“There’s one more thing I need to do before we kill him.”
I pick up the camera and find a blank tape to insert.
“You’re going to record his death?” She sounds more curious than anything.
“Not exactly. Darlin’, I need you to stand back for this next part.”
She does what I say, and leans her hip against the table as she waits.
The camera tripod is already set up with a clear view of the bed. I set the camera on it. The screen shows me the exact view from all the tapes. This time Christopher is the one being forced to perform.
I press my finger to my lips to ensure Chloe will keep quiet, then I hit record, and step into view.
“Christopher Davis, you are here tonight, laid bare for all to see your true disgusting form.” I spread my arms wide, putting on a show for the camera, and for Chloe who’s biting her lip with a grin. “This bed you lie on is the same one you drugged and raped countless girls on. Do you have anything to say for your crimes?”
“Please stop this?—”
I roll my eyes, and carry on. “One of the poor unfortunate souls you hurt was Katherine Vaughn, my sister.”
I stare dead at the camera, my mask slipping.
Hold yourself together. Just for a few minutes.
“My name is Zack Vaughn, and I am about to put an end to the years of abuse this man has inflicted on others. This has been a long time in the making, and I’m pleased to tell whoever’s watching that Walter Ashbury, Jackson Wood, and Father Tristan Daniels are all dead by my hand.” I smile wide at the camera, and bend down to turn it off, then I remember to add, “Oh, also two bikers, but I can’t remember their names. They were in my way. This is my confession.” I salute to the lens and stop recording.
I hope that I’ve done enough to keep Chloe unidentifiable in the recording. If she chooses to take the list of names to the authorities, then the new tape will hopefully help her case.
“Zack…” Chloe holds her hands to her chest like she’s praying.
I carefully saunter over to her. “Yes, darlin’?”
“You took the fall for me.”
Why do I suddenly feel so nervous? I step up to her, and tuck a loose curl behind her ear.
“That I did.”
She blinks up at me. I’m lost in her eyes as I cup her cheek and graze my lips over her soft ones. She inhales, and the kiss becomes something deeper, more intimate.
“We should finish this,” I say on a shaky exhale once we part.
As I check through the footage, I ask Christopher, “How did Kat get hold of a tape? Did you give it to her?”
Christopher’s head rolls from side to side as he struggles through the pain. He speaks slowly. “I left her knocked out down here while I was seeing the guys off. Usually, I have the girls back upstairs by the time the drug wears off,but I thought I had more time with her. She took me by surprise when I came back down here. I didn’t realize she’d stolen a tape until she ran. Nothing happened after, so I knew she didn’t go to the police. I’ve told you everything, now please let me go.”
Chloe nestles into my side.
I lean in to kiss the top of her head, but the moment isn’t quite right with Christopher shouting in the background.
“Put the tape and the notebook in the bag. I’ll finish with Christopher, then we’re leaving.”
“I want to help you kill him.”
Once again, I’m questioning how she can be so perfect, and screaming at the universe for leading me to her so late.
I take a mental snapshot of her as she is now. She’s become the person she needs to be to survive this world.
“If that’s what my little sinner desires, then that’s what she’s going to get.” I kiss her then hold my knife out for her.
