The River King Page #2

on the bank, neatly folded.

I know he would.

He was running away from me

and he fell.

Is that what you told

his father?

Why should he have to think that

Gus killed himself when he didn't?

I just wanted him

to know the truth.

And you're sure

that's the truth?

Just drop me here.

I have to go round back,

it's after curfew.

All right.

Hey, it's me, Harry.

It's only me.

- Jesus Christ!

- What the hell are you doing out here?

- You scared the sh*t out of us.

- I scared you? Who did you think I was?

Two of the guys

thought you were a bear.

What's that on your face?

That's blood.

It's all right. It's only mine.

We're just messing around.

Having a house meeting.

Look, I have to swear you

to secrecy on this, right?

Yeah. Sure, I swear.

Your coat's all wet.

Is that Gus Pierce's coat?

- Is that a problem?

- You can't wear that.

Are you telling me

what I can and can't do?

Harry.

Harry?

Better get back to Robbie

and your boys.

See you tomorrow.

Mind if I sit down?

No.

Those idiots from the

Haddan School in the next car...

are driving me crazy.

That's where I'm going,

the Haddan School.

Yeah, but you're not an idiot.

That's the difference.

I'm August Pierce.

Born on the 7th day

of the 7th month...

and cursed with bad luck.

Choose a number between 1 and 20.

And don't tell me what it is.

Go on, choose.

Okay.

Three.

Was I right?

I was right, wasn't I?

Yeah, you were right.

Simple probability. Most people

go for either 3 or 7.

I'm not most people.

And we might as well

get this over with, okay.

I'm not interested

in flirting...

in you.

Why would you be?

What did the Chief

wanna talk about last night?

He said that the kid probably

fell in the river upstream...

floated down

to where we found him.

He's basing this on what?

He was there?

Look, the kid, between September

and November of last year...

had been to the nurse's office

5 times...

for extreme migraines.

He was on his third

anti-depressant.

He was inattentive,

he was surly...

he was isolating

from his class mates...

his grades were suffering

horrendously.

Where did you get

this information?

Last night,

Glen showed me the kid's file.

Chief?

You should get one of these, Abe.

Makes a very good cappuccino.

- You want one?

- No, thank you.

What's this about the Pierce

kid's death being an accident?

Who said anything

about an accident?

Based on the kid's medical records,

it looks like suicide to me.

You don't think there's a possibility

somebody had a hand in this?

There's nothing to suggest

foul play. Nothing.

Come on, Chief,

you don't really believe that.

Yes, I do.

And so do the folks

at the Haddan School.

I'm sure they do.

Let it go, Abe.

You know, I don't wanna be the

amateur psychologist here, but...

do you ever stop and think that

all your concern about this...

might have something to do

with your brother Frank?

Do you mind if I ask, were you

and Gus seeing each other?

No. Harry's my boyfriend.

I can't talk to him about this,

though. He's jealous.

Gus and I used to come here

all the time.

To read or smoke cigarettes.

Talk sh*t

about other students.

Now that he's gone,

I feel like half a person.

I was hoping to spend

the Christmas holidays with him.

We were gonna go to the city

and see three movies in a row.

Eat too much.

How did Harry

feel about that?

He didn't like it.

I guess I didn't care.

Well, do you mind

if I ask you something?

What did you and Gus

argue about that last night?

Could be helpful.

Some stupid mid-term party

he wasn't invited to.

He disapproved of Harry.

Although... Harry could be

a bit of an ass sometimes.

Have fun at your orgy?

Hardly an orgy.

Just a keg of beer...

and some a**holes

dancing around a fire.

Are you sure you're allowed

to even talk to me?

What do you mean by that?

Won't your boyfriend

see us together?

Bad girl.

You know,

you'd better watch it.

- He's a monster.

- Who, Harry?

Thought you were smarter

than this, Carlin.

But you're just like

everyone else.

Well, I'd rather be like

everyone else than be like you.

No-one will even sit next

to you, you're so disgusting.

Why don't you wash?

It's pathetic.

Everyone says

you're such a loser.

I didn't mean that.

Yes, you did.

You meant every word.

Maybe we should just not talk

for a while.

For both our sakes.

Maybe we should just...

take a break.

If I thought

he killed himself...

that would be the end.

Damn.

Hi, I'm...

Yeah, we'll take care

of that immediately.

Hello.

I brought you

those photographs you wanted.

Thank you.

I have something else

I'd like to show you.

What, you mean

this smudge here?

Yeah, I just thought

it was weird.

It looks like a face.

Could it be maybe

a mix-up of some sort?

Maybe there was an image

already on the film or...

Like a double exposure?

- Yeah, like a double exposure.

- Maybe.

If it's okay, I'd like to have our

guy at the lab take a look at these.

Of course. Look,

I hope there's some mistake.

I can't get it out

of my head.

It's giving me the creeps.

You don't think

he killed himself, do you?

- What makes you say that?

- Don't know, just sense it.

Let's just say I'm keeping

an open mind. What about you?

I hope not,

for Carlin's sake.

Look, I hope this

isn't inappropriate, but...

how would you feel

about dinner?

No big deal,

just food on a plate.

I'm getting married

on June the 17th.

The Willow Room at The Inn.

Sorry to hear that.

If you can think of anything else

that might be helpful give me a call.

That's my card.

It's got my number right there.

Will do.

Most amateurs use a standard

stop bath in their tank.

If the solution's

too cold...

it can cause the emulsion

to smear or crack...

especially at this time

of year.

You think maybe she made a mistake

when she was developing this?

You should have brought it

to me.

You see that?

What does that

look like to you?

Not much.

It says that there was faecal

matter found in his lungs.

- Are you saying it was human waste?

- Human as can be.

And I remember

when you were Chief...

wasn't there an environmental study

done on the river a couple of years back?

The town put in the strictest

sewage laws in the country.

The folks

over on Main Street...

they had to install

completely new septic tanks.

Cost a fortune.

Been running clean

ever since.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

So, how are you doing anyhow?

How's the leg treating you?

The leg's fine.

I was thinking about maybe going

to see Frank this weekend.

I haven't been there

in some time.

That's good, son.

I was wondering, do you ever

think about him at all?

Some.

Listen, I got something

on the stove.

We'll talk.

Yeah, dad. Take care.

Hey, kid.

Hey, wait up a second.

No footprints.

Do you ever wonder

what comes next?

Share of the department,

hopefully.

Eventually...

a university position.

I meant after death.

Well, luckily...

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