The Serial Killer of Kennoxie

Part 9

Rose woke up the next day with an earsplitting headache. Her stomach rebelled as soon as she opened her eyes. Rose tripped over her brother as she made a mad dash to the bathroom. Getting sick in the toilet did nothing to improve Rose's headache. Rose sat with her back against the tub and pulled her knees up to her chest. Her forehead rested against her knees as Rose waited for the seven dwarfs to quit mining for jewels inside her skull.

A loud snore from Baylor made Rose flinch in pain. Rose peered blurry eyed out the bathroom door to her bedroom where Baylor was sprawled on the floor by the side of her bed. His head rested on a pillow and a blanket was haphazardly draped across his waist. The sheets of her bed had been pulled back and now that Rose realized it, she was missing her jeans.

Rose frowned. The only way her and Baylor could have gotten to bed was if Randy had stayed the night to watch over them and make sure they didn't hurt themselves. Rose let her forehead drop back down to rest on her knees as she hugged her knees tighter to her chest. Randy had always taken care of them when they were drunk. It had to be Randy because he was the only one, besides Baylor, who knew how much Rose hated sleeping in jeans. During high school and college when they would get drunk every weekend, Randy had stayed the night in order to put them both to bed and to make sure that they were safe.

Baylor snored again and rolled over. Rose lifted her head again and studied her brother. He was minus his pants too which meant that Randy had to of helped them to bed. Baylor hated wearing jeans to bed too. Rose studied the room and saw both of their jeans draped over a chair. A small smile flitted across Rose's face as she saw that. Tied around a belt loop of both pairs of pants was a red and blue ribbon. That was Randy's sign that he had taken care of them and that they were safe.

Rose climbed slowly to her feet. Her head pounded as she rinsed her mouth and got into some fresh clothes. Baylor was still snoring away and Rose left him as she slowly made her way down the stairs to the kitchen. Sound came from the kitchen which signaled that Randy was still in the house.

The sunlight shining through the windows was way too bright. It almost blinded Rose as she stepped foot into the kitchen with a hand pressed against her left eye to try to relieve the headache she had. Rose stopped abruptly in her tracks as she saw that Randy wasn't alone. Jim Waldman and Mr. Royce sat at the table drinking coffee. All three looked up at Rose when she appeared in the kitchen.

Randy jumped up from his seat and pulled a cold glass of orange juice from the fridge. He picked up a couple of pills he had lying on the counter as he walked over and handed Rose the drink. Rose gave him a grateful smile as she popped the pills in her mouth and drained the orange juice in three gulps. Rose made a face as she handed the glass back to Randy.

"You didn't have to spend the night Randy."

Randy shrugged as he rinsed the glass out and filled it with ice cold water from the fridge and handed it back to Rose.

"I know, but I don't mind doing it."

"You are a good friend Randy."

Randy's cheeks went red as he cleared his throat nervously. "Thank you."

Rose nodded as she sipped at the cold water. Her gaze strayed to Jim and Mr. Royce. "Don't tell me the two of you spent the night as well?"

Jim laughed as he shook his head. "No, we came back to ask a few more questions while you're sober."

Rose swallowed and pressed a hand against her stomach as a bout of nausea hit her. Randy looked concerned. Rose waved him away as he started to come to her aid.