the 16 oz. THC infused sparkling tea on the kitchen counter.
“I can’t smoke in here”, she explains, “Smell is impossible to get out.”
“Do you have an extra one”, I said sitting on the couch next to her. I recognized the DVD she was playing I kept similar shows on houses just to drown out the silence.
“Did you take your meds today?” She asks.
I gesture to indicate all the craziness that’s been going around, “Obviously—“
“Don’t be flippant. When I ask you a question it’s yes or no.” Her voice turns in an instant. The hard commanding edge prickles my skin.
“Yes.” My erection starts to make a reappearance. I can see the gears moving behind Sera’s cold eyes. That eerie stillness was so familiar. It said fuck me fuck me fuck me. Then she blinks.
“Then no.” , she retrieves a bottle of black polish out of a duffle bag on the floor and tosses it to me, “But you can paint my nails.”
Her nails are short and perfectly trim. Her hands are surprisingly soft considering she works with her hands for all her jobs. I kiss the underside of her middle finger and then press my lips against her palm then back up to wrist. Her hands tense like she’d going to pull it away but she doesn’t. I inhale the lemon and bergamot scent on her skin as I make my way up her arm.
I make a detour to her flat stomach. Her muscles tense a little under my lips but I don’t go any lower. I navigate back to her arms where a dark inky mandala is tattooed around her muscular forearm and blends in with a spray of violets. I skim the intense gaze of the inked Medusa. I move up to Sera’s neck and start kissing the hollow there. My hands slide under the shirt, my thumbs tracing over her nipples. I move from her neck to her chin and just barley reach her mouth.
“Stop”, she says so quietly I almost don’t hear it. I back off.
“What’s wrong?”
“I-I don’t let my clients kiss me.”
“How am I supposed to learn to be a sub again if I can’t worship your beautiful mouth?”
She tosses the bottle of nail polish at me in answer.
An hour later I shuffle back to my hotel room. It feels noticeably colder as I make my way through the parking lot.
Suddenly a siren wails loudly. Bright red and blue lights zoom past my peripheral vision. I turn to see a blue hatchback with police lights barreling down the main road. Sera steps out of her RV.
"Could it be another victim?” I say out loud.
“I think they are heading to the High Noon”, Sera says, “I need to get down there.”
I run back inside to get my car keys. Out in the hallway I run into Cami.
“There might be another one.” I tell her. I don’t even stop to think why she is awake this late, “We just saw the cops--”
“No. There isn’t another victim”, Cami says looking at her phone. Madison texted me, “They are arresting AJ.”
+++
The three of us drive to Larry’s house. Nate’s blue hatchback is out front with a Police cruiser. Sera jumps out the car and heads over to Larry who is struggling to find purchase on rotted out porch. Granger and Madison are helping him keep steady. “What the fuck”, Sera tries to climb the front steps but a deputy guarding the front door stops her.
“Sera”, the deputy warns
“Come on Daniel. At least get his fucking wheel chair.”
“Please step back”, Deputy Daniel says, “We are performing a search and seizure. No one is allowed inside.”
Sera shoves the deputy and he immediately reaches for his gun.
“Whoa, Sera. What the fuck”, Scott Dodson jogs over and pulls her a little too roughly down the steps.
“Get your hands off her.” I say.
“Whoa. I’m trying to help you”, Scott says. His jovial frat boy persona is now nowhere to be seen. In an instant he turns it back on and approaches the deputy, “Danny. Sera didn’t mean it. She’s just looking out for Larry.”
The deputy seems to regard Scott with some respect and backs off.
“I’m going to talk to Nate”, Scott says attempting to calm everything down, “AJ is a good kid. I’m sure this is a misunderstanding.”
Eventually Nate comes out the house with AJ in handcuffs. Another deputy leads from behind with clear trash bags full of designer handbags, cash and jewelry.
“Yeah”, Nate says into his radio, “Most of it’s from the Felton house. Some from Harbinger. We can confirm the rest when we get back to the station.”
Larry’s tries to get up but Granger and Madison keep him steady. There is a quiet fury in Larry’s eyes and they are focused on AJ.
“I can explain”, AJ says to Larry, “I—“
“Shut up”, I tell AJ, “Don’t say anything.”
“No”, Nate says, “I’d like to hear why he was pawning murder victim’s belongings in Port’s Bay. Next time you should make sure the items aren’t personalized.
“I…Mia gave me that stuff”, AJ says and it is clearly a lie, “She has so much crap she didn’t even notice it was missing.”
I never wanted to slap a not-client more.
“Which is it?” Nate asks “Mia gave you the stuff or didn’t know it was missing”
AJ shuts up realizing his mistake.
“What about the stuff in there from Kim Harbinger’s house?” Nate asks.
“She…uh…donated it to me.”
“Really? That’s your story.” Nate says pulling on him roughly.
“That’s what I said ass face.”
Nate not so gently drags AJ down the steps and shoves him into a police cruiser. Scott ambles over with Madison in tow.
“Come on man”, Scott says to Nate, “Do you really have take him right now ? Kid won’t last a second in Jail. To skinny. He might slip through the bars.”
Nate is unmoved by his friend’s humor, “I gotta do my job, Scott.”
“I know. I know”, Scott says and I wonder if their bromance has a breaking point.
“Please, Uncle Nate”, Madison tries, “Let AJ turn himself in tomorrow. I’m sure we can get this all straightened out. Please.”
Nate looks hard at his friend. A wordless exchange occurs between the two of them. Nate opens the car door and reluctantly releases AJ.
“A detective is coming down from Olympia for questioning. Be at the station at eight or you’re going to jail. Got it?”
“Yeah. Whatever”, AJ says.
Nate turns his back to talk to his deputies. AJ unhelpfully flips him off.
“This buys us some time”, I pull AJ aside, “They have no proof you stole anything. As far as they know Mia gave you those items when you were dating and—“
AJ backs away from me, “I don’t know you, man. You’re not my fucking lawyer. You and Nancy Drew over there need to stop harassing me. All of you can get the fuck out of here.”
“AJ”, Madison starts, “My Dad just saved your ass. We are all here to help you.”
He seems to reconsider his anger.
“AJ”, I plea my case again, “You’re in serious trouble. This isn’t about the allegedly stolen items. This is about the murders. You need a good lawyer.”
He just shakes his head and turns back to the house. Larry has his walker now and moves to block the entrance. AJ purposely avoids eye contact.
“You got three days.” Larry says flatly, “I want you out of this house. I warned you about bringing trouble to the door.”
“Yeah”, he breathes like he’d been expecting it.
+++
Okay, so this one doesn’t end on a cliff hanger. This was an odd section because AJ getting arrested was supposed to be the cliffhanger but that made this chapter SUPER short.