The Town That Dreaded Sundown Page #2

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In your file I read

that you applied to colleges.

- To study...

- Creative writing.

I'm not sure it's something

I'm ready for, or made for that,

and leaving town... I...

I don't want to. Especially not now.

What about these dreams

you've been having?

- What do you think they're about?

- About Corey.

Well,

Corey asked me out and I was flattered.

I don't get asked out all that much.

So I just wanted to show him that...

I...

That I was...

- Grateful?

- Yeah.

So...

when he suggested

that we leave the movie,

I thought we could go someplace.

And even if we just kissed

for a little while, he would like me more.

You didn't do anything wrong, Jami.

He was just a really good person.

He was just a really good person

and he didn't deserve that.

He tried to protect me.

Jami.

Try writing about this.

It might help you find a way through it.

Baby!

Glad you made it home safe, baby!

Yes!

Oh, baby. I'm sore. I need a break.

...four in a row for you on KYGL.

There's a machine by the stairs.

If they got cookies,

get me some cookies.

I need the sugar.

I love you, baby.

I love you, baby.

Hey, knock when you come back.

So I know it's you.

Help me! Help!

Help!

No!

Hello?

I'm going to do it again and again

until you make them remember.

I think I need to tell someone.

Well, you just did. Me.

I mean, like a reporter

at the news or something.

He said he was gonna do it again,

and if he has a message

and he's using me to get it out,

I have to say something. It's...

And he's using you why?

'Cause he likes you?

I don't know.

Miss Lerner, I promise you...

we will investigate this. I will personally

make sure that it's investigated.

Thank you.

I just don't understand

why he thinks we deserve this.

Well...

I'll tell you what,

I wasn't born in Texarkana,

but I've been around here

long enough to know one thing...

And that's that just about everyone

around here

has got some kind of blood

on their hands.

Three weeks after the shocking death

of high school senior Corey Holland,

the town of Texarkana has awoken yet again

to another gruesome act of violence.

This time, two people were found dead.

Corporal Daniel Torrens was coming home

to spend Thanksgiving

with his girlfriend, Kendra Collins,

when they checked into this motel...

At a few minutes past midnight,

the couple was attacked and killed,

their bodies mutilated

almost beyond recognition.

A heart full of hate, that'll do it.

A soul consumed by vengeance. Sin.

The Sheriff's office has been in contact

with the Texas Rangers

to help with the investigation.

But in the meantime,

a Town Hall meeting has been scheduled.

Reverend Cartwright,

will you lead us in a word of prayer?

Our Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you

to deliver us through this trial,

shield us during this time

of fire and blood,

of confusion and despair.

We ask you to lend us

some of your strength

and give it to these fine young men

and women that they may help guide us

through this forest

of fear and darkness...

This town, where I was born,

where I grew up,

- is the only place I've ever known.

- Amen.

The Mayor's asked us to hold

this forum to give you an update

- and hear your concerns.

- Well, an update would be great!

People are saying the Phantom is back.

That after 60 some years he's come back

and that we need to be ready.

Ma'am, he'd be 100 years old.

Every time we show that GD movie,

there's a GD party out there!

The Phantom is our dirty secret.

That movie will never be shown

in Texarkana again.

- Not on the Texas side.

- And not on the Arkansas side, either.

And while you're at it, why don't you

tear down that statue of Jim Bowie?

Isn't he holding one of them GD knives?

Why don't you rip that down?

Everyone knows some piece

of the story, but...

- the whole truth has been all but buried.

- Oh, We're all so surprised

that the Phantom's back?

Of course he is.

You can't leave a candle

burning in a window for someone

and then be surprised

when he finally shows up!

Amen. Amen, sister, Amen.

Most of the people alive back then

are no longer with us.

Or they just don't want to remember.

- Then you shutter the bars.

- But everything comes back.

The past is alive, all around us.

Order!

"Disciples of Evil."

That's what my daddy said.

Hi.

The library's paper archives

only go back for 10 years.

They said I should come here if I was

looking for articles in the Gazette

- from the '40s and '50s.

- Stuff about the Phantom?

Yes.

All the best stuff is upstairs.

In the jail.

Listen up!

As of this moment,

the Texas Rangers are in charge

of this investigation. Specifically, I am.

They moved everything in here

when they decommissioned the prison.

Now we just use if for storage.

All of our archives and files.

It's in here.

Trust me,

I understand how you feel right now.

I once had a Texas Ranger

come into my house, and it wasn't easy.

Sparkplug, give us the room.

Now, let's get down to business.

I want open, clear lines of communication

between Texas and Arkansas.

One person from each side

reporting directly to me.

So are you just casually

interested, or...

I don't think we'll figure out

who the Phantom is now

unless we figure out

who he was back then.

- Cool.

- We have two jobs, friends.

To capture this bastard

and to keep the good people of Texarkana

from killing each other out of fear.

We are not huntin' a ghost.

We are after a flesh and blood,

cold-blooded killer,

who, up to this point,

has not made one mistake.

- Due respect, Ranger Morales...

- Call me Lone Wolf.

I think very highly of myself,

and I've also earned it.

Due respect, Lone Wolf,

he was videotaped.

I'd like to see that footage.

Oh, and the movie.

Believe it or not, I've never had

the pleasure of seeing it.

Everything from 1945 to 1952

is gonna be in here.

You know how that works? The microfiche?

They were gonna throw it out,

and I said, "Hey, why?

"You know, it works. Bring it here."

Well...

Well, thanks.

Yeah. Good luck.

Oh, sh*t, sorry.

You're Jami Lerner, aren't you?

I'm Nick.

I went to Evans High with you.

We were in the same chem class.

We were?

Yeah, you sat in the front to the side.

I sat in the back to the other side.

And when I recognized you, I thought...

"Holy sh*t, that's her,

and I hope she's okay."

That's all. I just wanted

to see if you're okay.

Yeah, I am.

And... give you this.

It's the greatest hits the Gazette

published back when it was happening.

And then they did a retrospective.

It's usually $12 for xeroxing,

but you can...

Don't worry about it. Just go ahead.

Thanks.

Well, I'll just be downstairs,

manning the desk, if you need anything.

From the KYGL on the Border family

to your family, stay safe out there.

If you do go out, go out

in a group, and don't play hero.

You see someone that looks suspicious

comin' your way,

cross to the other side

of the street, will you?

Oh, my God.

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