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Chapter 9
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"So the first victims, Skylar and Tyson - upon investigation, it looks like Tyson was killed first. Stabbed in the stomach up in his room. He bled out there for at least a full minute. Probably died there. That's where most of his blood was. Then the killer threw him through the window and went back downstairs to attack the girl. She fought back more, but was overpowered." Anthony explained as he and Gale sipped their coffees in the corner of the Woodsboro Coffee House.
"Do you have suspects?" Gale asked. "Surely someone stands out..."
Anthony shook his head. "Nothing I can share... Do you have suspects?"
Gale narrowed her eyes. She had come into this meeting hoping he could help her... was he thinking the same of her? Her only suspect was Henry Skinner - who happened to be Anthony's younger brother... and she didn't have that much dirt on him - only rumors. She shook her head. "Nothing I can share."
Anthony smirked. "Fair enough..."
"I notice the first three victims, as well as Danny, who was a clear target last night, are members of the same social group from the high school... Cody doesn't fit in with that." Gale noted.
"True..." Anthony frowned.
"I've got a theory that perhaps someone he interviewed earlier today could be involved. Do you think that's possible? Someone from the party? Maybe he thought they were just a witness, said something more than he should have... Scared them..." Gale suggested.
Anthony narrowed his eyes and looked like he was thinking back to earlier in the day. "He interviewed Danny Adams - the boy who almost got killed in the barn... and Gary Jones - he was Tyson's best friend... and, uh... Kira Sung. She's friends with Tyson's sister Redonna. I interviewed her though. They're both just fourteen. I couldn't see them being involved."
"Well, unless Danny had his accomplice stab him, I don't think he's involved either." Gale frowned.
"That would be a good place to get stabbed if you want to be ruled out while still not facing too much real danger." Anthony noted. "And Gary... He seemed normal... but who knows anymore?"
"Did you or Dewey get a good look at the killer?" Gale asked the obvious question, with a partially obvious answer - no, they didn't get too good a look, or they'd know who it was...
Anthony swallowed and nodded. "Same story as before. The ghost mask. Dark robe..."
Gale nodded and exhaled. She expected that answer. "Were there any calls made from the killer? Did he say anything? Could you guess at height and body-type? Tall, short, thin, heavy?" She realized she was asking Anthony the same frustrating questions Dewey had asked her just this morning, but she didn't know where else to go for answers.
Anthony shook his head and shrugged. "It happened so fast. I don't think he said anything. There were no calls - not that we've discovered yet. I think he was tall - tall enough that we're suspecting a man, but I guess there are tall women in Woodsboro. It could be anyone. We don't have many leads."
"Do you think this is at all related to the other murders? I mean, is there any indication that this killer aims to finish what the others started? Any reference to Sidney or anyone else involved before? Should we be contacting her or the others? Letting them know they might be in danger?" Gale wondered.
"You were involved before, Gale." Anthony noted.
"Should I be worried?" Gale wondered.
Anthony shrugged. "I can't tell yet. So far the murders seem fairly random. The connection seemed to be there at first, but now I'm not so sure. It's possible this is just some random kid - or adult... who just wants to gain the fame Billy, Stu, and Xavier claimed. Maybe it's not personal at all - maybe they aren't even from Woodsboro. It could be a random guy none of us have ever even met."
"Why attack a cop though? And at the police station of all places... That seems needlessly dangerous." Gale noted. "Did Cody have enemies? Was he getting too close to answers? Did Danny or Gary or even Kira seem angry or nervous after talking to him?"
Anthony grimaced. "I don't think so, Gale... He wasn't exactly the best at his job... I doubt even if he spoke directly to the killer that he'd have even known it. I mean, he was a sweet kid. He was funny and caring and did his best... but I doubt he had any leads the rest of us didn't know about. Maybe you're right though. Maybe Danny or Gary are involved and talking to the cops scared them."
"But he may have been onto something. I guess we can't really know now, but he could have. Maybe the killer knew he was onto something. I can't think of any other reason to target a cop - at the police station... with two other armed cops working there. It's just not smart... Unless it was personal. It's got to be one of the two - Cody knew something, or the killer had a grudge against Cody." Gale theorized.
"Could be... I don't think he had enemies though. I can't think of anyone. Everyone loved Cody." Anthony told her.
"Maybe the killer was proving something to someone Cody loved. Someone who loved Cody... Maybe this was for you or Dewey." Gale noted.
Anthony shook his head. "It could be... I don't know..."
Nodding again, Gale thought to herself. It could still potentially be Henry at fault here. Maybe Anthony challenged him privately, asked him to stop killing people, threatened to stop him himself... Maybe killing his friend Cody was Henry's way to show Anthony not to mess with him. Or, it could be someone else entirely. Danny and Amy could be orchestrating this entire plot. Amy was clearly frustrated with her life, maybe this was her way of venting. Gale had lost track of her at the bonfire for long enough that she could have slipped away from the fire, gotten dressed in the ghost face costume, and attacked Danny's friend, cut her boyfriend just enough to make him look like a victim without serious harm... She was a relatively tall girl too. Gale felt like the killer was tall, maybe a bit taller than she perceived Amy to be, but maybe dressed in the costume and wielding a knife made her seem taller just because she was so much more threatening.
She supposed she'd just have to ask her own questions to her own suspects. Using Anthony for information was good for now, but she didn't necessarily want to work with him consistently. She couldn't even discuss one of her prime suspects with him. Her discussions with Anthony would have to be limited, and perhaps even just a one-time thing. Investigating on her own wasn't going to be easy or necessarily the safest option, but her only willing investigative partner was also almost a suspect of hers. It just wouldn't work.
She'd learned through talking with some of the high school kids that his brother worked night shifts at the warehouse - she could go there and question him in a public place after this... then maybe think about contacting Amy and Danny again in the morning, figuring out what their alibis for Cody's, Skylar's, and Tyson's murders were and then she could figure out where to go from there.
"Well... I guess we'll have to keep our eyes open. We're gonna figure this out, Anthony. We have to." Gale frowned. "I just hope Dewey doesn't stay mad at me. I'm just doing my job... and he knows I could help him if he let me. I don't know why he's being so stubborn."
"It's his loss, Gale. If he won't work with you, I will. You've offered a lot of interesting theories. The way I see it, as a cop, I need to use every resource I have - and the media is a resource, not a pest. If Dwight can't see that, he's not a good cop." Anthony shrugged.
"He's a good cop." Gale frowned. "He just has trouble finding the balance of when and how much to talk to me about the case. He's worse than ever about it though. I think the sheriff's getting to him."
"Oh... Dana?" Anthony laughed. "She's pretty tough. I think Dwight's scared of her. I don't necessarily blame him."
"Well, I do. She's just a person. What is she gonna do, fire him? You're talking to me. You're obviously not scared. Dewey needs to grow up." Gale crossed her arms over her chest. "He's treating me like he thinks I'm a leech - like I'll just suck the story out of him and go... but I've been investigating too. We could help each other. It's not just a one-way channel."
Anthony nodded. "You could probably be a good cop if you wanted to, Gale."
Gale shrugged. "Reporting and police work are very similar. Cops just keep everything secret. That's the only difference."
Anthony smiled. "I suppose you're right... Thanks for talking with me, Gale. I think this has been beneficial to both of us - and to the case."
"I think so too. I wish Dewey could see that." Gale frowned.
"Maybe in time. He's stressed. Give him time... and if he can't let himself trust you... just remember there are other cops who don't have a problem letting you in." Anthony noted. "Can I give you a ride back to your hotel?"
Gale nodded. She hoped he wasn't getting the wrong idea. She just wanted information and to catch the killer. She was in no way interested in replacing Dewey. There was only room for one cop-romance in her life. And it wasn't this guy.
She somewhat reluctantly climbed into the passenger side of his car and they made their way back toward the hotel. "So, what is it about Dwight that drew you to him in the first place?" Anthony wondered as they drove. "I can't help but to feel confused. Dwight's kind of a dimwit... and you're so beautiful and smart. You could have anyone."
Gale frowned. That was an uncomfortable observation for him to make while they were alone in a dark car together. "Dewey's not a dimwit." Gale frowned. "He can miss the obvious at times, but he's got his moments."
"I guess... I just... He's a nice guy. I don't dislike him. I'm just confused about you two. He always seems pissed at you for how you go about your reporting... but I get why he lets that go - because you're gorgeous. I'm not sure what you see in him though."
"You think that's all he likes about me?" Gale frowned.
Anthony shrugged. "He complains a lot... about everything you do. I'm not sure what else he wants from you. And I'm not saying he's right. I think your reporting is great - you're informing the public... and you're smart and resourceful... That's sexy. Maybe that's what he thinks too - that he hates it, but it's sexy."
Gale grimaced. Maybe she shouldn't have accepted a ride from this guy. He was getting really creepy, really fast.
"I'm just saying, he seems to have a lot of problems with how you conduct yourself. I don't." Anthony noted. "I think your profession and how you go about it are completely valid."
"Oh..." Gale laughed nervously. "Well, thanks..." She swallowed and looked out the windshield. They were almost back to the hotel. This increasingly awkward exchange was almost over. "I guess Dewey and I are kind of opposites. Opposites attract." She shrugged.
"Mm hm..."Anthony nodded. "To an extent, I guess."
Gale fought the urge to audibly exhale with relief as she saw the light of the motel's sign up ahead.
Anthony pulled up into the parking space in front of Gale's hotel room. Gale opened the car door and jumped out just as soon as they were parked, not wanting to risk the possibility that the cop would want to linger and talk more. She'd gotten what she needed from him.
"Thanks, Andy." She called to him with a quick smile.
"Anthony." He corrected with a frown.
"That's what I said. Thanks again." She offered a tight smile and closed the car's door.
She made her way up to Stanley's hotel room and knocked on the door, hoping to get a response right away. Dwight's cop-partner was making her uncomfortable, and she didn't want the man thinking she was alone here. Maybe she was over-reacting, but she knew she'd certainly feel safer once Stanley answered - once Anthony knew she wasn't by herself.
He looked tired when he answered. "Yeah? What's up, Gale? Was someone else killed? It's like ten o'clock..."
"It's not even nine thirty. I need a ride to the warehouse where Henry Skinner works." Gale told him, glancing over her shoulder at Anthony's cop car. He was still sitting there - hopefully just making sure no one killed Gale before she made it into her room. His headlights were too bright. She couldn't see his face.
"Why didn't you have the cop drive you?" Stanley muttered as he shuffled his feet back into his room. Gale followed him, closing the door behind her and exhaling a relieved breath when she noticed Anthony's headlights backing away from the window.
"He was starting to get weird. I don't think that meeting was only about sharing information." She shuddered. "I'm also wanting to talk to his brother. He's my main suspect. I couldn't exactly tell him that."
Stanley exhaled as he shrugged into a t-shirt and pulled jeans up over his boxer shorts. Gale hadn't even noticed he was just wearing shorts and an undershirt when he opened the door. He didn't seem embarrassed by it, so she didn't give it a second thought either.
"Alright. I hope this is quick. I'd like to go to bed before midnight." Stanley grumbled.
"I'll be quick." Gale promised.
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