Entwined

Chapter 4 -Dewey

Chapter 4

We are back in my truck, her hand in mine, our fingers intertwined. Any tension that was between us earlier has become nonexistent. It is as if no time has passed. I drive back towards the crime scene. I don't know if the Sheriffs' department is still there, as it's been more than a couple hours since I pulled her away, but at least we can start there.

I study Gale, whose eyes are now on her phone. "What is it?" I ask in a slightly panicked voice.

"It's the studio. I told them that I am staying for the foreseeable future, at least until we know what's going on, and we make a solid plan for us, outside of the ghost face murders. I can't go back at least until I know Woodsboro is safe and I know where we are going, together" she says while putting the phone back into her purse.

I reach over and touch her face, before smiling at her words. "You know, I love you?"

She saying nothing, instead returns my smile, lovingly.

"Have you talked to Sidney? Is she safe?" Gale asks me.

"Yeah, she's safe, as well as Mark and the kids."

"Good," she exhales in relief. "I hope you told her not to come here. If it's not safe for anyone, it's definitely not safe for her to be here."

"Exactly what I told her. She said she wasn't coming back here, ever."

"I don't blame her. Regardless if she grew up here, had some good memories here, I doubt they override all the painful memories she has had here. We will finish this for her someway."

I crack a smile at her, loving her ambition, and confidence. "Together," I reply.

"Do you have any leads?" she asks as we arrive on the scene of crime. There is only a couple cops left at this point.

"Not directly, but from past experience, I am not ruling out any of the friends."

"Who is this girl anyone? How are they related to Judy and her son?"

"Well, Judy's son, was in the clique of friends, that Tara Carpenter had, so that's the connection, but it comes down to who and why? What's the motive and how is it all connected?"

"Do you think it's connected to Sidney, or is some idiot looking for their five minutes of fame, because this is Woodsboro? I wish Sid could get away from this."

"I wish we could all get away from this. I can't keep up and doing this when we are sixty, you know? I'm tired as it is."

She chuckles lowly, "Just enough time goes by, where we think it's over, only to be sucked into this again," Gale sadly says. "I hate what my books have done to Sidney, to this town and to the people of Woodsboro."

Her sincerity and beating herself up over actions that she took years ago is breaking my heart. I know the regret she feels and the part she thinks she's played in this. Her acknowledgement of it, whether it's true or not, is a testament to how she's evolved and grown from that tabloid reporter, I met so long ago. That Gale would've never cared about the ramifications as long as she got what she wanted.

I release my hands from hers before patting her leg. "Come on, let's see what's going on. We can go to the police station, after."

She nods before following my lead and getting out of the truck.

I reach for her to pull her close, taking point not to grab her hand. "Stay close to me," I whisper as we walk onto the property. Gale walks a little ahead of me. She is no longer wearing that little red number she was wearing earlier, but semi casual pants and a black jacket. I managed to rustle up some of the clothes that she left behind when we initially went to New York.