The Town That Dreaded Sundown Page #3

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"They couldn't catch me 66 years ago

and they never will.

"I come and go as I please.

I kill when I please.

"You may think I'm a horrible,

sick murderer,

"but I'm not, I love my neighbors.

"I wish they would stop

and let my soul rest in peace."

"For you see, I am the soul of Texarkana.

I am the reckoning foretold."

Look, I can understand

how this can be upsetting,

but it's also most likely a fake.

Well, the Zodiac, he sent

a manifesto to the press and...

Yes. And so did the Son of Sam,

and the Axeman of New Orleans,

but to reporters, not teenagers.

We all realize it could be

a hoax, Deputy.

But until it's 100% confirmed, we will

take it and this young lady seriously.

I want my entire team to hear

what you have to say.

If you think it's important,

we think it's important.

Well...

I've been researching the original case,

and going through the court transcripts.

Do you know who Benjamin Sewell is?

He was a car thief, arrested

in 1946 in Texarkana

for possession of a stolen automobile.

A lot of people think

that he was the Phantom because...

Well, the killing stopped

once he was arrested.

- How long was he in for?

- Thirty years.

And then Benjamin Sewell died,

Ms. Lerner.

Yes, sir. He died last summer.

In a hospital in Fort Worth.

I spoke to a nurse that worked at the

hospital, since before Benjamin died...

- Come on, we don't have time for this.

- Hold on.

She said a young man used to visit him.

His son, they thought.

What if it's him? That the passing

of his father set him off

and he came back here

to finish his father's work?

Benjamin Sewell did have a son, Ms. Lerner,

but he died in a bar fight two years ago.

He did?

It's all right, Jami.

We went down that same rabbit hole.

This is KYGL, Oldies on the Border,

and if you've got us on,

you're probably getting ready

for the big football game this weekend.

The Texas High Tigers versus

the Arkansas High Razorbacks.

It's gonna be a blood match, folks.

But as always...

He said he'd shoot me

if I got any closer.

Well, that's his job.

How'd it go at the station?

- Not so well.

- It's no surprise.

- Grandma, this is...

- Nick Strain.

I went to the same high school as Jami.

- And now?

- I work at the archives. Researcher.

I found you some really cool stuff

from back when they were making the movie.

You know, some of those people

are still around.

- No college?

- Just making some money first.

- Family?

- Grandma.

My parents moved to Denton last year,

so I'm living with some buddies.

- I'll be in in a minute, okay?

- All right.

Sorry about that. You want to sit down?

You know, they did tons

of research for the movie.

The director and his son.

Thanks for bringing me this stuff.

Yeah.

Can I ask why

you're helping me with all this?

I always wanted to talk to you.

Why didn't you?

Didn't think I'd get very far.

I never saw you with a...

boyfriend or friends or...

I asked around and...

I was like, "What's her story?"

- Then someone told me about...

- About my parents?

Or...

that for the last seven years

I've been totally out of it and...

Both.

My parents didn't really move to Denton.

I just said that 'cause...

I didn't want your grandma

to think I was this... you know,

basket case.

Which, of course,

now I really seem like one.

Where are they?

Well, my dad killed himself last year.

He was an... an alcoholic, and...

my mom... kinda...

She just got lost after that.

She's at Trans-Allegheny.

Well, it's a loony bin.

Oh, hey...

they're having a vigil

tonight at the school. For...

the soldier and his girlfriend.

And for Corey.

You wanna go?

You don't mean that fellow

they call the Lone Wolf

- of the Texas Rangers?

- That's right.

Since I'm in charge of this investigation,

things are gonna have to be handled my way.

We got a cold-blooded killer here.

A man who nobody sees.

A Phantom who... so far

hasn't made any mistakes.

What are you doing?

No, please, don't hurt me.

Please.

I guess it was crazy of me to think

I could help the police,

but I'm gonna keep researching.

Keep writing.

Their stories need to be told, so...

- Arrest him.

- On the ground!

He killed Danny.

But I got him. I got his ass!

- Jami.

- No! No, Nick...

Wait! No! I need to know!

Excuse me. May I, please?

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sheriff Underwood has just informed me

that the man who killed Corey Holland,

the man who killed, viciously, that couple,

that man has been shot, I'm told.

And I don't know what his condition is,

but I do know that no one else was hurt.

And that that, finally, is something

that we can give thanks for.

Reverend Cartwright,

would you please lead us

in a brief prayer of gratitude?

Sweet Heavenly Father,

we have been delivered.

We praise the men and women

who have led us through this darkness.

Sweet Jesus, thank you for your mercy.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Now, we've had a quiet night here.

But I do believe

that it would be appropriate

for us to have a little music

that we could dance to, so, gentlemen,

I'm gonna lead you off.

One, two... One, two, three, four.

- What was she doing?

- "A one..."

The worst dance moves ever.

- Straight home now.

- Yes, sir.

It's right here.

Remember when we used to come over here

and smoke cigarettes?

Thought we were such hot sh*t.

So...

So how does this work?

I don't know.

I thought maybe you could...

You know.

What?

You know.

Go down there,

and suck it.

Suck it?

I don't know. Maybe a little?

What, is it hard?

- Yeah. Isn't yours?

- Yeah.

You first.

And then I'll do you.

Maybe we could...

jerk off together.

Dude, drive! Come on! Hurry up, come on!

Run, Johnny! Run!

No! No!

Hi.

- Who was that guy at the vigil?

- Name's Paul Mason.

A freshman over at Texarkana College.

He's a messed up kid but...

- He's not the Phantom?

- No.

Some stupid teenager

went out looking to get shot.

Left a suicide note in his dorm room.

But just because he wanted to die

doesn't necessarily mean

- he's not the Phantom, right?

- Hell, Jami...

I... I did not want

to tell you this but you're...

There was another murder last night.

It was two boys.

We're checking

security cameras at the scene,

but it does look like it happened

after Paul Mason was shot.

It was Sunday, March 3rd, 1946.

The beginning of a reign of terror

for the people of Texarkana

and surrounding areas

of Arkansas and Texas.

Well, that's the most god-awful thing

I've done in a long while.

They asked me if their...

their sons...

were dead before

he mutilated their bodies.

I lied.

I... told 'em as far as I could tell,

they had passed before the worst of it.

Maybe they had.

They cried.

These two grown men, I've known 'em...

all their lives.

Since they were boys.

We catch him, we kill him,

that'll make it better.

- That'll at least bring them peace.

- I agree.

To that end,

after our friend kills those kids

with the trombone,

who does he go after next?

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