Welcome Home - Part 1
by Stephen Sanow
He’s still out there.
Who is?
Sean’s murderer.
What? Who is this??
Welcome home, Lena.
Who are you? How do you know about Sean?!!
MESSAGE SEND FAILURE: NUMBER DOES NOT EXIST.
What? Please tell me! I miss him so much!
MESSAGE SEND FAILURE: NUMBER DOES NOT EXIST.
Maddy the weirdest thing just happened to me.
Hey Lena. It’s been so long since we last talked.
Really?
Yeah it’s been like two years.
That’s crazy. I’m sorry, I’ve just been so busy.
I’m sure there’s a lot more happening in NYC than in our boring Oklahoma town.
Anyway what were you trying to tell me?
I got this text from an unknown number that said Sean’s murderer is still out there.
But they caught Sean’s murderer. That Mid-West serial killer.
It’s been three years since he died and that still doesn’t feel right.
Have you been reading my blog about it?
No. I didn’t know there was one.
I’ve been retracing the evidence and the court documents and things don’t add up.
You sure you’re not afraid to move on?
I know you two we’re in love, but it’s time to move forward.
I want to know the truth Maddy.
The serial killer supposedly killed Sean on December 20th, but then killed someone else December 28th.
So? He’s a serial killer, he kills a lot of people.
Yeah, but not that quickly.
The Serial Killer had a pattern of killing someone then laying low for a year.
They found the murderer Lena, I know it’s tough, but…
Look at the evidence. They found DNA on his body.
EXACTLY!
Sean was murdered by beating.
The serial killer method was strangulation, Sean was never strangled.
THINGS DON’T ADD UP.
You’re getting too worked up about this.
Lets get a drink at McColey’s and catch up and have some fun like we used to.
Maybe. But It might have to be later.
I’m having dinner with my Uncle Bill and Carl.
You mean the creepiest cousin ever?
He keeps to himself. How are you by the way?
Same. Life here doesn’t really change. Still working at my father’s Auto shop.
I handle most of the accounting and money management though which is nice.
That’s great!
Nothing as exciting as living in NYC and being a fashion photographer.
I’m only working for small publications so nothing that exciting.
I thought you were working for Vogue.
Yeah I did a couple small shoots for them, that’s all.
You don’t have to down play it to make me feel better.
I’m not.
Anyway I got to get going- dinner with the fam.
Let me know if you can go out later.
Definitely.
two hours later
SOMEBODY IS WATCHING ME!
What?
I went to take the trash out and I swear I saw somebody watching me from a car.
Then when I went closer to see who it was they drove away.
Somebody is probably just messing with you.
Who? And why is it happening on the three year anniversary of Sean’s death?
It’s probably someone who hated you and Sean being together.
The only person I can think of is Becky Schmidt.
She hated me.
She thought that I was just using Sean as a boy toy when I came home from NYU.
I mean you did steal him away from her.
And then you cheated on him with Mr. Deluca.
That was a one time thing. I was 19 and didn’t know what to do.
It was just some silly girl crush gone too far.
I heard he got divorced. Do you still talk to him?
I don’t want to talk that anymore. What happened to Becky?
I haven’t seen her in forever. She disappeared after Sean’s death.
That’s so weird.
The last time I saw her, she was actually a bartender at McColey's.
But that was almost three years ago.
You really think it could be her?
She did threaten to kill you and Sean when she found out.
Yeah but was when she was 18. We’re 24 now.
I think she would get over it.
You haven't gotten over Sean. What makes you think she has?
True. Let’s go to McColey’s see if we can find out anything about where she is.
K
Also do you mind if I bring Carl?
Seriously? He’s so weird.
I told my mom I was going out and she really wanted me to take him too.
Sure.
Thanks, it be good for him.
He mainly just hibernates in my uncle’s basement, so it’ll be nice if he gets out.
Wanna meet there in thirty?
Yeah. See you then.
Do you think Becky is really capable of killing someone?
I don’t know, but she is definitely capable of messing with you.
She nearly ruined high school for me.
And now not only did you steal Sean away from her...
but your like the most successful person to come from this town.
I bet it drives her insane.
OMG! Another weird thing just happened.
What? Someone else is watching you?
There was note on my windshield.
What did it say?
It said: “Leave. Before it’s too late.”
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