A Murder in Dialogue

Untitled

By: John Raymond Jr.

12:44 am Thursday Morning.

“Hello.”

“Can you hear me?”
“9-1-1 this is Sarah, how can I help you.”

“Oh my god, OK. My son is missing. He’s missing.”

“Okay.”

“He was supposed to be here at ten but he’s not. My husband went out to look for him and called and said he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He’s missing.”

“Okay, let me just take a second. Your name is?”

“I’m sorry?”
“What is your name?”

“My name.. I’m Rose.”

“Ok Rose let me just get some details.”

“I’m Rose, my son is Conner. His name is Conner and we haven’t heard-”

“I hear you Rose, can I have your last name?”

“My name is Ros-, um sorry yes it’s O’Sullivan. My son’s name is Connor O’Sullivan he’s-”

“And where are you located?”

“I’m sorry my son-”

“Yes ma’am, where are you located? Your address?”

“You want my address? My son isn’t-”

“I understand that ma’am. But I need your address to proceed. OK, what is your address?”

“I, okay. We are at 2331 West Pine Avenue. Just outside of, of Plainview.”

“Thank you ma’am. I am going to go ahead and let the sheriff know and he’ll be sending somebody over right away ok ma’am?”
“I, ok, but my son. He’s missing we haven’t heard-”

“I understand ma’am and the sheriff or one of his deputies will be by soon to talk with you and address the matter okay?”

“Okay. I-”

“Okay ma’am is there anything else?”

“I, no, I don’t think-”
“Okay ma’am. You’re welcome.”

“Okay, Thank yo-”

“Bye.”

1:37 am Thursday Morning

“Oh my god what took you so long!”

“It’s OK Rose, we ran-”

“The hell it is! The hell! The damn night he… OK, OK. I’m sorry. Lord Jesus, I am sorry and forgive my moment of weakness.”

“It’s Okay, Rose.”

“You’re here. Dale, you’re here oh my lord. Is it bad?”

“No Rose, no. I have my deputies out looking. Nobody’s found anything yet it’s OK. Your boy is likely just sleeping off his first party.”

“He doesn’t do that kind of thing Dale! He doesn’t, oh my lord what if he does! What if he sins!”

“Rose, Rose. Rose! It’s OK. Settle down now. He’s gonna be OK. Jon is on his way back. We got people looking for little Jon, he’ll turn up OK?”

“Okay, Dale. Okay. I’m sorry. I’m not myself. I’ll pray on it. I need to pray on it.”

“OK, Rose. You pray on it. I need to get back to my deputies. I’m gonna have Taylor stay at the house ok? Is that ok?”

“Yes, fine, of course.”

“Ok he’s gonna stay here in-case little Jon shows up without us spotting him first. Okay?”

“I said okay!”

“Okay Rose, Okay. You pray on it. We got this, we’ll find him.”

6:48am Thursday Morning.

“What is it boy? Easy, hold on now hold on! Juicy! Juice! STOP! What is that you got there, dragging me down off the road in this. Oh now what is this. What you got there Juice? What is that? What yah got there bud? Oh dear god. No. Nope! Put it down! Down Juice! Let go!”

7:10am Thursday Morning.

“He just got it in his head to go running down the bank. Damn near pulled me over with him.”

“As you said Hank. Did you see anything or clue the dog in any way?”
“His name is Juicy and no. I didn’t ‘clue’ him what are you even talking about? You know me Dale. I’ve been taking this walk with my dogs for nearly forty years now. Stop with this bullshit will yah. Let me have my dog back.”

“Did he get at anything-”

“Juice. Did Juice get at anything, and no he didn’t. Just a few sniffs at the head and then he marked the back wheel of the bike. Ok, ok Dale? I’ve more than done my good deed for the day.”

“Hank, I’m going to level with you. There is a good chance you’re gonna be a witness.”

“A what? Witness to what? Juice found the poor boy.”

“But you’re the first human to see him in over eight hours. And the last one that did saw him alive.”

“You, what, you, what do you think? Damn you Dale. That’s what I say to you. Damn you. Lock me up now you miserable prick. Me and Juicy both. Or are we done? Cause I tell yah right now we are. We are done. Let’s go. Give me MY DOG.”

“Let him have it.”
“It? Go to hell with you Dale.”

7:21am Thursday Morning.

“So what are you saying?”
“I don’t know Sheriff. I’m not an investigator. From what it looks like he fell over the embankment off the side of the road.”

“And the fall did all this?”

“It did something. We are over our heads here Dale. This isn’t a hunting accident. Whether this was an accident at all. We are over our heads sir.

“Well that’s one damn thing we know for sure Deputy.”

9:33am Thursday Morning.

“Yes, Sheriff Dale. Come on in. Did you learn something?”

“We found your boy, little Jon.”

“Oh thank god!”

“You didn’t say he was at the hospital, did you Dale?”

“No Jon.”
“Oh my god! Oh my god!”

“Easy Rose. Dale didn’t say, you didn’t say-”
“I’m afraid so Jon, I’m so sorry.”

“Oh no oh no oh no oh no!”

“You’re telling me my boy is dead Dale?”

“I’m so very sorry Jon.”

“Oh no oh no! I need to see him, I need to see him!”

“We need to see our boy Dale.”

“Jon I-”

“Dale.”
“I need to see my baby! My poor sweet baby!”

“Dale!”
“We had six homicides last year, Jon. Six. Two were domestics where the perp was at the scene and confessed.”

“My baby!”

“Dale, we need to see our boy!”

“Easy now Jon. The other four homicides we had were hunting accidents. Accidents Jon!”

“What are you saying Dale?”

“I don’t know Jon. Rose. I don’t know what to say.”

“Christ sake just say it Dale! Or I swear to god almighty-”

“I don’t know! I sent for a homicide detective from Metro. They are sending somebody later today. I don’t know, I don’t know! I can’t handle this one on my own. Our county doesn’t have murders! Not kids, no way! I can’t do this on my own. I know that and I sent for help. Help is coming.”

“A killer! My boy was killed!”

“Now I didn’t say that Rose!”

“Easy hunny, he’s doing his job. I hear you Dale. Thank you. Thank you, you did the right thing. What’s this, this detective’s name?”

“I don’t know. They said they would dispatch somebody directly to the scene.”

“Now about seeing our boy Dale.”

3:49 pm Thursday Afternoon.

“Excuse me miss? Miss! You can’t park there.”

“I’m detective Burton. I was requested by the local sheriff’s office.”

“Credentials? Oh, ok. So yeah it’s just down ther-”

“I can follow the yellow deputy, thank you. – You there, your part of forensics?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“It’s Detective, Burton or both. This. Was this here when you arrived on the scene? You photograph this?”
“The rock, yes Detective Burton. Hasn’t been moved if that’s what-”

“Yeah that’s what I’m asking. Has the head been turned?”

“Turned, no Detective.”

“Ok, I’m going to, do you have photos of this position already?”

“Yes we photographed the-”

“Good, can you get the photographer back? Yah go get him. What have you gotten yourself into kid. Good you are back, ready?”

“Yes Detective Burton. This is Jerry our-”

“In close there Jerry. See these wounds to the head? Get them on film please.”

“Um we don’t use film Detective, it’s-”

“Take the damn pictures Jerry.”

4:21 pm Thursday Afternoon.

“So Detective, your saying little-”

“The victim was murdered yes. Blunt force to the left temple. Which the killer then set against the ground. The murder weapon was left right there. Had you just bothered to investigate-”

“Hold up now Detective Burton. We left the scene in perfect condition for you. We found it and it is thanks to us for leaving it that way.”

“Yes Sheriff, you did a good job not touching the body but the rest of the area was trampled to ruin. There is no good forensics from that. We have no idea where the perp entered or exited from. You said it is a common bike way, the street above?”

“Damn it, we… yeah, yeah ok. Shit I didn’t think to-”

“Sheriff Dale was it? No time for what ifs. The bike trail?”

“Yes Detective, we thought maybe he skipped over a stone and went down. We didn’t think to tape off-”

“Doesn’t matter now. Have you canvased those who knew the victim and were close to him? Friends, family, classmates?”

“We’ve been in touch with the fam-”

“I’m going to request some out of county support Sheriff… Dale was it?”

“What? Yah, I’m Dale. What exactly are you saying Detective?”

“It is not a reflection on you or your police work-”

“You’re saying me and my deputies won’t do our jobs?”

“Fine, yes that is what I’m saying.”

“Well you better have a good reason in court for that. Cause my people found the body and I’m in charge of this investigation. It is a courtesy that we called you in the first-”

“You called me cause you’ve never done this before. Don’t pretend. Do you want me to work this murder or not? I can’t work it with people that are married, cousins, sisters or brothers to every possible suspect. I need outside people.”

“No way. I won’t have a bunch of strangers pesting the good people here. Detective Burton, you’ll be working with me and my Deputies and that’s that.”

“No relatives Sherif.”

“I can take Mitchell off the case. I’ll put him on patrol.”

“He’s the only one?”

“Yes Burton, he’s the only one related to anyone involved.”

“Anyone in town Dale. Anyone. We don’t know who and who isn’t involved yet.”

“Fine. Fine, but that leaves us with Sheryl and Timothy and that’s it.”

“Let me get outside people Dale.”

“I said no. We’ll work this. You, me, Sheryl and Tim.”

“Fine. We’ll get the bastard who did this and your town will go back to the sleepy fairy-tale it has always been Sherif.”

“Fine.”

9:58pm Thursday Night.

“Yoos that city police right?”

“Detective. And yes I’m from out of town.”

“You, yer, yah hair cause of the ded boy naw?”

“Look, you’ve had a lot to drink.”

“You know that boy hads it comin? Know thats? Dinn so!”

“Shut up Al. He’s drunk ma’am. Um Detective.”

“Geri Burton, Burton is fine. And our friend here bartender? Who might he be?”

“I ans drunk! Boy was rish prish!”

“He’s been at it awhile. Since the seventies. He means no harm. Names Al Walker. Though he doesn’t do much of that. Mostly stumbles don’t yah Al. I’m Greg.”
“You’re funny. Don’t worry, I don’t make cases on the words of drunks.”

“Thanks Detective, sorry for the trouble, I got the next round.”

“No need. All for me, thanks.”

5:51am Friday Morning.

“You sure do get an early start, Detective Burton.”

“I had the county coroner take the body away last night. Wanted to see the impressions while they still lingered.”

“Impressions?”

“In the grass. The prints in the soil are cast. But the broken grass can’t be molded.”

“Right, the grass.”

“The footprints up beside the road, in the gravel of the shoulder; did you note them?”

“Um, yes. Yes we measured them.”

“From the looks of it, somebody was just standing still for a while. The impression of the last two steps were deeper than the rest. Considerably. Somebody stood really still for an hour or more.”

“Did they at that? You can see all that from a print?”
“Not just me. Forensics will account for the compression of the gravel. They’ll figure out how much weight it takes to compress gravel of that consistency that far and for how long. The time and the weight are the variables.”

“Variables?”
“The unknowns. Somebody stood there waiting for our victim. When we know who that is their size and their free time will match up with the weight and time that gravel was compressed. It is all a puzzle Sheriff. That gravel up there is a piece of it.”

“Gravel sure. Well you asked about people Little Jo-, I mean our victim knew.”

“You have a list for me?”

“I do-”

“Let’s go, you know the wheres, you drive.”

6:28am Friday Morning.

“You were the victim’s friend, you knew he went home along Ridge Pike each day on his bike, correct?”

“Of course, but I mean everybody knows that. He also could get a ride from his dad or one of the upperclassmen that live out there.”

“Why the upperclassmen?”

“You know why, I mean, you don’t see, they are all… you know rich. It was only a year before Jon got his own wheels. His bike was already fuc-”

“Anthony!”

“Excuse me Mrs. Grainsill. He should answer. It’s best for him to do so.”

“I don’t know, shouldn’t we have a lawyer?”

“Please let your son continue. I don’t think he’s a suspect?”

“This is Detective Burton from the city.”

“Ok, I guess. It’s ok right Dale?”

“Yes Mrs. Grainsill, it’s going to be okay. Go ahead boy, tell it like it is.”

“They just, you know. It’s a different world up there.”

“Is there anything else you can tell me about Jon O’sullivan the Third?”

“I don’t-”

“The only trouble you can make is by holding something back.”

“We should get a lawyer.”

“Perhaps Mrs. Grainsill. Perhaps, but not for this. If you have something to say, now is the time. Go on son.”

“Jon didn’t really have friends. I mean he didn’t really get along with the other rich kids. So he played this game with us. MaxFarm.”

“A game?”
“Yeah. It’s a cooperative group PvP. Player versus player. Our group, well Jon’s group, was one of the best.”

“You know the other people in this group?”

“Well, yeah. But only through the game. It was Jon’s life. And since he had money he could…”

“Could what? Why did having money matter?

“Well anybody can be good at it, but if you had money you basically paid to dps.”

“D.P.S.?”

“Damage, per, second. You paid money to get the best stuff to do good damage. To be the best at it. And the game is basically all about dps. Damage per second.”

“Can you give me the names of these other group members?”

“Are we in trouble?”

“I don’t think you’re in any trouble.”
“Dale?”

“Just give her the names of the game players.”

8:02 am Friday Morning.

“Yell-low.”

“Hey Tiny Nate the Tech.”

“I hate when you call me that Burton.”

“TNT?”

“What do you want Burton?”

“Can you run down information on ‘game handles’? Three of them are email addresses and I’ve narrowed them down to the victim, our cooperating wit and another classmate. But the last only uses a nickname. No email.”

“What’s the game?”

“MaxFarm.”

“Oh that, yeah a micro transaction giant.”

“A what?”

“Nothing, just kinda the worst of the worst in the industry. What’s the handle?”

“It… is… DarthSkullsX.”

“Heh, ok. Gonna take time. These giant game corps fancy themselves as free speech advocates without knowing what protected speech really means.”

“Don’t go at them directly. Think you can reach out to the username? Get an I.D. by what do they call it?”

“Catfishing?”

“Yeah? Think you can punk the kid?”

“Maybe, we’ll at least get an answer sooner rather than going through the courts. Are you sure about this Burton?”

“Nope, but it’s the lead I’ve got. Thanks again.”

11:34 am Friday Morning.

“We got prints!”

“Prints? On the murder weapon?”
“You bet, partials prints on the murder rock.”

“That’s good news Sheriff.”

“Please, call me Dale.”

“Fine pull Dale.”

“Wasn’t me, was the forensics people up from the capital.”

“Well then buy them the donuts and shut up about it.”

“You’re a real hard ass Burton.”

2:08 pm Friday Afternoon.

“Detective Burton speaking.”

“Burton it’s Nate.”

“TNT, what do you have for me?”

“Ugh. I managed to hook that gamer you wanted. Get this, he all but admitted to taking something of the victims.”

“What?”

“Says he got what he needed thanks to the victim dying. Something about virtual wills in the game.”

“Wait, this kid is saying he got something of value from the vic’s death?”

“Saying it clearly, to anybody who asks. He’s showing it off as part of the game’s new will system.”

“Will system?”

“Just like the real thing Burton. You die and you can will your virtual shit to somebody still breathing.”

“And this kid is bragging about getting something from that kind of death will deal?”

“More like saying it is legit and that he is now, to quote, ‘Perfect’. If you can believe that shit.”

“Any ID on this player?”

“Just an email, but I’m working on it.”

“Can you send something to that email?”

“Sure, what’s your angle Burton?”

“I don’t think our suspect is all there. A simple invitation might do the trick.”

“Ok tell me what to write.”

“Oh make it look like it is from a gamer’s email.”

“Duh Detective, duh.”

2:12 PM Friday Afternoon.

Email: ##########

Subject:

Heard you got something that completes you? I’m curious about it and how it all works. Are you in Town. Can you meet me near the convenience store on third?

SEND

REPLY

What is your in-game? It is more impressive in-game.

I can bring my laptop when we meet up. You could bring yours and we can play till our batteries run dry. OK?

SEND

REPLY

That sounds weird, just meet me at Farport in-game. I’m usually there after school.

Fine, sure that’s great.

SEND

2:31 PM Friday Afternoon.

“Burton.”

“Detective.”

“TNT, I saw the transcript. You botched it.”

“I didn- forget it.”

“Don’t worry, I think I got something from it. Talk to you later Nate. Hey Deputy, when do highschoolers get out of school around here?”

“Um usually it’s three-thirty sharp but most are let go before that. I’d say ten or fifteen minutes. Not going to arrest the teachers for that are you?

“What? No, are you an- nevermind. Tell the Sheriff I’m heading over to the high school and that I might have a suspect for him to pick up.”

“A what? I’m-”

“Tell him!”

“Aye, will do Detective.”

3:23 PM Friday Afternoon.

“Just wait here Dale.”

“Detective…”

“Hi there.”

“Um, hi.”

“I’ve wanted to ask you a question all afternoon, do you mind? I’ll walk with you. Do you play MaxFarm?”

“Um, yeah. Like, everybody does.”

“Do you play with a group or, do you what, go it alone?”

“Haha, you mean solo? Nobody solos but newbs. You’ll die so quick that way.”

“So your group, do you play with local kids, friends?”

“I gotta get home.”

“Just one last question, what’s your handle if I wanted to look you up?”

“You play?”

“Yah, I’m… LadyMycroft.”

“That’s clever, Sherlock’s brother but a girl. I’m DarthSkullsX.”

“Cool.”

“Yah, whatever. I gotta go.”

4:11 PM Friday Afternoon.

“This is pretty slim for a warrant Detective.”

“Got a friendly Judge in town, Sheriff?”

“I think I can find one.”

“So… you’re still here because?”

5:56 PM Friday Night.

“Ma’am, this is warrant for the arrest of Seth Tremico-”

“Dale what the hell is this about?”

“I’m Detective Geri Burton and I have reason to believe your son Seth is responsible for the death of Jon-”

“Dale!”

“Jon O’sullivan the Third played an online video game with your son. Is that correct? Go, yah, get any computers you find.”

“Computers?”

“Martha, is Tom home yet?”

“No Dale! Tom is not home yet and I demand you tell me what is going on right now!”

“I’ve been trying ma’am. You wanna give it a shot, Sheriff?”

“As the detective was saying-”

“MOM!”
“Seth baby!”

“What is this, why are there police?”

“You have the right to remain silent.”

“Why are the lights doing that?”

“Anything you say can be used against you in court.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice and during questioning.”

“I didn’t do anything.”
“If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before you are questioned further.”

7:05 PM Friday Night.

“Wasn’t anything unusual at the house but I didn’t think there would be. The kid’s computer however might tell us something compelling.”

“Welcome back Detective.”

“Sheriff. He’s in?”

“Interrogation three.”
“Come in when you’ve matched those prints to the ones you took off the kid. Rush in if they don’t match. I don’t wanna make a fool of myself.”

“Yes ma’am.”

7:11 PM Friday Night.

“Hi, I’m detective Geri Burton from Metro for this case. You must be Seth Tremico and his parents?”

“Martha.”

“Jim.”

“And I’m the family lawyer Thomas Rathford.”

“Seth, Martha, Jim, Tom. I’m sorry we are meeting under these circumstances.”

“So am I Detective and until there is a district attorney in here we have nothing further to discuss.”

“Mr. Rathford, I understand your position. But we have D.N.A. evidence on the weapon that was used to kill young Jon. We have prints on that same weapon. We have motive and we have opportunity.”

“Opportunity? It is my understanding that the victim was found off route nine?”

“Well yes an…”

“Well my client wasn’t anywhere near route nine at the supposed time when the victim met his unfortunate end. Seth was at home with his parents, both of whom will testify to that fact.”

“Home from school? Did he take the bus?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Did. He. Take. The. Bus?”

“No he’s, his father gave him a ride.”

“I saw him walking today. Does he usually walk?”

“He, I don’t- They mix it up Detective.”
“And his father will testify to this?”

“Yes I will!”
“Yes, he will.”

“Okay. You know that perjury is a crime Mr. Tremico?”

“We are all aware, Detective Burton.”

“It carries a sentence in prison.”

“Enough Detective. Unless you are charging Seth we demand that he be released. Now.”

“Okay. Well, the district attorney should be here shortly. Shall we wait for him?”

“No. I think you need to charge my client-”

“Detective. I have up-”

“Yes, Sheriff?”

“I have that thing you wanted.”

“Just say it Dale.”

“We have his prints.”

3:45 PM Monday Afternoon.

“So that’s it?”

“Yup Sheriff, that’s it. The Grand Jury has indicted him and chances are young Seth is going to go away for a while.”

“You think he’s all there?”
“The Judge or the perp? Old joke. Yah, I think he knew what he was doing, Sheriff.”

“So, tried as an adult huh. I just didn’t think something like this could happen here.”

“Nobody does until it does. Blame the game, blame the companies involved, heck blame society. None if it will add up to the sum total of a crime. But poverty surely leads to crime in my world.”

“Does it?”
“What do I know, Sheriff? I’m only here because you couldn’t do the job.”

“You’re a hardass Burton.”

“Pleasure Sheriff Dale. Hope we never meet again.”

“Same!”

6 YEARS LATER, 1:22 PM Monday Afternoon.

“Hi there Sheriff. Congrats on the election!”

“Thanks Chris.”

“Here to see him again?”

“Yup, same as always.”

“It’s getting close.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“That’s why you’re here?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Well, he’s different as you know.”

“I know Chris.”

“Well, in you go Sheriff.”

—

“Hi Seth.”

“Hello Sheriff Dale. Good to see you.”

“How are you feeling?”

“You know. I don’t feel that way anymore.”

“What way is that Seth?”

“You know, poor, helpless.”

“You don’t feel poor?”

“I’m not anymore am I?”

“Well in here I guess that doesn’t matter. But they are fixin’ to release you soon. You’ll be back with your parents.”

“And they are still poor aren’t they Sheriff?”

“I suppose so Seth.”

“Think I’ll get to feeling the same ways?”

“I don’t think so Seth. You’ve got your prescriptions now don’t you?”

“Yes sir I do.”

“Think you can keep to them?”

“Yes sir I do.”

“Well then you won’t have any problem feeling anyways towards trouble then will you now?”

“No sir I won’t.”

“Then I see no worry about letting you out Seth.”

“Oh I do, Sheriff Dale. I do.”

“You do? What trouble is that?”

“Oh I don’t know. I don’t care for it is all.”

“Well the state is fixing to release you Seth.”

“I see, okay.”

“You’re okay with your prescriptions ain’t you Seth?”

“Yes sir.”

“Okay then.”