The Murders of Cozy Hollow

Chapter 3 - The Girl Next Door

As their furniture had yet to arrive, Ed and the boys spent the first night at the Cozy Hollow Bed & Breakfast downtown. It gave the Stones a chance to walk around the quaint town and get their bearings. The shops in the historic district catered to the locals and occasional tourists passing through. There were a handful of markets, restaurants and bars mixed in with the town hall, library, post office, local bank and Sheriff's Office. The boys were surprised by the number of trees and how green everything appeared. They also walked by the high school and middle school, which were located up a hill one block from downtown. Cozy Hollow High School looked a lot smaller than Redondo Union High School in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

After breakfast, Ed checked them out of the B&B and they all drove over to their new house at 7 Main Street. It was fitting to see the massive Mayflower moving truck parked out front of their new home in Massachusetts. Ed felt like a pilgrim. Four movers had already started to unload the truck. Ed was somewhat embarrassed by how little furniture they owned. He had barely enough to furnish the family room and bedrooms. The living and dining rooms would remain empty for a while and the walls would be bare. It would take time to make the old mansion feel like home. He no longer had Olivia's eye and taste for making a home feel homey.

Tank parked himself in the foyer and oversaw the movers coming in and out. Ed directed traffic while the boys were scattered around the house. As Rex stood in his front bedroom and told the movers where to setup his bed, he looked out the window to the most wonderful sight. Willow Arnold, in shorts and a tank top, walking across the street towards his house with a large welcome basket in her arms. Rex bolted down the stairs and outside the front door. He did not want his older brother, Kurt, the handsome lady killer, to get to Willow first.

Rex timed it perfectly. He strolled onto the front porch as Willow approached. It was love at first sight for Rex.

"Hi," said Willow. "We live across the street. My name's Willow Arnold. My parents asked me to bring this basket over to say welcome to the neighborhood."

Rex took the basket and could not stop smiling.

"Thanks," said Rex. "I'm Rex, Rex Stone. We just moved here from California."

"Wow, California. Cool. That's a long way."

"It is. It's a lot different too. Everything around here is so green."

"And white in the winter."

"What grade are you in?"

"I'm gonna be a junior at Cozy High. How about you?"

"I'm only gonna be a sophomore. How's the lacrosse team? That's my sport."

"They're pretty good, actually. Better than our football team. I cheer. I'll come watch you play."

"I'd like that."

"I saw a lot of boys running around yesterday. How many brothers do you have?"

"Three."

"You're so lucky, I'm an only. I don't have any brothers or sisters."

Rex decided to be bold.

"Do you want to hang out sometime?" he said.

"That'd be great."

Rex was glad he made the gesture because sure enough, Kurt walked out the front door. Kurt was by far the most confident and best looking of the Stone boys with Joe a distant second. He had that oldest child swagger. Kurt played football and was uber popular back in California. Rex figured Cozy Hollow would be no different. While athletic and a kind soul, Rex was blessed with only average looks and mediocre self esteem. He needed to work harder with people to make an impression. Kurt always seemed to captivate people with his very first impression. Unfortunately for Rex, Willow liked what she saw. Her demeanor instantly changed as she perked up the moment Kurt walked out.

"Who's this?" asked Kurt.

"This's our neighbor from across the street," said Rex. "Willow Arnold. Willow, this is my brother Kurt. He'll be a senior."

"Hi," said Willow. "Welcome to Cozy Hollow."

"Hello there," said Kurt. "What's in the basket?"

"Oh, just some goodies my mom and I put together for your family."

"I like goodies."

"Me too."

Shit, thought Rex. Unbelievable. They were flirting already.

"How long have you lived here in Cozy Hollow?" asked Kurt.

"All my life."

"What's it like?" asked Rex.

"Quiet. There's not much going on."

"What do you and your friends do for fun?" asked Kurt.

"In the summer we hang out at the town pool everyday. In the winter, we're stuck hanging out inside."

"Are there parties?"

"Some."

"There's woods all over here. Do you guys ever go out into the woods and throw big parties?"

"No one in Cozy Hollow goes out into the woods at night."

Rex picked up on how serious Willow answered that question.

"Why not?" asked Rex.

"Because of Skullman."

Kurt laughed.

"Did you say Skullman?" asked Kurt, incredulous.

"Yes, Skullman. Cozy Hollow has it's very own boogeyman. He's mostly been seen in the woods and in town at night. He also shows up in people's photos all the time. Kids have gone missing. People have been attacked at night."

"Why do they call him Skullman?" asked Rex.

"I know it sounds crazy, but he appears to only have a bare skull for a head. And he always wears a suit and tie."

"Like a decayed corpse that was buried in a coffin?"

"I guess, maybe."

"And you guys believe this shit?" asked Kurt.

"I don't know," said Willow. "I did as a kid but now I don't know what to believe."

"Have you ever seen this Skullman?"

"I'm not sure. It's stupid, but be warned, it can get really spooky around here at night."

"Skullman sounds like a ghost," said Rex.

"On the subject of ghosts, not to freak you guys out, but you know you guys are moving into Cozy Hollow's very own haunted mansion?"

"We know all about the girls that were murdered here."

"We heard the dad went mental or something," said Kurt.

"You're the first family to live here in like ten years," said Willow.

"Do you remember anything about the last people to live here?" asked Rex.

"I remember an old couple lived here when I was like five."

"Did they see ghosts?" asked Kurt.

"I don't really know, but there are some weird stories out there about your house."

"We'll survive."

"We're stuck moving in and unpacking today," said Rex. "But do you want to do something tomorrow?"

"Sure," said Willow. "I'm taking you two to the pool. Be ready at noon tomorrow. I'll introduce you to everyone. Sweet dreams."

Willow strutted back across the street and gave one more heartbreaking smile over her shoulder. Rex wanted Willow all to himself but going to the pool with her and Kurt the next day was better than nothing. At least he'd get to see her in a bikini up close. He could not wait.