Ch 10 Boyfriend

The smell was too strong for Kessler. He had smelled it before at Will’s dorm. But the awful stench of the motel combined with the freshly decaying corpse upon the bed, like piss and death melted together. He had to lift his jacket up to his nose to prevent himself from fainting. The room was already riddled with police markings, the cleanup crew exited the tiny, askew motel room for Kessler and Petrovsky. 

The room was miniscule, with the murder scene being the only discernible feature in the little white room. Upon the bed, lay the corpse, belly upwards in a splattered fashion, as if he fell 50 stories into that position. The mattress was a sea, a pool of dark liquid.  As they walked carefully around it, blood dripped softly from the toes of the victim on the carpeted floor that was already collecting puddles of the liquid. As they came around to the other side, they saw the victim’s head hanging upside down off the edge of the bed, perpendicular to the ground. A blonde wig, sprinkled with blood was holding on to his head, a piece of glass was shoved into one of his corneas. Kessler knelt down to observe it closely.

“So the room was registered under his name?”

“Yep, Daniel Esquivel, lives on 7845 Cherrytree Dr, works at the Chanter club not 2 miles from this place, his alias is Felicia, we called and they said he had left early to go on a date, they didn’t see who he left with though" Said Petrovsky.

Kessler looked closely at Daniel’s face. 

“He’s wearing red lipstick.” He said.

“So?” 

“So, look at it, its not as much smeared in the least, its perfect. Our guy put it on him after his deadly deed.”

“Why?”

“No clue. What we do know is that our ‘lady killer’ is seducing these men, these cross dressing men- the blood seems to be pooling off from the center- so it might be something sick and twisted that he does with them”

“We’d better not be dealing with some Hannibal Lecter fan”

“Whoever this guy may be, he went out of his way this time. Going to a neighboring county, no body shoved into a closet or under the bed, he covered himself as he left so the cameras couldn’t catch his face, he wore socks over his shoes, he’s definitely Will’s killer, and he’s getting sloppier, more meticulously cautious, and most importantly he didn’t have help this time.” Kessler arose, his jacket still covering his nose.

“Let’s get out of here”

Ronnie skipped his first class on Tuesday morning. He didn’t feel the need to bump into Regina Webber, or anyone for that matter, except for Kessler. Boy would he love to see him. It was pleasant to think about him, it distracted him. But then Will’s horrible death face popped back into his head, along with the picture of Kessler’s wife and kid. The images destroyed his affections. It was good, he thought. It wasn’t good to covet someone whom he could never have.

As Ronnie forcefully trudged himself through the gay campus, still looking sharp despite his attitude, he saw Teddy walking with Jeremiah. They looked like they were having an enjoyable conversation. How foolish of Teddy, he thought. Falling for a straight man like that, making it obvious for everyone to see, he might as well throw himself into a river. It was pathetic. Although, he couldn’t really blame Teddy for falling for a handsome and dapper man like Jeremiah. It could have easily been Ronnie in Teddy’s shoes right now. 

The smooth countenance of Enrique appeared on his radar and quickly moving towards him. Ronnie immediately thought of turning around, but then he saw the flower in his hand, and he knew something was up. 

He came to him with a smile that suggested humility but at the same time desire. He outstretched his hand with the flower towards Ronnie. 

“Here, I got it off my mother’s garden. I know you haven’t been well since Will’s death, and that you think I killed him-“

“It’s a possibility” he said as he took the lily and put it to his nose to smell it. Ronnie looked at his caramelized skin, it contrasted well with the purple buttoned-up shirt, his thick black hair combed slicked back.

“So I was wondering, um, you know if you have time… to go out… with me” Ernique forced his words. You could tell this was the first time he had ever asked out another person. Ronnie scanned him again. Why now? Enrique always knew Ronnie was gay, and never once displayed interest. Or was it the fact that he was the only one who knew his secret, and Enrique wanted to seduce him and later take him out like he did to Will. Ronnie contemplated the possibility of a setup. In such an event he could this opportunity to turn the tables. If Enrique is the killer, then he can counterstrike against him. Especially since the police is no longer cooperating.

“Fine, how about tonight?” Ronnie wanted to keep him on his toes, figure out his plan. 

“Uh, sounds perfect… how bout we meet at Chez Fromage?”

“Aren’t you concerned that someone will see us? In fact even you right now talking to me, and giving me a flower, is very incriminating don’t you think?”

“Yeah I guess so, I don’t know, I woke up with a lot more courage today” He smiled a hopeful smile that made Ronnie second guess himself. What if this guy was being sincere? What if he really liked Ronnie? Ronnie smiled.

“Alright then, I guess I’ll see you then.” He kept walking without looking back, his head puttering random conspiracies, intrepid notions, of course it’s a trap, why else would he ask him out.

Albert closed the door to his medicine cabinet and looked straight at the mirror. His eyes were weary, and he spaced out. He stood there for a good minute or two, looking at his chapped lips, his bags under his eyes, and the warped mess that was his hair. He opened it  again and pulled out a tiny glass bottle filled with white powder. He opened it and pinched some with his fingers he quickly raised it to his nose and inhaled it completely. He thrust his head back feeling himself become lightheaded, his toes cringed feeling the breeze of the fan. He closed the bottle and placed it back in his medicine cabinet. The door began sound like crashing thunder, he squinted and forced himself out of the bathroom.

He wiped his nose and opened the door with nothing on but his levi's. 

Jane busted through and entered while bumping Albert aside. 

“Excuse you!” She looked around the room, she started shuffling through the entire house, going through every room. 

“What the Hell are you doing?!” He followed her into his bedroom where she started throwing his pillows around and opened his drawers and throwing his clothes around. Albert was too high to completely stop her, he tried to grab her but it was futile. 

“Where the Hell is it Albert?!” She pushed him back and he almost fell, he held onto the wall and walked back to the living room and slowly sat down as he heard her going into his bathroom and rummaging through his medicine cabinet. She exploded out of the room holding the glass bottle.

“How fucking dare you?!” She threw the bottle against the wall as it shatters. 

“Huh! How the Hell am I supposed look at you?! Answer me!”  Jane started to sprout tears.

“I’ve stuck my neck out for you so many times, how many times have I pulled you out of the depths of depression, I’ve devoted myself to protecting you, and this is how I get paid back?” 

“Stop being such a drama queen-“

“No! No I will not! This is serious! You little shit! What am I supposed to tell Melvin?!” 

“He wouldn’t want to be with someone who has no career, no job, no future, so why bother with this tedious relationship thats going to crash and burn-“

“what do you mean no career?”

“I got kicked out okay! It was one stupid paper. I got caught okay! They didn’t even let me-“

“You plagiarized?! You dumbass! Albert why?!” She started hitting him while he blocked with his forearms. Albert got up and went inside his room and locked the door, Jane banged his door.

“Albert! Albert!” She retreated with tears in her eyes, she grabbed her bag and left. 

Megan shuffled out of a bathroom looking disheveled. She was inside the reverend’s house after a quick leader meeting. Her bowels were moving quite sluggishly so she had taken a while extra inside. She moved passed the hallway when she heard something quite anatomically interesting.

“How big was it?!” Megan heard Olivia through the door of a room upstairs. She stopped, and she contemplated. Then shamefully she pressed her ear against the wall. She heard giggling.

“Shut up, it was big enough!” replied Regina.

“I don’t know what devil possessed you, to go after the reverend, what is he 50?” Megan gasped quietly as she covered her mouth.

“Shut up he’s 46!”

“Well I don’t see how your’e gonna get anything out of him by sucking his dick, he’s not rich or anything”

“I am not a gold digger, you bitch”

“wait a minute… so you actually dig little old Reverend James? Come on Regina, he’s married and old, you’re so pretty you can get a cute boyfriend who isn’t old, ugly and married”

“You don’t understand. He knows how I liked to be touched, the way he throws me over his desk, the way he just takes me to the moon, oh God its just so amazing-“

“This is so fucking weird, God why did Beverly have to leave with Shawn? Can’t wait till they get back… oh my God I forgot, I have to meet up with Bradley, he’s been acting weird lately…” Megan silently sprints out of the hallway. The information she just heard shocked her. 

Teddy and Jeremiah sat sluggishly close on his bed. They were playing Teddy’s video game console. They were both enthusiastic as they shout out gamer insults and yelled when one of them scored. Their shoes and socks lay casually on the floor. Teddy was holding one sentence back the entire time.

“so I heard you have a girlfriend, how’s that like?”

“You’ve never had a girlfriend?” Jeremiah replied.

“no… I’m kinda sorta… gay” Teddy braced himself for impact.

“oh… cool. Well to say the least, its kind of difficult juggling a girlfriend around with so much classwork to do, I hardly get time to myself” he said un phased about Teddy gayness. Teddy was solemnly relieved but at the same time sad. 

Jane was sitting at the school café with Gemma she was venting about Albert, when suddenly she saw Bradley in the Café looking for her. She quickly ducked her head as to hide from him but he had already spotted her. 

“Dammit” She said.

“You want me to take him outside?” She clenched her fist with her other hand.

“No. I have to talk to him alone.”

“alright, I’ll be outside if something happens, don’t trust crusaders” She got up from her seat and walked past Bradley and gave him a vaporizing glare. Bradley sat down in her seat.

“Why the fuck are you stalking me?!”  Bradley stayed quiet. He seemed shuddered, and uncomfortable, almost humble.

“Well?” She said again. Bradley looked to the side avoiding her eyes at every glance trying to play off his coy actions. 

“God, I went over and over in my head what I was going to say-“

“Look I have too many problems to be worrying about you and your needs-“

“I want to be your boyfriend!” Jane was speechless, she welcomed the notion as she looked into his savagely blue eyes. But the idea was too foreign.

“What about Olivia?”

“I’ll tell her that it couldn’t work between us”

“And like it’ll work out for us? We’re from two different worlds Bradley Haynes. We are not Romeo and Juliet, and my brother is my life, if you think im just gonna toss him to the side just cause you don’t like that he sleeps with other men, you’ve got another thing coming. So why don’t you take your pale homophobic ass back to your flat chested girlfriend and have sex with it!” Jane grabs her things and walks out of the café while Bradley remains seated with a somber look.

Ronnie was getting ready for his date or his trap which he will be ready for as he slips onto his favorite red cardigan, his smooth black hair is perfectly teased. On the off chance that this guy was sincerely into him and he wasn’t the killer Ronnie didn’t want to come unprepared. His phone suddenly rings.

“Hello?” 

“Ronnie, hey its David Kessler, listen something happened, the case is back on, I can’t talk for long, meet me La Grange on 5^th street” Ronnie quickly jumped for a pen in his drawers, he found one and started scribbling on his hand.

“Alright, LaGrange Restaurant on 5^th got it… be there in a few” Ronnie hung up, checked himself in the mirror, he double takes and then takes off his red cardigan and takes an old jacket from his closet, an old leather jacket. 

Enrique sat patiently at Chez Fromage, the scent of creamy French and Italian food boiled the walls of his stomach as he was intent on waiting for Ronnie to arrive. And so he sat there… waiting.

Self made cover 3

Ch 9 Lady Killer

Ojai County. Chanter Club

“All right move your tushies girls; I gotta get out of here before my nips get cold”. Felicia pushed and shoved her way into the dressing room full of under dressed drag queens. The smell of heavy mascara and linen filled the smoky air. Felicia got to her mirror, she quickly took off her wig  and started popping off her nails. Bernice, sitting right next to her noticed. 

“Ooh watch out girls, Felicia has a hot date!” All the queens in the room started to woo and to chit chat.

“Oh shut it, Bernice, you plus sized queen” He said as he took off his make-up with lotion. 

“Bitch!”  She said loudly and returned to applying her fake eyelashes. 

Ursula, a tall queen with a black and yellow corset and with a large beehive on her head sat down on the other side next to Felicia. 

“What’s this about a hot date?! Who is it?!” asked Ursula

“All I can say is… he knows how to treat a lady” The entire dressing room “Ooh’s” as Felicia puts on a dark red lipstick and smacks his lips.

Ronnie wore a black yarmulke. He wasn’t Jewish but he knew Will would’ve appreciated it, and so did Will’s parents. They were so calm, his parents. So unmoved. It sickened him. And there he was still mourning the loss of his friend and his parents acting like it was Monday morning. The event was being held in Will’s parents’ house in Ojai County, which wasn’t that far from the school. Will’s parents were not accepting of his sexuality, Ronnie even wondered if they knew Will was a drag queen. They were nice people though, Will never complained about them. Will had two siblings, a younger brother and sister. They were also there looking like there was a black out and nothing to do, so carefree. 

Ronnie was a ticking time bomb. He expected much more crying and lamenting. Who was Will to them? A stranger? This was madness.

All the mirrors of the house were covered up with black fabric, virtually any reflective surface was covered with cloth, Ronnie understood it as Jewish tradition, but he never really got the reason behind it, under these stressful conditions it was imperative that Ronnie would check his countenance every now and then. 

They were also required to sit on very uncomfortable wooden boxes, it wasn’t different from any of the furniture there, Ronnie thought. The entire place was uncomfortable. The house was decorated with simple ferns and eggshell white all over the walls. Ronnie tried to seem un-phased by Will’s family despotic behavior. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Ronnie sees Kessler wearing his black leather jacket and some indiscreet khakis. His complexion was somber and penitent. He rushed over to Ronnie. 

The khakis outlined the structure of his legs, they were tight fitting and sleek around his crotch. It was the lighting in the house that made Ronnie look upon his rigid cheek bones and scruffy complexion, a jolt was sent through his body that ran through his pelvis down to his knees. As he came closer, he tried so hard to close that door; now it’s being thrust open with nuclear force.  

“Ronnie, how are you doing?”

“Not particularly well”

“I came because there’s something I need to tell you” Ronnie blinked and got his hopes up so high he could touch the clouds. He was no longer sad, that’s how fast he door was opened.

“The D. A is closing the investigation” Ronnie was speechless for a second. He sunk down, plummeted lower than before. He began to shake his head.

“No, no, no. This is not possible! Why?! We have suspects!”

“Without any new evidence we can’t pursue this case any longer, and theyre also stopping te autopsy-“

“No! I won’t allow it! This is not fair! Kessler you have to convince them!” Ronnie started to sprout tears, they entire room started to stare.

“Listen, I tried my best I couldn’t convince the D.A. I’m sorry”

“No! I don’t care! I’ll do it by myself! I don’t care! I don’t care about you! I don’t need you or your stupid D.A!” Ronnie stormed out of the room, brushing past Kessler and bumping him, he went into the kitchen. Kessler stayed there embarrassed as the entire room lay eyes on him. He thought about going after him but then reconsidered and left.  

Ronnie stood over the edge of the sink; his yarmulke had fallen off from shaking his head. Will’s mother came over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Ronnie, you gotta let go, let him go” She said. Ronnie turned around and gave her a spiteful look. He shuffled back to the living room to see that Kessler had gone and in his place was Jane, Gemma, Teddy, and Melvin. They also seemed bored and uncomfortable. Ronnie had resented them for not pursuing Will’s murder as strongly as he did, it was as if Will was no one to them, they hadn’t even spoken to each other since Will died, they had deserted him, left him to defend Will by himself, as if he didn’t matter to them, as if they didn’t know that Will was struck down through a hate crime. 

“Ronnie, we here” Said Teddy as he led the others in, he went and hugged Ronnie. 

“It’s nice of you to show some support at last” Ronnie started.

“What are talking about? We’ve always been there for Will and you” Jane started too as she crossed Teddy.

“No that’s right. You’ve been such a great help following Will’s death! You never even bothered calling, that’s how supportive you’ve been” Jane gasped. Melvin pulled his way to Ronnie, he had heard enough.

“Ronnie you’re being an asshole! Stop trying to live up to Will’s expectations!-“

“Where’s Albert? He didn’t come with you? Did he finally dump you?” Ronnie knew it was a possibility, and so without remorse he hit Melvin below the belt. Everyone gasped including Teddy. He put himself in between Melvin and Ronnie to prevent something. 

“Ronnie, what’s wrong with you?” He asked him. Everyone gave Ronnie a piercing glare. Ronnie turned away sobbing he left the room. 

“Well I’m sure as Hell not gonna stay after that scene” Said Melvin

“No, you can’t leave. None of us can leave. Ronnie is going through a tough time, He’s still our friend, we can’t turn our backs on him now-“

“You heard the way he talked to us!” Said Melvin

“Yeah, he’s throwing a fit.” Said Gemma

“No one is leaving. And Melvin just let that comment go. Don’t worry I’ll go find Albert after this-“ Jane pauses after she sees the dark figure of Enrique walking through the front door. They all pause as they watch him move toward the kitchen looking for Ronnie. 

“Who the Hell invited one of the crusaders?” Asked Gemma.

Ronnie walked out of the bathroom, he was under a wave of stress, his shoulders seemed heightened. Then his tension inflated as he saw Enrique. 

“You?!”

“I just came to say that I’m sorry for your loss, and that from the bottom of my heart; I didn’t kill him, I admit he bothered me often, but I could never kill someone. That’s all I have to say.” He turned around and started to walk back. Ronnie perceived his words as honest and truthful, he also looked quite handsome in a black suit. He almost wanted to tell him to stay but he held himself back for that tiny, miniscule chance that he could be lying, as he does with the rest of his life.  Ronnie decided to stay in the kitchen for a while, he didn’t want to face Melvin again after that disgusting comment, he regret he had said it. Thinking about it made it worse, what a vile thing to say, he thought. Albert and Melvin was, to his knowledge, the cutest most attractive, most loving and devoted couple he knows. Despite the fact that he and Albert shared something for the year that they were dating, nothing could compare to what he saw in Melvin and Albert. He decided to apologize to Melvin.

Just as he entered the room he saw Jane with Bradley Haynes at the front door, she was yelling at him to go away while Enrique was pulling him towards the exit. 

Ronnie went berserk blind with rage. 

“What the Hell is he doing here?!!!” He rushed toward Bradley, heading straight for him. Teddy caught and grabbed him just in time before he leaped at Bradley. 

Ronnie turned into a devil, a furious devil. 

“Ronnie, don’t! Calm down! Ronnie!” Teddy struggled to control him as Ronnie tried to shake and push off Teddy. He was pushed to his limits, he could not dare let Will’s murders’ come to his funeral to laugh at him, no, he was not going to let it happen. 

Other people helped Teddy control Ronnie, he was retrained. 

“Get out!” Yelled Jane at Bradley. 

“Brad, let’s go!” Said Enrique. Bradley walked backwards staring at Jane, he pointed at her and gave her a melancholic expression, then he succumbed to Enrique’s pull, turned around and left. 

Ronnie was set free. He jerked himself away from everyone. He was hyperventilating, his fists still clenched. Will’s mother approached him.

“Ronnie sweetie, go lay down” He looked then at everyone staring at him. He snapped back. Then he nodded and proceeded towards the hallway while Will’s mother followed him. 

Kessler sat in his car driving home from the funeral. He was still uneasy about the whole thing. But it was out of his hands and out of his conscience. Kessler was actually relieved. The case was cold, there was no way he could’ve solved it. 

Suddenly his phone rang and he pulled it out and answered.

“This is David”

“Looks like the case is back on” Said Ptrovsky

“Petrovsky? What case?”

“ the lady killer strikes again”

“You’re kidding, and the lady killer?”

“That’s what the media called him or her, but yeah it’s another drag”

“Where?” 

“Ojai County”

Character Profile: Reverend James

This is the incredibly handsome, Jeff Foxworthy, who's face served as my inspiration for my character Reverend James Patterson. His enticing mustache and overall warm face was the exact same sex appeal that I wanted out of Reverend James, except that James's character is quite more vile. He has the perfect face of a religious zealot, which is exactly what James is. Out of all of my characters James has to be my least favorite because he lacks originality. I find, quite too often, that there are several Reverend James in real life, for me he is too realistic and too frightening of a character.

Do you think Reverend James is the LadyKiller? Vote for him in the sidebar!

Ch 8 Holy Gun

Reverend James stands behind the pulpit. He wears an all-black suit that clashes with his dusty brown hair and mustache. He breathes into the microphone, the sound travels through the walls of the church. The entire congregation present, all seats were full. Bradley sat along with Olivia and the entire horde of crusaders in the front row, including Enrique. Enrique looked back and saw Ronnie and Kessler standing in the back looking out of place and dressed casually unlike everyone else wearing suits and dresses. 

Reverend James was raised on a platform. He was in his element, his natural state, this was sport to him; the boundless preacher.

“Anyone hear or read ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’ by Jonathan Edwards?” He began. Everyone looked around to see who would raise their hand. No one did. 

“No one? Good. Now you’ll have to hear about it from me.”  Reverend James catches a boy’s eyes in the corner closing and his head tilting.

“Hey you! Boy! Don’t you fall asleep! Wake up! I ain’t teachin’ English, you can do that to your teachers but not to me, I ain’t teachin’ English, I’m teaching eternal salvation.” The kid looked mortified, he turned red. Ronnie held his hand to his mouth to prevent his jaw from dropping.

“This is the house of God, not a motel” Reverend James returns to his pulpit.

“I know that most of you know that God loves, does he not?” He gets an approving nod from the crowd.

“But as much as God loves, he also hates with the same strength, the same power that he loves… And you ask ‘What does he hate?’ I’ll tell you what he hates… he hates you! Now I know what you’re gonna say ‘but God loves all his children’ yes and he also hates them at the same time. He hates you for all that sin tucked away in your hearts, and I know you’ll be saying ‘well I haven’t sinned’. Yes you have! Ain’t no one here who isn’t a sinner, every breath you take is an offence to God!” The reverend starts to walk around the stage and using his arms, his voice getting malignant. 

“And you go about you daily lives thinking that you’re free of sin just because you go to church every Sunday, just because you read the Bible. And you! Mr. Freeman!”  He spots Jeremiah Freeman sitting awkwardly in the corner.

“Why I had’nt seen you in months! Where’ve you been? You think eternal salvation is at that good for nothing queer enabling school? No sir, you won’t anywhere in life by putting in front of prayer, in front of church, in front of Jesus Christ your savior! No sir!” Jeremiah’s eyes were covered by his transitional lenses. They were beams aimed directly at Reverend James. 

In the back Ronnie clenched his fists and bit his tongue. 

“That school ain’t nothing but a bunch of fags and enablers all working together. The Lord is thy shepherd… that means we’re the sheep people! If you deviate from the path aint no one gonna bring you back, and God will surely strike thee down with furious anger!” Ronnie could take no more, he opened the exit and fled from his poisonous words, Kessler followed him.

The GSA was gathered in the student activities room. They were all present but they seemed disconnected, in some way or another even Jane. There was Teddy who was busy playing his handheld game. Gemma who was busy trying to get her bangs to fall in place perfectly, Albert and Melvin who sitting apart from each other. 

“Where’s Ronnie?” asked Jane. No one responded for a while.

“He’s probably still out with that detective” Said Albert. Melvin looked at him then back at Jane.

“He’s taking it too hard that Ronnie” Said Gemma

“Will was everyone’s friend, we’re all grieving his death, why is he the only one who gets all the attention?” said Melvin.

“Ronnie was closest to Will out of all of us. He’s a real good friend too” defended Teddy.

“Well we still need to do something in regards to Will, like a fundraiser for his funeral”

“I heard from Ronnie that his parents had already arranged a funeral” remarked Teddy.

“His parents are giving him a Jewish funeral?” asked Gemma which coincidently was also Jewish.

“I think we should still hold some sort of event in his honor” said Jane

“What another drag show?” asked Albert. Jane glared at him. 

“We should make him a memorial in the quad, that’s be real nice with flowers and stuff, Will would’ve liked that” Said Gemma. Jane finally noticed the distance between Albert and Melvin. She automatically knew something was off, they were mad at each other, She started thinking of the worst possible scenario and she prayed that it wasn’t that.

Ronnie and Kessler waited outside the crowded church as the horde of pasty individuals with their suits and their rosy pant-suits came cascading out of the church like a heard of cockroaches under fire.  They waited tentatively as the crusaders marched out of the church and stared at them in despise. Ronnie glared as much as he could, he could control himself better now. 

Finally after a while reverend James trotted out of the church accompanied by several people encircling him. 

“Stay here” Kessler ordered Ronnie. 

“Why?”

“Just do as I say” 

Kessler walked over to reverend James out on the concrete path. He was certain that he wouldn’t cooperate, if anything he was analyzing him.

“Reverend James Patterson” Kessler flashed his badge. “I have some questions for-“

“Just who do you think you are? Or rather who do you think I am? How dare you come into my church and demand and accuse, no sir I will not answer any questions! And I appreciate if you’d leave” 

Kessler was furious, he did not analyze him at all, all his rage was clouding the process. The reverend brushed him by. He was definitely a suspect now, who knows what kinds of atrocities this man is capable of. As Kessler saw him walk out onto the street with his congregation he could see the devil inside him. Suddenly he was tapped on the shoulder.

It was a woman with a cheeky complexion, and blonde hair. she looked to be about forty.

“Officer, if you wish to interrogate my husband, im afraid you have to be a bit more intimidating” She said so warmly and kind. Kessler was thrown off by her presence. 

“Oh I’m sorry, I’m Linda Patterson, James’s wife” They shook hands.

“Mrs. Patterson, I’m guessing you know why I’m here” 

“Sadly yes, let me tell you, my husband’s no perfect saint, he’s just like the rest of us. But he would never be capable of killing someone. I know his preaching may be a bit unorthodox, but that’s because he really cares… say why don’t you come back to the house with me- I was just about to go there to pick up a salad, you should come along.” Kessler looked at her funny. He didn’t know whether to trust her or not. He looked back at Ronnie, and then nodded his head.

Jane catches up with her brother, Albert, after the meeting. 

“Albert, what’s going on why were you sitting apart from Melvin? Are you two fighting?” 

“You’re always so perceptive, or so you think, maybe he thought I just smell bad how the Hell should I know?” 

“Albert, what’s going on with you? Please don’t make me ask Melvin cause I wanna hear it from you-“

“Hear what? That he’s being completely incompetent in bed-“

“Albert! You better not be-“ Albert starts to walk away, he was not in his right mind, she could sense it. Her first impulse was to go after him but she realized it was no use, as much as she wants to shield him from danger, she knew it was he who had to eventually learn to take care of himself. 

Jane walked in the other direction towards the parking lot. She walked to the curb before a car pulled up in front of her. She was startled. It was Bradley in his red Mustang, it almost matched Jane’s hair.

“The Hell do you think you’re doing?!” Jane yelled t him.

“Hey watch your mouth… and get in” He said with a devious smile.

“No, that’s not how it works Bradley, I’m not your sex toy”

“Come on, I thought we were friends with benefits-“

“We are not friends!” She starts walking towards her car. Bradley gets off his and starts following her. 

“So what are we then?”

“were just people who occasionally have sweaty, raunchy, sex”

“How about now?”

“No. I have things to do. Why don’t you go ask your little girlfriend?” Jane gets in her car and turns on the engine.

“Are you jealous?”  Jane cackles.

“No, you’re not even my type” Jane pressed on the gas and sped out of there before he squeezed any more words out of her. She looked at him through her rear view mirrors. He stood there calm, and collected with his shades. 

Ronnie and Kessler wondered hopelessly through the reverend’s house, they followed Linda into a room with beautiful baroque wood decorations and ornaments with owls. There were framed photos everywhere. Ronnie caught a glimpse of one of them. It was the reverend and his wife  and a child in her lap. They looked real happy. 

“James was a good father… at least that what I keep telling myself, he’s not a very good husband I’ll admit that, but I’d like to think he was a good father to Elliot” Linda sat down in one of the cushioned vanilla baroque chairs. 

“Where is your son now?” asked Kessler as he knew the answer.

“Elliot died 2 years ago…” Linda started to brew tears. “He… he was always so fun and perky, God how he had energy, ever since he was a little boy he could draw so curiously, he was really talented by the time he was in high school. He always got picked on too, it wasn’t Eliot’s fault, he was just being himself-“

“How did Elliot die?” Asked Ronnie curiously.

“I was just getting to that, one day Elliot came home, he sat us down, and he told us that he was gay. I didn’t know what to do or say, I didn’t know how to deal with it. And neither did James, he was aggressive towards Elliot. He hit him so many times, I kept telling myself that he did it for his own good but eventually he left home, he ran away.” The tears started rolling, she pulled out a cloth from her purse.

“We never saw him again, well alive that is. He was gay bashed, taken out to the river and beaten to death with baseball bats… I remember the day when James found out, he came home cryin’ like a baby… and he said ‘God why?! Why did my son turn out the way he did?!’ James was never alright ever since, he’s been hating the homosexual ever since, thinking that was the cause of his death. James never really understood that, but what you have to understand is that James’s caprice with the gays is that he thinks they took away his son… He didn’t kill that boy, I know that, I’d put it on my dead mother’s grave” She dried away her tears. Kessler had heard enough, there was nothing discernible from her exposition, if anything she was covering for him, although the framed pictures seemed convincing.

“Well, I guess I’d better get that salad”

“Thank you for your time Mrs. Patterson, we’ll let ourselves out” Ronnie and Kessler leave the room while Linda remains there, motionless.

Reverend James sat in his desk inside his gaudy office. His chair was turned around, his coat was off and his tie loosened. He held a framed picture in his hand. It was of him and a small boy, they were wearing fishing hats and were holding up tuna fish. He stared at it, then swiftly tossed it to the side. On his lap was a baseball bat, wooden with several scratches. He touched his lips to it. 

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, he quickly stashed the bat under his desk. The door swung open and in came Regina Webber. She was wearing laced underwear and a pretty hot pink bra with a ribbon in the middle. James turned his chair around. 

“It was about time”.