Beach Hut

Gillian Evans was sitting in the Beach Hut’s lounge. Business was slow for so late in the evening, so Gillian spent her time taking a few drinks on the house.

“How’s everything?” Brooke Wright, a waitress, spoke. “You look down.”

Gillian shrugged. “You know. Life of the service manager.”

“No,” Brooke quipped. “That isn’t it. I know these things. It is something more.”

The sound of news coverage on the TV distracted Gillian for a second. “You do know me, don’t you? It’s a guy…”

Brooke put down her washcloth. “I knew it! Names. I need names!”

Gillian smiled. “You know, I haven’t even told Iris about this. She would be the first to know.”

“C’mon!” Brooke whined, poking Gillian with her finger from across the counter. “Is he hot?”

“Well, yes,” Gillian spewed. “And he is currently dating my mother. But he never seems very happy with her. I don’t know. I’m just a little confused.”

Brooke came around and sat down beside Gillian. “I know men. Inside and out.”

“You know them a little too well,” Gillian said. “I have heard you talk on way to much about certain films you’ve seen.”

Brooke smiled. “I use them for technique. But that's beside the point. Has he done anything that would suggest that he had a thing for you?”

Gillian remember when the bee stung Giovanni Pike. How they both got very close. She could almost feel him beside her. “Well, I guess…”

The news coverage suddenly changed. Bright letters forming the words ‘NEWS BULLETIN’ streaked across the screen.

“This is Brianna Huber, reporting from Presence Inn, where there has been a murder. The name of the woman, leaked to be Vivian Torres, was killed today. The killer is still at large, and the police are urging citizens to be on guard…”

Gillian gasped.

“Torres? Isn’t that you friend Iris’s last name?” Brooke said, turning to her co-worker.

Torres Residence

Iris Torres stared as the man who was put in jail for stabbing her stood in her home. Adam King looked like a mess, and looked like he could do anything.

“What h-have you done that is so terrible?” Iris asked, responding to his first words.

Adam approached Iris, and glint in his eye. “I… I came here!”

Iris realized that he was still supposed to be in jail. “How did you get here!?”

“I was let out on bail,” Adam said, “but I ran away before I could have a guard assigned to me. The police are probably looking for me.”

“Then why are you here?” Iris wondered in Giovanni was going to come downstairs soon. He had been in the bathroom.

“I came to say I didn’t hurt her. I didn’t!” Adam approached, looking over his shoulder to the door. “I went to Presence Inn to see you, since I thought you’d be with your mother.”

The news item on Vivian’s murder came up on the TV. Iris listened to every word, unable to comprehend what she was hearing.

“I didn’t do it!” Adam insisted, approaching Iris. “I came to tell you. All I did was see the body. Nothing more. Then I ran. To you. It wasn’t me.”

Iris shook her head. The room seemed to constrict around her, the walls closing in. As Adam stepped closer, she stepped back. She tripped over a chair in her room and fell to the ground.

“Iris?” came Giovanni Pike’s voice as he came down the stairs.

Adam put his finger to his lips. He didn’t want to be noticed.

“Are you all right?”

Iris was about to speak. As Iris’s mouth opened, Adam lunged for Iris. He shot off the ground, and tackled Iris to the kitchen door.

“Say anything,” Adam sneered, “and I’ll kill you.”

Kassie Tom Residence

“I just spoke to mother, and she’ll be here tomorrow morning.” Kassie Tom rushed over to Patrick Donavon who was searching around the house. “What are you looking for?”

“It’s a security measure,” Patrick responded. “I need to know this house if I’m going to be protecting you around the clock.”

Kassie nodded. “Have you seen Jake?”

Patrick shook his head. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for a while.”

“That’s strange…” Kassie muttered. “He knew I was coming back around today. Where could he be so late this evening?”

“Maybe he left a note or something,” Patrick suggested. “Where would you look to find a note?”

Kassie lit up. “The phone.”

Patrick and Kassie both moved to where the note had been placed beside the phone. It was the usual spot Jake and Kassie used to leave notes. Kassie picked up an envelope with writing:

‘To Kass.’

“Open it,” Patrick urged.

Kassie lifted the paper flap, and gently pulled out the slim while piece of paper. She took a second to read the message.

“Well?” Patrick questioned.

Kassie burst into tears.

Consuelos Residence

Dean Consuelos and Skye Lore both returned from the beach. They had an interesting chitchat regarding Mateo being a threat to Dean’s freedom.

“Where have you two been?” Mateo questioned the two as they entered.

“The beach,” Skye quipped, walking right past.

“I have received some interesting information,” Mateo began. “And it happened when I answered your cell phone.”

Dean turned to his brother. “Who called!?”

Mateo was surprised by his reaction. “The police.”

“Did you give them our address?”

“No.”

“Names?”

“Only my first name. Why are you so worried?”

Dean shook his head. “No reason. Just curious.”

Skye came up to Dean as he left his brother. Dean was thinking very hard, trying to comprehend the seriousness of the situation.

“Dean,” Skye began. “Mateo is becoming a bigger threat by the minute. Are you just going to stand around? Take action.”

“Action?” Dean asked.

“How do you eliminate a threat?” Skye countered.

“You destroy them,” Dean answered.

“Like the drug client you knocked off. You know I’m right.”

“Kill him?” Dean asked nervously. He wasn’t this timid about such tasks.

“Tonight. Do it tonight!”

Dean nodded. “You’re right. I have to get rid of my brother. For good.” Dean parted towards the guest room.

Skye stood in the living room, feeling good that her plans were all falling into place. Everything was working according to her plan.

“Excellent…” Skye whispered. Her mouth lit up into a satisfied smile.

And her eyes, they glowed. A deep red glow, as if from the bowels of hell.

Outside Presence Inn

Amidst the people stood two familiar figures. Bo Torres, and his son, Wyle, were both gathered to witness their wife and mother wheeled away.

“Sad…” came Bo. “But she can’t talk anymore, can she?”

Wyle shook his head. “What we both did all that time ago can remain hidden…”

Without warning, a light shone on the two men. The police had spotted them lurking.

“Who are you?” the police asked.

Bo took a breath. “What is going on?” he acted, feigning innocence. “Is someone hurt? I want to see my wife. I’m Bo Torres”

The officer frowned. “Torres? Was your wife Vivian?”

Bo nodded. “Is she all right?”

“I’m afraid she was attacked, and was killed,” the officer said bluntly.

Both Bo and Wyle acted as if this was out of the blue for them.

“Can I see my mother?” Wyle said, sounding like a sad son.

“I’m afraid we can’t allow anyone in the crime scene. But she is being brought to Presence Memorial right now. You can get a ride in my cruiser…” He stopped. “Sir?” he asked Bo.

Bo looked up. “What is it?”

The officer shone a light over his clothing. “Mr. Torres? What is that on your clothes?”

Bo looked down to his beige sweatshirt. He then gasped.

“Dad?” Wyle asked, backing away from his father.

On the fabric were streaks of crimson. All the men there could easily tell what the substance was, as there was no mistaking it.

Blood.