Bookview Valley 3

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Rude, Much

Tuesday, September 7th

As promised, Sheriff Mulligan calls in the morning. Mom wakes me up to take the call, and I slip quietly out of my room; leaving a still sleeping Brianna and Harper. I grab the phone, whispering a thanks to my mom. 

"Hello?" I say into the phone. 

"Morgan Brooks?" The male voice asks, "It's Sheriff Mulligan." 

"Yes, hello Sheriff," I try to keep my voice down so not to awake the guys. 

"I have news of what happened last night. Would you like to hear it over the phone, or come down to the station?" 

"Depends if it's good or bad news," I joke, but I don't really feel it. 

"Good and bad," The Sheriff answers honestly. 

"I'll hear it over the phone." 

"Okay, well first we found your friend, Dean Smith. His funeral information will be emailed to you in a couple of days. Second, we managed to apprehend a good many of the Skeleton." 

"Did you find the Crimson Skeleton?" 

"That's the bad news, I'm afraid," The Sheriff says, "There was no Crimson Skeleton. Not even the robes. We've been interrogating the Skeletons for a while now, and there hasn't been a single mention of this Crimson Skeleton either." 

A vivid image of the Crimson Skeleton on the stage before me flashes across my mind, "They're real, I promise you." 

"And I believe you, Morgan, but as the facts are...we didn't find them." 

I sigh, "Will you keep looking? They're the ring leader, without them or the red book...none of this will end." 

"We also haven't found the book, nor has any of the Skeletons mentioned it." 

"I assure you," I clench my teeth, "Without either of those the killings will continue. Maybe not now, but eventually." 

"Morgan, we will keep searching, I promise," Sheriff Mulligan assures me, "but for now, rest. Take time to grieve and come to terms with it all. Don't over stress. Leave this to us, we will handle it." 

Gritting my teeth, I take a deep breath, "Okay, thank you Sheriff." 

"You're welcome, now get some rest." 

Hanging up the phone, I turn around to see both Nick and Flynn staring at me from the living room, "How much did you hear?" 

"A good bit," Flynn answers. 

"So, they didn't find the book or the Crimson Skeleton?" Nick asks. 

"No, not yet," I sigh, "This isn't over." 

"Maybe it's over for now," Brianna says, coming down the stairs. 

"I hope so," Harper groans, stretching out as she walks into the dining room. 

"Breakfast is ready!" Mom calls from the kitchen. 

"Can't take anyone on without eating," Nick points out. 

"Yeah, okay," I give in and join my friends at the dining table. 

...

A couple days later...Friday, September 10th...

I finally get the email about Dean's funeral. It's on Sunday, at 11am, and all of my friends are invited. I'm dreading it, but I need to go. It's the only way I can say my final goodbye. The only way I can let go. The only thing that will finally let me grieve.