UNKNOWN CALLER

You Have My Sympathies.🔪

12. You Have My Sympathies.

Tatum Collins.

"This son of a bitch is going to pay," I whispered to my best friend as I held his hand over his mother's grave.

Hundreds of faces surrounded Nato, his dad, sisters and I as the pastor read out of his bible. Mrs. Jinsong's casket was being lowered into the ground while photographers snapped pictures. One would say this was too quick but per their religion the body had to be buried in 24 hours.

Even as the pastor was speaking, I could faintly hear what I could only assume to be national news reporters giving live reports from just outside the cemetery.

"Stabbed to death inside her place of work." I could hear one of them saying.

"No suspects as the bodies in WillBerry continue to pile up," another reporter said.

"One employee describing the crime scene as one of the most brutal and sadistic things he's even seen," said another.

"Tatum," Nato said, squeezing my hand and snapping my attention back into place.

"Sorry," I said, offering a polite smile.

He looked so tired, circles around his eyes which were very red from all of the crying it was obvious he had been doing. Looking around at all of the sadness, even at our group of newly bonded friends huddled a few rows back, it was hard to believe how much had happened in just a few days.

"Did I cause all of this?" I whispered to Nato.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, his sad face sharpening just a little. "You can't be serious Tat."

"Think about it Nat," I started. "I started some silly podcast about horror movies, people start dying, more people start listening to my podcast and the entire town has become a media circus. Am I giving this psycho exactly what he wants?"

Nato bit his lip, obviously unsure of how he should answer when his mother had just been brutally murdered. I could see the doubt in his face, the intentions of not wanting to do more damage at this point. He needed his best friend and I needed him.

"Maybe just take a little break for a while?" He asked. "Take me out to get some ice cream?"

"Boy," I said. "After this I'll buy you as many gallons as you want."

We both chuckled lightly, drawing a few looks from some teary eyes before the services continued.

"God bless her soul," the pastor said, "And bless the town of WillBerry is we work through this unimaginable loss."

"A-fucking-men," I muttered.

***

As soon as the service ended the seemingly hundreds of faces parted like the red sea. From where Nato and I were standing now we could easily make our way over to our group of friends, and we did. 

"I'm so sorry," Roy said, immediately wrapping his arms around Nato; obviously not giving a damn what anyone here thought while he comforted him.

"Did you see the Connery's here?" Nikita asked. "The fucking nerve when they're getting ready to throw a blowout party in two days."

"Maybe they can lump my mom and the rest of the victims in at this point," Nato said. "Seems like they wouldn't care if there was a trail of bodies leading to the house at this point."

"Do you think they'll have murder goodie bags?" Pete asked. "Like, thanks for coming, here's a potential murder weapon souvenir to sum up why you shouldn't be here."

Ali chuckled, the rest of us joining in just a little bit before settling into a silence.

"I just hope the Sheriff knows what he's doing," I said. "Especially after that Bernard guys mother confronted me."

"Bernard," several voices, including one that appeared to be coming up out of nowhere added.

"Yeah," I said as Jason Connery stepped out of the shadows. "Nato and I were at my podcast meet and greet and dead homeboy's mom just went off. Talking about some flash drive and a video with Wilma."

Nikita and Pete looked at each other before exchanging a look with Ali.

"What," I asked. "Y'all look like I said Beyoncé was doing Coachella again this year or like you've seen a ghost. I personally like my expression better."

"They're looking like that," Jason Connery started, stepping into the group and looking everyone over, "because I brought Bernard Cross to my brother's party last Summer; and no one would have a better reason to kill that man than me."

"Jason," Roy said. "Nice to grace us with your presence after you just conveniently walked away stab free from a chase through the woods."

"Excuse me," I said, snapping my fingers. "Back up, who the fuck is Bernard? Y'all knew someone else could be involved and didn't say shit?"

Jason shrugged his shoulders while Nato and I looked over the rest of the group, our feelings hurt.

"I'm sure some of them had good intentions," Jason said. "But this is a horror movie right Tatum?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Isn't the killer usually a friend with some secret connection the victims don't know about?" He continued. "And it always seems like the closer the dumbass victims get to the truth the more bodies start falling."

"Why are you even here?" Nato asked abruptly.

Jason looked over at him, a bit of hurt in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but no words came out.

"Cat got your tongue Connery," Nato continued. "Or is that just daddy's leash on your fucking neck. How dare you accuse my friends at my mom's own funeral. You've got some nerve."

I wanted to chime in, I really did, but as Jason finally walked away, and we all stood in place without another word I had to admit a painful truth.... he could be right. The killer, among this group of Roy, Nato, Ali, Nikita, Pete and myself, could be starting me right in the face. Were they taunting me? There had to be at least two of them, but which two were they and why would they?

I was adding a new rule to my horror movie list: Figure it the fuck out before Friday.

Jason Connery.

"Well that couldn't have gone any worse," I said while slamming my front door.

The house was incredibly empty and quiet, as it usually was with balloons and streamers already strung up in preparation for the big night. On one hand I couldn't believe they were using my brother's memory as bait for a killer, but on another I totally could. Mom and Dad were never great at showing any actual feelings on consideration for others. It was a shame one of them wasn't slashed instead of Nato's mom.

"Maybe that would actually make them feel something for once," I said, immediately regretting it after I did. I made my way up the creaky stairs toward my room. They were definitely not the subtlest stairs. You could hear someone coming from a mile away, but with a killer on the loose that was probably for our advantage.

"What the fuck was I thinking," I said. I had had no intention of going to that funeral but felt like I had to at least be there to offer my support. That cold look from Nato had broken my heart in more ways than one, and the only way I knew how to react was to blow up their trust. It probably wasn't the smartest move to make during a murder investigation, but someone had to do something. Bodies were dropping like flies left and right and my house was probably about to be the scene of whatever sick finale was being planned out.

"Anybody here?" I asked out loud, my voice echoing as I made the realization that I had broken the most basic horror movie rule of all.

I chuckled, before heading into the bathroom and turning on the shower. It had been a long day and I just really needed to clear my head. I pulled over my shirt, then dropped my pants and underwear as the water warmed up. I glanced at my phone quickly before stepping inside.

"You're going to be ok," I said. "No one knows anything other than what happened with Mason. If you keep obsessing over it you're going to get yourself killed."

The water ran over my body, washing away the guilt and crushing burden I was feeling from keeping so much inside. I stayed that way for a few minutes, letting the first few tears roll down my cheeks as I took in Mason's loss and the price that my secrets had cost him. Sure, the boy had secrets of his own, but I was pretty sure mine were far worse; and would lead to much more drama than what this town needed if they ever came out.

"And God I hope they never do," I said, before finally turning the water and stepping out; but as I did so I was immediately very concerned.

The cold draft from the open bathroom door I was pretty sure I closed chilled me to the bone, but was even more chilling was the message scrawled across the glass; even though I was certain I had never heard a peep up our stairs.

I KNOW WHO TOOK YOUR VIRIGINITY LAST SUMMER.


Sheriff Benson.

"You can't do this Sheriff," Marnie Cross said as I slammed the door to the jail cell. "I have rights and my son was murdered."

Sheriff Benson was done listening to her, and couldn't believe he had gotten so lucky. Not only did the USB drive she thought was going to incriminate someone else expose the truth, but it also gave him insight into why Bernard had been targeted in the first place.

"You really thought you were going to get away with this didn't you Marnie?" The Sheriff said. "I mean Jesus, doesn't a woman in her 30's have something better to do than chopping up kids."

Marnie banged on the cell, shouting insults while tears streamed from her cheeks. "If you really think I'm behind this fucker, than you're as sick as the bitch that's putting this all together," she said.

"I'm telling you, Nikita Grey knew that these tapes existed before anyone else did. The evidence on the drive proves it. There has to be a reason behind why she didn't say anything Sheriff. I know that Tatum girl can figure it out."

The Sheriff crossed his arms, "All I see on what you showed me was Miss Grey helping set up a camera and then dipping out of that room. She could have had no idea what Miss Gardner and your son were up to. But the stalking clips on here, following Miss Grey into the High School this week? You know I can't let that slide Marnie.

Marnie bit her lip, "Sheriff all I heard was could have. Can you really afford to take that chance when all these teens are about to get sliced up?"