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Chapter 18

HIM

I’m barely in the door when I reach for the laptop. Anxious to see if I’ve made the news again, I set down my Coke, open Google, and search for the serial killer in Randolph County NY. Pages of results appear on my screen. So many articles.

I’m famous.

The very first result is a YouTube link that leads to a clip from WSNY. The like button shows 15K thumbs-ups, 115K views, and 965 comments! That is some impressive engagement.

Ken Wells, you handsome devil. You are The Man.

The clip is going viral. I’m going viral. It’s almost too bad no one will ever know I’m the one.

I know. That should be enough.

I think of the woman in the next room. She definitely knows.

I scroll through the search engine results and read a few articles. They aren’t as exciting as the videos. People like the sensational aspects of media attention, and the written word just isn’t as grabby. Still, I save every hyperlink.

Halfway down my screen, I click on another YouTube link. The sheriff gave another press conference today. She is boring. All facts, no fun. She can barely handle a few softball questions, but she acts as if someone is putting the screws to her.

Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind putting actual screws to the sheriff.

I watch the press conference twice more. Sheriff Taggert tries to keep a straight face, but she is out of her element. She will never figure it out. She barely has any information, and what little she has came from the medical examiner. Sheriff isn’t a job for a woman. Females don’t belong in positions of power. It’s unnatural. She’s another impostor, a wannabe man.

Someone should show her the truth.

The reward is huge, though. I can’t contain my laughter. I copy the link, adding it to my list, so I can watch it as many times as I like.

They can’t decide if I’m a serial killer. Maybe I should make that clear. Steering the investigation might be fun too. I can fuck with Sheriff Taggert. It’ll be entertaining. I write down the number for the hotline, then watch the whole event again.

Why haven’t they named me? Every serial killer needs a name, right?

This is my only chance to be famous. I hope they come up with something spectacular.