Red Dresses Parts 1 & 2

Red Dress

Part One:

A scream in the night, bloody foot prints, and a cryptic letter.

    The sound sent him flying from his sleep.
    A scream echoing into the dormant night, Bill threw his blankets from his bed. Careful not to disturb the love of his life, he his eyes he looked to the parted blinds as the golden beams of the streetlights outside filtered their way in. Her voice, tired yet concerned crept into the darkness of their spacious modern bedroom.
    “Baby,” She spoke through a yawn. “What was that noise?”
    Looking over his shoulder he sighed, releasing the rest of his fatigue. “I’m not sure. Stay in bed, I’m going to check it out.”
    He rose and pulled on his white long sleeved t-shirt, that he always paired with his dark gray sweatpants, as he walked across the floor. The house was quiet. All was covered in darkness except for a room down the hall. A tall silhouette emerged, it was Tom. “Billy!” He called meeting him at the staircase. “What the hell was that? An animal?”
    That was missing. The barking of their dogs, both men hurried down the long staircase. Hands barely grazing down the white marble railings, there they were snouts poking through the curtains of the windows next to the front doors eerily in silence. It wasn’t long before the twins joined them. “Bill call the police. What is she doing there?”
    They peered out to see a young woman, who appeared to be standing against the stone wall of their small estate. Hair stringy appearing wet hung down over her face. In her hands, something that looked like an envelope stained in a red substance. Tom looked to his brother, “What do you think it could be?”
    “Certainly not an obsessed fan, she would have made her move by now. She isn’t even wearing shoes Tommy.”
    Tom glanced to his brother. His lips pursing, “Really Bill? Out of all of this, you notice she isn’t wearing shoes?”
    The elder twin moved from the window and unlocked the front door.  “She needs help.”
    “Tom!” his voice snapped. “Together okay?”
    He answered Bill with a quick wink. “Together always.”
    Cautiously they stepped out on to the top step. Bill prepared to call to the girl, suddenly her posture straightened. “Please!” She begged. “Don’t come any closer!”
    “We want to see if you are okay.” Tom reassured.
    Her voice began to break violently. “Please, don’t! Or he’ll!”
    Silence. Her body flinched as if she were stabbed in the back with a hot poker, and she dropped to the lush green grass. Her small frame barely made a sound. Moments later, the sound of an engine started and whoever responsible sped off into the night. “Bill!” Tom shouted as he darted across the front lawn.”
    At his older brother’s heels he was on his phone calling for the police. “I know I’m calling! Is she?!”
    Tom slowed to a stop and looked over her body. Bruises tracing around her ankles, and legs, streaks of blood embedded into her skin, the red dress, tattered and worn. Pair of light brown eyes open blankly staring into the invisible face of death. Wrapping his hand around his shirt he took the letter and opened it, just as Bill hung up the phone.
    “Oh god.” Tom muttered as his eyes scanned the paper.
    “What is it?” Bill asked trying to take his eyes away from her body.
    Clearing his throat, his brother read in a whisper. “There will be more, of your fallen followers to find. If I do not get what I deserve.”

    Moments later, the crime scene was set. Tom, Bill, and the love of his life standing in the foyer of their home, looking out of the windows as the team of professionals went about their business. It wasn’t long before their PR and Manager were storming into the house, the two men made straight for the Twins. Their manager, Richard greeted them first with open arms. “Is everything alright with you here?”
    “Other than the fact that some woman was killed on our front lawn? I’m just ducky.” Bill explained.
    Tom strayed away from the conversation, and stepped outside into the night air. Of course he knew he was being followed. “It wouldn’t be wise, being out here looking like that.”
    The Guitarist looked over his shoulder to see their new PR specialist standing by his side. Arms folded behind his back. Almost as if he were overseeing the madness. Rather than just, looking on. “I think we’re ready to be questioned now, Marcus.”
    It wasn’t long before Tom and Bill were sitting in their kitchen drinking tea and tending to their dogs. The initial investigation of the crime scene was over. Nearly half the crew was dismissed after what evidence could be collected. Their manager Richard entered the kitchen, Marcus at his side. “Here they are detective Hansen.”
    A tall man, wearing a black swede coat stepped into the light of their kitchen. Piercing blue eyes, taking a seat at the table he pulled a small note pad from the inside of his coat. “Alright, I’m going to just need everything you’ve seen, and know.”
    They took turns recanting all they heard, and saw. Bill looked down the table at Tom who seemed quite hesitant in some of his reflection. Moving his eyes to the detective, he saw that Hansen was picking up on it as well. Moistening his lips he turned to his Richard and Marcus and made a simple request. “Can you both leave the room please?”
    An awkward silence fell into the room. Marcus took a step forward and began to speak in protest. “But Bill. We need to know everything to. This is a delicate situation and some kind of announcement needs to be made!”
    Richard nodded his head. “Don’t worry, we’ll come up with something. Marcus lets go.”
    Once the room was silent. Tom reached into his pocket and showed to Hansen the letter neatly placed in a plastic bag. “Before you read me my rights detective. Once I saw this, I knew this investigation had to be kept quiet. I found it just as it was, read the message you’ll see why I kept this from so many prying eyes.”
    Grimacing, he took the letter and read over the threatening message. Once he placed it on the table he looked to both men. “We are going to need a list, a viable list of anyone who has something serious against you. I understand you are a band right? So there are more members?”
    “Yes,” Bill answered. “Two more, but they are residing in Germany.”
    “We’ll need to contact them. And bring them in on this case.” Hansen sighed and put his note pad away. “If anything else happens. Anything different at all in your normal routine. Call me right away.”
    Taking the note detective Hansen left his card in its place. By the time he was out of the kitchen, Tom sat back in his chair breathing heavily. “You know brother. We’ve seen a lot of crazy shit in our days. This by far, is just..”
    “I know Tom. There are no words to describe the feeling.”

Part 2

Another day, another body. And the Phantom Rider.

    Tom sat down his black les Paul on its stand after a grueling recording session. Bill waited on the other side of the sound proof glass, and his twin joined him. Reaching for the closest water bottle, Tom took a long swig and forced a swallow. Bill nervously bit on his thumbnail as he paged through sound files on the studio laptop. Tom cleared his throat and connected with his twin brother as Bill began to stare through the bright screen. “You know we are eventually going to have to talk about this.”
    There was no direct response. He watched his little brother continue to page through files, until the folder was completely looked through. Tom turned to face his brother completely. “Bill.” He said quietly. A sigh left his brother as he tapped his index finger against the touch pad. “Billy.” Tom said.
    His twin finally came around with a begrudging sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it Tom.”
    “But I think we should-.”
    The laptop fell from his lap and smacked against the floor. Bill whipped his head to his brother. “Should do what?! Sit here and talk about our feelings? While some psycho is out there killing off our fans?!”
    Tom shot up from his chair. “Don’t yell at me like that! I feel the exact same way you do!”
    “Then why aren’t we out there doing anything?!”
    Bill watched his brother turn away and make for the couch. He dropped his tall muscular frame into the cushions and sighed. “Because the world watches our every move, if only we could’ve done more than call the police. Granted, this is a high profile case. I’m sure it will still be ages before it’s solved.”
    His lips folded. Bill ran his tongue over his piercings in thought. Before he could part his lips, his cellphone rang. Fumbling through the pockets of his jeans he held it to his ear. “Hello?”
    There was nothing, Tom sat up slowly upon seeing his brother’s confused look. “Hello?” Bill repeated again. Suddenly there was what sounded like a whimper. Instantly Bill put on the speaker setting. The whimpering continued, for nearly a minute before a voice crept into the phone. The words slithering through the small device. “I didn’t think you’d actually call the police first.” The raspy voice condemned. “Give me what I want.”
    Tom leaned in, “What do you want?”
    “Your most valuable possession.”
   
    The bothers looked to each other, as the girl squirmed helplessly in the background. The voice spoke once again. “If you know what’s good for you. The police won’t be involved this round.”
    “Where can we find you?”
    The voice crackled in laughter. “I do believe you are jumping the gun on this Bill. I won’t tell you where you can find me. However I will let you know where you can find your next clue.”
    Suddenly the whimpering faded, into sounds of the ocean, footsteps, and the faint sounds of birds. “I really do hope you’re willing to go one thousand oceans wide.”
    The muffled whimpering turned into muffled screams. Bill dropped the phone as he heard the sounds of fabric ripping and a body falling to the floor. In seconds, the call was over. Tom instantly pulled out his phone. Bill stood up. “He’s at a harbor.”
    “We’ve got to call Hansen.”
    “He said no police!”
    Looking at his watch, “He said nothing about the police being at the crime scene. We don’t have much time. He could be on his way back ready to observe us.”
    (A few Hours Later)
    They found themselves at small Italian restaurant in a secluded area of Beverly Hills. Hansen showed up in civilian clothes, and joined them at a small table in the back. “Alright, what do you have for me?”
    “We think he struck again.” Bill uttered faintly. “I don’t like this-I don’t like this at all!” His voice grew sharp, with anger.
    Tom looked Hansen in the eye. “He’s observing us. He knew the police were at our place. The bastard his killing are most valuable possessions. Yet he wants us to bring him one?”
    Hansen grimaced. “Could you be thinking of your mother or stepfather? Do you have any girlfriends?”
    Bill’s eyes widened. “I have a fiancé. But she is with bodyguards. Nearly twenty-four seven, please our fans are dying. I’m afraid if he finds out we’re here, he will pick out another one!”
    Hansen sat back. Rubbing his temples he thought vigorously. Suddenly he dropped his hands, “That’s it.” He sighed.
    The brothers waited for his plan. Hansen looked to the young men with enlightened blue eyes. “It’s the closest thing to a cop we have without a badge. However he, or she works to their own accord.” Turning away from the twins, he began to make a phone call.
    “You owe me dark one. I need you to meet us at the Bella-Lee restaurant in Beverly Hills. Hurry it’s nearing closing time.”
    Closing time approached and the men left out of a back entrance. Waiting for them in the private parking lot was a black figure, straddling a black 2012 ninja  650r street bike. Complete with red LED lights, and obvious speed modifications. “Hey.” Hansen called out gesturing to the lights. “Those better be street legal.”
    The figure sat up and folded their arms.  Hansen looked to the boys. “The dark one here, is going to assist you on the field in this investigation. Since this psycho appears to have eyes, we’ll let the dark one do the backstage work.”
    Tom scratched his head, “What does she, or he do exactly?”
    “He or she, is going to save our sorry asses when we need it. I texted him just before desert about the body at the harbor.” Hansen proudly turned to the rider. “And the next piece?”
    The rider, unzipped his jacket. Pulling out another piece of paper, in a plastic bag and handed it off to Hansen. “Thanks. Should I give them your contact information?”
    On came the bike. The rider revved its engine and nodded just before starting into the night. The Parking lot was silent, Hansen turned over the paper. “They look like song lyrics…” He passed the paper to the boys. “Do these look familiar?”
    Upon sight of the words written in blood. Bill’s stomach turned and he pushed the noted away.

It's not what you said
It's the way you say it
It's not what you did
It's the way you do it
Sick and tired of needing your affection
I chose to be lonely than live without your attention.