Inventing Shadows

Chapter 35: Closer-Britney

August 6/2015 4:12pm

Carl with one swift motion circled the area on his map. The bright red stood out so bluntly that it was easy to make out even from the window Britney was looking though. Marcey peered over his shoulder with curiosity edged with excitement in her features. "So this is the area?" She asked.

"It makes the most sense. I read about it in a book , it's called geo-profiling. Or something close enough to that. The killer likely lives in this area given the radius of all the crime scenes."

"Sure thing, detective."

"The real detectives aren't doing their job and we're running out of time." Britney was amazed she could hear so clearly as she pressed herself up against the window. Braden was still bundled up within the plants they had been hiding in earlier. He was fiddling around with his camera; getting impatient with Britney. This could be it! If they find something out then I would be the first to get the news! Just got to be all incognito.

"So do you want to ask the owners of the clubs that are nearby?"

"That is our best bet," Carl agreed as he reached for his car keys. Britney let out a small gasp and dove into the bushes to remain hidden as the door began to open. Braden let out a small yelp when her elbow connected with his groin. Britney stared wide eyed as Carl and Marcey descended the stairs. She nudged Braden and then tried her best to stealthily follow them. She waited at the bottom step as the duo entered a Durango and then she quickly rushed to the van with Braden struggling to carry all the equipment behind her.

"Hurry it up!" She hissed as she opened the driver side door.

"If I had a little help it would go faster."

"Toss me the keys!" Braden mumbled something under his breath before complying. Britney missed the catch and swore under her breath as she bent over to retrieve the fallen keys. She started up the engine and before Braden had even gotten in his seat she sped off trying to keep Carl's trail.

"Britney!" Braden slammed his door shut as she turned out of the motel parking lot. "What are you doing?"

"Following them."

"This isn't right, Britney."

"Do you actually think if I asked for an honest interview he would give it to me?"

"Not to you."

"We are so close, Braden, and you want to be by my side when it happens."

"You're crazy." Britney slowed her speed down when she caught up to the Durango. It made a turn into the parking lot of 'Hot Stuff'. Braden sighed, "There are so many clubs in this town, please tell me we are not following them to each one."

"If we have too." She put the van into park and entered the club. Braden reluctantly followed her as she hid behind a lip shaped couch. Carl and Marcey were talking to an older fellow who had a porn star mustache. Britney caught on mid conversation.

"...Max?" Carl asked.

"I only know of one Max."

"Do they come here often?" Marcey chimed in.

"He has a room upstairs. If you'd like to check it out, go ahead. I don't usually allow strangers to go rummaging through my paying customers rooms but I would do anything to stop this 'Crimson Kisser' from taking another victim. I have a teenage daughter myself." Britney smirked to Braden.

"Where's the recorder?"

"In the van." Britney scowled at him then peered over the edge again to see that Carl and Marcey had already made their way upstairs. She was also greeted by Mr. Mustache glaring down at her accusingly.

"Hello there," Britney smiled, "I'm Britney Sanders. You may know me from the local evening news. We are here to ask questions about the 'Crimson Kisser's' involvement and how it directly relates to your club. It would also be most convenient if we could go upstairs and ask a few questions to Mr. Pellar himself."

"Where's your camera?"

"In the van. Somebody was in such a rush to get here she wouldn't even open the back so I could retrieve our equipment." Braden smirked at Britney in a way that made her blood boil. He is deliberately trying to ruin this! I am going to request a replacement when we get back to the station.

"Right. Now how about I give you ten seconds to get out of my club before my equipment," he shook the broom he was holding in his left hand, "gets lost somewhere I'm sure you wouldn't like. Feel free to come back when we are open though. I am sure you could get a story then. We open at 9." Well that just sounds unpleasant.

"We will do that," Braden nodded as he yanked Britney's elbow. Britney glared at the owner as Braden dragged her out. "I told you this was a bad idea."

"No." Britney shook her head at him. "We now need to find out who this 'Max' is. I think we have killer on our hands."

"I hope I killer gets you in his hands, Britney."

"Watch it," she growled at him. "We have a database of names back at the station that we should looking through. Max is the killer and we could find him."

"You don't know anything! There is no proof that 'Max' is a killer."

"Carl Pellar seems to think so and that is enough for me."

"You don't even know if that is true! Carl may think Max knows something about the killer. You are delusional. You could ruin a poor guy's life if you announce that a guy named Max is the killer."

"We need to find out what was in that room!"

"Give it up!"

"We will wait here for an hour to see if they come out and if they don't we will go back to the station and look up all the Max's there are."

"Britney,"

"Don't even talk to me!" Britney crawled into her seat in the car and waited. What is in that room?