Scream V (2022) My Version

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Secret Revealed

Gale sat with Sidney and Billy all morning making calls to find the number to the Carpenters only to learn that they weren't listed. Gale then asked her cameraman to ask around town. He did so and had no luck.

"Shit!" Gale cursed frustrated.

"You ok?" Sidney asked holding a phone book.

"No. This is harder than I thought." Gale said.

"I think I have an idea." Billy said. He opened his lab top to Facebook. He decided to see if Christine had a page. "Christine Carpenter." He said typing her name but nothing came up. "Shit! Nope."

"Try her maiden name." Sidney said.

"Ok." He said. He put in her maiden last name which was Lopez. "Yep here she is." Billy said triumphantly. Why they hadnt thought of this before was nothing short idiotic. Almost everyone has a social media presence. "Look and see if she has a number." Gale said.

"Yep." Billy said scrolling on the info part of her page. Her number came up. "I'm gonna call her." He said using his cellphone and dialing the number.

Her cellphone rings. Christine looks over at her phone realize it's a familiar person calling her. She decides to answer.

"Hello." Christine asked.

"Hey Christine it's Billy." He said to her.

"Hi Billy." Christine said over the phone. Sam turns to see her mother on her cell talking to someone. "How's it going?" She asked making conversation.

"We need to talk. Can we meet?" Billy asked.

"Yes. Of course." Christine said a little too excited. "How about we meet at the cafe?"

"Ok." Billy said. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Ok." She said hanging up. She looked over at her daughters for a moment. Especially Sam. She grabbed her purse and car keys. "Sam, chica watch your sister. I gotta run an errand ok."

"Ok mom." Sam said. "Who was that on the phone?" She asked curiously.

"A friend." Christine said then leaving the house. Sam nods.

"Sam can you get me something to eat please?" Tara asked her.

"Sure." She said then headed into the kitchen to make Tara some of her favorite tacos.

Back at the hotel, Billy places his jacket over his shoulders. Gale was gonna go with him but she can't because her boss called her asking her to cover the stories so she had to go back to work. Sidney protested but Gale said she needed a distraction. Billy asked Sidney to stay put because he was going to speak with Christine alone. Sidney said it was ok because she needed to check in with their clan back home. Both Gale and Billy left the room getting into separate cars before leaving.

XXXXX

Christine arrived at the cafe ahead of Billy. She found a quiet booth and headed there. She sat down. She asked for coffee. She was more nervous than expected. She hadn't seen Billy in over twenty years. Seeing him again last night brought back memories. Some good some bad. He had been the one to take her virginity. They hooked up about five more times after that. The two talked sharing many things with each other. He had told her that he was unsure if Sidney was the one for him. She had tried to convince him to leave Sidney but something kept him with her. She figured it was because he truly did love Sidney.

Billy walked into the cafe. He looked around and spotted her. Christine looked good for her age. He remembered how they spent time they spent together. How they talked about anything and everything. He even told her stuff about his relationship with Sidney and how she tried to convince him to leave her. Billy almost considered it but he couldn't bring himself to leave the woman he loved. He made his way over to Christine.

"Hey Christine." Billy said to her.

"Hey Billy. Please sit." She said as he does. "It's been a long time huh?"

"Yes it has." Billy said.

"You look good." Christine said to him.

"You to." He said smiling. Both were quiet for a moment. She stopped smiling. Something was weighing on her mind. She began fidgeting with her fingers as she did when she was nervous. Billy caught this and remembered it.

"Are you ok?" He asked her.

"Yeah. She answered. "So what did you wanna talk about?"

"Sam." Billy said. Christine stared at him surprised.

"What about Sam?" Christine asked. She wondered if he knew the truth. How could he know? She was careful not to tell anyone. Not even her husband.

"Does she have a group of friends she hangs out with?" Billy asked. Christine looked on confused. Pet of her sighed deeply. He didn't know after all.

"Why would you ask that?" Christine asked.

"Well it's this whole ghost face murder thing. When this first happened, Sidney and I along with Tatum were targets and the killers were our friends Randy Meeks and Stu Macher. It happened again when we were in college. The third time it was her half brother, his brother and a former classmate of ours Angelina Tyler." Billy said as Christine listened. She remembered hearing about this back when it happened. "It happened again seven years ago. Sid was finishing up her book tour and this was the last stop. We learned that one of Jill's friends her ex Trevor and my brother Ross were the killers." He said.

"It's always someone in the friends group is what you're saying?" Christine asked him.

"That's right. That's why I asked if Sam had a friend group." He said.

"Not Sam. Tara does." Christine said. Then it hit her. One of Tara's friends could be a killer and her attacker. "One of her friends could be a killer and her attacker."

"What are the names of her friends?" He asks.

"Let's see. There's Chad and Mindy Meeks'Martin. They are the nephew and niece of Randy. They are the obvious suspects." Christine said.

"Or red herring. Who else?" Billy asked.

"There's Amber Freeman. She's Tara's ex girlfriend. There's Stacy, Nathan, Liv and Mike. Wes and David were her friends but both were murdered." Christine said. Billy wrote down the names.

"Ok." Billy said.

"Do you really think one of her friends could be the killer?" Christine asked.

"Yes. It always happens that way." Billy said. Christine nods. She looked at Billy nervous cause she has something to tell him and he needs to hear this.

"Billy I need to tell you something." Christine said to him.

"What is it.?" He asked.

"Something I should've told you years ago but didn't cause I knew what you and Sidney were going through." Christine said rambling. Billy listened not knowing what to say. "This is so hard." She said trying to find the right way to tell him..

"Why is it hard?" He asked her.

"Because it's the kind of secret that will destroy relationships." Christine said somberly. She was afraid that if Sidney found out this secret it would ruin her relationship with Billy.

"Just tell me Christine." Billy said a little impatiently.

"Ok. Do you remember the last time we made love?" She asked him.

"Yes. Why?" Billy asked.

"Well six weeks after we had sex, I found out was pregnant. Ben and I were intimate together." Christine said.

"So." Billy said to her. "What does that have to do with me?" He asked her.

"Ben is not Sam's father. You are." Christine revealed. Billy sat there confused for a moment.

"What?!" He asked shocked making sure to keep his voice down. "How is that possible?"

"You were the last person I had sex with." Christine said.

"No you said Ben was the last person you were with." Billy said to her. He was right. She did say that.

"Yes but I was already pregnant by then. I slept with Ben and lied about the conception date. By the time I learned I was pregnant, it was already twelve weeks pregnant." Christine said. Billy stared at her confused. She took his expression as a que to explain herself. "Ok, look, when we did it, we hadn't used protection. I slept with Ben five weeks after we were together. Then seven weeks later I started having morning sickness. I learned I was pregnant. Ben went with me to the doctor and when he learned I was pregnant he automatically thought the baby was his." She finished and watched Billy's reaction. He didn't know what to say. He was quiet for awhile. "Please say something."

"Shit what should I say?" Billy asked. This news hit him hard. He has a daughter. "Wait how do you know she's not Ben's daughter?"

"Because I got a DNA test done for the two of them behind their backs a few years ago. He was not a match. You were the only other guy I was with Billy. It's you. You're Samantha's father." Christine said. Billy sighed deeply.

"Why hadn't you told me sooner?" Billy asked her. A legit question.

"It started with your father. My mom found out that I slept with you and that I was pregnant. She confronted your dad and he asked her to keep it quiet. He paid my mom money for me and Sam. He didn't even tell your mom." Christine said. Billy was frowning angrily. Yet another secret his father hadn't told him about. He was fuming mad. "I wanted to tell you but you and Sidney were in college and dealing with another ghost face trying to kill you. I didn't want to complicate things more than they already were." She said.

"Shit. I gotta tell my wife this. Fuck!" Billy said. He got up from the table. "Thanks for the information." He said before exiting the cafe abruptly. Christine sighed deeply. She knew she'd have to reveal this information to her husband. She slowly got up and left the cafe as well.

XXXXX

Back at the Carpenter residence, Tara had fallen asleep on the couch. Sam was in the kitchen cleaning the dishes. She had made sandwiches for Richie and herself. Richie hadn't brought up the fact that he was annoyed by Zeke's visit. Sam knew he wanted to talk about it but held back. The doorbell rings again. She goes to get the door again. It's Chad.

"Hey Chad. What's up?" Sam said greeting him.

"What's up Sam. I was wondering if I could see Tara?" Chad asked. He entered the house.

"Sure." Sam said to him as closes the door. "You know your brother was here earlier." She said.

"Really?" Chad asked.

"Yep. You here to talk to me?" Sam playfully asked.

"Well, no. I wanted to see Tara." Chad said.

"She's in the living room." Sam said as Chad made his way into the living room. He sees Tara lying peacefully nodding off. He sat next to her. She looked so peaceful.

Since losing David, Chad had been accused of killing him and then Wes is murdered and this hurt him deeply. Wes and David were the only two people other than, Tara, his sister and brother who cared about him. He never got along with Mike. Nate and Stacy tolerated him. He literally had no one to talk to other than his brother and sister. He felt lonely and was tired of being accused of doing something he hadn't done simply because he was related to a killer.

Tara was a breath of fresh air for him. He liked talking to her and she seemed to be a good friend to him. Recently, their conversation were becoming a little flirty. Their last conversation almost led to a kiss. Chad was beginning to realize that perhaps Tara not Liv is the right girl for him. He gently rubbed her shoulder. She begins to stir.

"Hey beautiful." Chad said to her. Tara looks up rubbing her eyes.

"Hey what's up?" Tara asked smiling.

"I came to check on you." Chad said smiling. This earns a smile from Tara who yawns a bit. "How are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm healing." She said.

"That's good. I'm glad to hear it." Chad said to her.

"You ok." She asked him. She could tell that he has something on his mind. "Is it Liv again?" She asked.

"No. It's this whole murdered ghost face thing. It's bad enough that I'm related to a fuckin psycho serial killer, my sister and I are tired of being accused of being killers." Chad said angrily. Tara felt for him. He and Mindy have been good friends to her and her family. She didn't see them as killers. She didn't even see Zeke as a killer. "It's frustrating. Ever since David and Wes died, I feel like I don't have anyone to talk to. It's a lonely feeling."

"I'd be lying to you if I told you that I understood what you're going through but I can't. I know you and you're not a killer. You don't have to go through this alone." Tara said taking his hand. Chad gladly accepted her hand. He kissed her hand.

"Thanks T. I appreciate you." Chad said to her. This brought a smile to her face. She suddenly felt a little nervous around him.

"Do you wanna hang out for a little while?" She asked.

"Sure." He said as they both smiled nervously at each other. Tara turned the channel to a station where a comedy movie is playing. It's Ace Venture pet detective. "I love this movie."

"Yeah it's funny." Tara said as they both laughed at a scene. Their hands touched but oddly neither moved away. Both smiled without looking at the other.

Sam caught their encounter and smiled. She was happy that Tara was feeling better and that this was due to visits by Wes and Chad. Moreover she was happy that Tara was no longer with the cheating bitch Amber. Maybe Chad could be her knight and shining hero. Guest only time would tell.

XXXXX

Billy sat in his car thinking about his conversation with Christine. He was still in shock. He had a daughter. A daughter. He couldn't believe it. He got the information he needed but the shock of knowing he had a daughter was too much. He wanted to meet and talk to her. Get to know her. But there was problem. Ben was still in the picture and Billy would have to tread carefully in getting to know his daughter. What if Sam didn't want a relationship with him? What if she outright denied being his daughter? She'd have right to feel that way. After all Billy hadn't raised her. Hell he didn't even know she exited. Unfortunately she was kept from him and it was because of his father. Once again his father interfered in his business. Apart of Billy understood why his father kept this secret from him. He and Sidney were in college and were dealing with another ghost face. Also there was Sidney. Billy loved her and if this got out she wouldn't want to be with him knowing he not only cheated on her but got another girl pregnant. Sidney. He'd have to tell his wife about this conversation. Billy sighed deeply. How was he going to tell Sidney this news?

XXXXX

Meanwhile back at the Carpenters, Ben had come back home early. Sam had ordered pizza for her, Richie, Chad and Tara. The group continued watching movies. He greeted everyone kissing both Sam and Tara's foreheads before heading into his office.

Ten minutes later, Christine arrived back home. Her mind was racing. She has a secret to reveal to her husband and it was about time she got it off her chest. She already revealed the truth to Billy and now it was time to have this conversation with her husband.

"Hey everyone." Christine said.

"Hey ma. Did you handle the errands?" Sam asked.

"Yes I did. Is your father home?" She asked.

"Yes. He went into his office." Sam said.

"Ok." Christine said making her way there. She knocks on the door. "Benny you in there?" She asked.

"Yeah come in." Ben said as she does. "Hey babe."

"Hey." Christine said nervously.

"Where you been?" Ben asked.

"Well I got a call from Billy Loomis and I went to talk to him." Christine said. Ben looked at her suspiciously. "Relax, it was about the murders. He wanted to know about Tara's group friends because he believes the killer is always in the friend group." She continued as Ben nods.

"Uh-huh." Ben said placing a folder down on his desk. "You two talk about anything else?" He asked.

"Yes. We talked about Sam." Christine said.

"Why would he want to know about Sam?" Ben asked.

"Because there was something I revealed to him and now I have to tell you." Christine said bracing herself.

"What is it?" Ben asked. Unsure of what she's going to tell him.

"There's something I have tell you." Christine said to him.