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Copycat 2: A serial killer comic book story

Is this murder the work of a copycat, or is the Pierre Piercer still out there?

By Buck HardcastlePublished 3 years ago 24 min read
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A shot of SD grassland by @serge_photography

In which a tour is taken, a resource uncovered, alibi's are challenged, a connection is made, a trip is taken and accusations are leveled.

This is the second part of a series, the first part is here.

PAGE 1

PANEL 1

Establishing shot of the South Dakota state capitol building, day. Elise and Konrad are on the street out front waiting.

PANEL 2

A van pulls up beside them, lettering on the side reads “The Real Pierre Piercer Tours!” The driver is Lozier.

LOZIER

You guys are my 10 o’clock tour?

PANEL 3

Close on Elise and Konrad. Elise is rolling her eyes, Konrad has a playful grin.

ELISE

I can’t believe you talked me into this.

KONRAD

Come on, when else is research going to be this effortless?

PAGE 2

PANEL 1

Elise and Konrad seated in the van.

LOZIER (off panel)

The first place we are going to pass by is where the second victim, Fred Lorz, was found. When his body was found people started talking about the ‘Pierre Piercer’ though the police denied there was a serial killer.

ELISE

Is it OK if I record you?

LOZIER (off panel)

Sure, go ahead. Make sure to mention the full name of my service, The Real Pierre Piercer Tours.

By Lozier.

PANEL 2

Elise and Konrad whisper to each other as the tour continues.

LOZIER (off panel)

After that I’ll take you by where George Chapel was caught with the body of Sarah Wilson by our hometown hero William Ireland.

ELISE

Like I’m going to learn anything new here.

KONRAD

You never know. It’ll be some content for your show either way.

PANEL 3

Lozier narrating as he drives, Elise leans forward to speak to him.

LOZIER

It seemed pretty conclusive at the time that George Chapel was the Piercer.

However, now with this new murder, it seems less certain.

ELISE

What’s your opinion on that?

LOZIER

I think it’s still Chapel. He has escaped the grave to seek his revenge.

Oh, and this isn’t Piercer related, but I find people like to get a photo here.

PANEL 4

The very real, shotgun holding, blue jeans wearing statue of a SD governor.

LOZIER (off panel)

The Governor M. Michael Rounds Statue.

PANEL 5

Elise and Konrad look out the van window, unimpressed.

ELISE

We’re good to keep going.

PAGE 3

PANEL 1

Lozier seeing a police car with flashing lights in his side mirror.

LOZIER

Looks like we are going to have a little bonus interaction with Pierre’s finest today.

PANEL 2

Lozier outside of his van talking to Chief McAuley.

LOZIER

How are you today Chief?

CHIEF MCAULEY

You have a chauffeur's license Lozier?

LOZIER

Oh, come on, I don’t need…

PANEL 3

Chief McAuley whacking Lozier in the gut with a nightstick.

SFX

Thwack

CHIEF MCAULEY

Resisting arrest.

PANEL 4

Chief McAuley standing over a doubled over Lozier.

LOZIER

You can’t do this to me, I’ll contact the mayor…

CHIEF MCAULEY

The mayor? Who do you think sent me?

PAGE 4

PANEL 1

From outside of the van we see Elise open the sliding door, which places her between Chief McAuley and the slowly straightening himself out Lozier. Konrad remains in the van.

KONRAD

Elise, leave it.

PANEL 2

Close on Elise getting in Chief McAuley’s face, she’s considerably shorter than him.

ELISE

It’s good to know that even though your city is being terrorized by a notorious serial killer the chief of police still has the time to check the credentials of tour guides. It’s a dedication I’m sure my listeners will appreciate.

PANEL 3

Same shot, Chief McAuley sneers at her.

CHIEF MCAULEY

Enjoy your death excursion. Should be right up your alley.

PANEL 4

From over Elise’s shoulder we see Lozier trying to regain his composure. In the background Chief McAuley is going back to his squad car where Deputy Hoskins stands waiting.

LOZIER

Sorry about that bit of local flavor folks. I want the tour to be a positive experience for you, so I’m going to give you a free item of merchandise.

ELISE

You don’t have to do that.

PANEL 5

Lozier opening the back of his van to show Elise his t-shirts and mugs. New additions include “FBI’s Most Wanted” and “I survived The Real Pierre Piercer Tour.”

LOZIER

I insist. And if there is a second item you are interested in, I will give you an excellent price.

PAGE 5

PANEL 1

A book half hidden under some t-shirts. The title of the book is “South Dakota Serial” the author is Hugo Baruch. The cover art depicts a barb wire fence in a field of dry grass.

ELISE (off panel)

What’s this?

PANEL 2

Elise holding the book, still behind the van.

LOZIER

Oh yeah, you can definitely have that. I’ve never been able to move those.

ELISE

I didn’t know there was a book about the Piercer. I should talk to the author.

LOZIER

You want to talk to Baruch? I can take you by his place, no problem.

PANEL 3

Establishing shot of Lozier’s van parked outside Baruch’s house Elise and Konrad are knocking on his front door.

SFX

Knock Knock

PANEL 4

Hugo Baruch has opened his door but kept the chain lock on.

ELISE

Hugo Baruch? I’m Elise Wright from the podcast Pierced…

HUGO

I know who you are.

ELISE

I was hoping to speak to you about the Pierre Piercer.

HUGO

You people are hilarious.

PANEL 5

The door slams in Elise’s and Konrad’s face.

SFX

SLAM

KONRAD

I postulate that means no.

PAGE 6

PANEL 1

Hugo opens the door wide, with no chain lock.

HUGO

Come in.

PANEL 2

Konrad eyes Hugo’s wall of newspaper clippings and map. Elise talks to Hugo, who spins a globe around, not giving her his full attention.

ELISE

I wanted to ask your opinion about the Pierre Piercer copycat killing.

HUGO

No reason to assume it’s a copycat. After all, the original Pierre Piercer was never caught.

ELISE

But George Chappell was the original Piercer.

HUGO

Of course he wasn’t.

PANEL 3

A flashback to the attractive teenagers George Chappell and Sarah Wilson using a selfie stick to take a photo in front of a sign for the Farm Island Recreation area.

CAPTION (Hugo off panel)

George Chappell and Sarah Wilson were dating. Serial killers start with people they know and then move on to other people. You don’t kill three strangers and then kill your girlfriend.

PANEL 4

Back in Hugo’s house. Elise is contemplative, Konrad watches Hugo with an uneasy eye.

ELISE

Hun. Do you think Joseph Howard’s murder was actually done by the real Pierre Piercer?

HUGO

Can’t say.

We’re fascinated by killers like the Pierre Piercer because they are not typical. Most serial killers don’t murder out of insanity but for money. You should be looking at who had the most to gain from Mr. Howard’s death.

PANEL 5

Close on Hugo, he pushes his glasses up.

HUGO

By the way, congratulations Ms. Wright on your recent promotion to the host of Pierced.

PAGE 7

PANEL 1

Elise has an expression of shock and annoyance. Konrad is just unhappy, he is behind her, puts his hand on her shoulder.

KONRAD

Come on, we’re going.

PANEL 2

Elise and Konrad walking away from Hugo’s house. Hugo stands on his porch calling out to them.

HUGO

One more thing.

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.

PANEL 3

An angry Mayor Mary Toft stands behind her desk.

CAPTION

Meanwhile at city hall.

MAYOR TOFT

You little emasculated mass of inanity.

I told you to shut Lozier down, not to beat him up in front of the press.

PANEL 4

We see the rest of the room, Chief McAuley and Deputy Hoskins are on the other side of the desk, Stella Chiappini stands nervously to the side.

CHIEF MCAULEY

I was doing you a favor, I don’t take orders from you.

MAYOR TOFT

Making a mess for me to clean up? What a favor. You can take your delusions of adequacy and get out of my office.

PAGE 8

PANEL 1

With her smiling public persona, Mayor Toft welcomes Elise and Konrad into her office. Stella is not there.

CAPTION

Soon after.

MAYOR TOFT

Ms. Wright, Mr. Kujau. Welcome, thank you for making the time to see me. Can I get you a coffee or tea?

ELISE

No thank you.

PANEL 2

Mayor Toft is seated at her desk, Elise and Konrad in chairs in front of her.

MAYOR TOFT

I called you in because there needs to be coordination between the city government and the press. There’s a madman out there who is clearly enjoying the attention and we need to avoid feeding that. That’s why I asked the chief to speak to the tour operator. I just feel awful that the situation escalated like that, obviously not what I wanted.

ELISE

Un hun, sure. Where were you on the night Joseph Howard was murdered?

PANEL 3

The mayor shows just the right amount of indignation and offence. Elise and Konrad aren’t buying it.

MAYOR TOFT

Are you accusing me of somehow being involved? I have sworn to uphold the laws of this city!

ELISE

You clearly hated the tour so you probably hated the podcast too. So I’ll ask again, where were you on the night Joseph Howard was murdered?

PANEL 4

Close on Mayor Toft, who is showing a bit of hurt pride.

MAYOR TOFT

Not that it’s your place to know, but I was working late that night.

ELISE (off panel)

Can anyone vouch for you?

MAYOR TOFT

My assistant, Miss. Chiappini.

PANEL 5

Konrad getting up to exit the office, Elise remains seated, Mayor Toft has a look of shock, she’s been caught in a lie and she is speechless for once.

ELISE

Great. My associate will go check your alibi with Miss. Chiappini while I wait here with you.

KONRAD

I’ll be right back.

PAGE 9

PANEL 1

Mayor Toft nervously tries to adjust her story, Elise sits with a neutral expression, Konrad re-enters the room,

MAYOR TOFT

You know… which night was the murder? I’m not sure…

KONRAD

Miss. Chiappini says that on the night of the murder she was at home watching “Something Under the Bed is Drooling” on Netflix with her boyfriend. She also said that she never works past five.

PANEL 2

Konrad sits back down, he and Elise struggle to constrain their joy.

ELISE

Ooooo… Mayor lies about alibi. How do you think that’ll look Konrad?

KONRAD

Not great.

ELISE

I agree. Do you want to try again Madam Mayor?

PANEL 3

Close on mayor Toft speaking through gritted teeth.

MAYOR TOFT

That night… I was... with my ex-husband the entire night.

PANEL 4

Mayor Toft’s friendly public persona is completely gone, she’s furious. Elise and Konrad are a mixture of surprised and amused. Elise is getting out her phone.

ELISE

And what is your ex-husband’s name?

MAYOR TOFT

He goes by… Lozier.

KONRAD

What… the tour guide?

ELISE

I’ll call him right now, see what he says.

PANEL 5

Mayor Toft is standing, their welcome is over. Elise is putting away her phone, Konrad is already heading for the exit.

ELISE

Lozier says a gentleman does not kiss and tell.

KONRAD

We’ll take that as a “yes.”

MAYOR TOFT

Just leave you oxygen thieves.

PAGE 10

PANEL 1

Elise is sprawled out her hotel bed with a shimmery low cut top and smeared makeup from the night before.

CAPTION

The next morning.

ELISE

Who hurled in my mouth? Inconsiderate.

PANEL 2

As a squinting Elise gets up a shirtless Konrad pokes his head out of the bathroom. The Book South Dakota Serial is on the nightstand.

KONRAD

Ah, welcome back to the world of the living.

ELISE

Living might be a bit premature.

KONRAD

While you were out drinking, I was reading Mr. Baruch’s book. Check out the passage I’ve marked.

PANEL 3

A shot of the inside of the book. A highlighted sentence reads “The Pierre Police considered themselves to be competent swimmers but then the Piercer threw them in the deep end and they were too proud to ask for a life preserver.” If other text is needed to fill in the panel use “A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.”

PANEL 4

A still bleary eyed Elise looks up from the book at Konrad, who is putting his shirt on.

ELISE

We used that line on our show. I’d never even seen this book before yesterday.

KONRAD

Well Joseph had clearly seen it before. Now the question arises of how much he plagiarized.

ELISE

Hugo, he mentioned something about fraud. And we got hate mail calling us frauds.

PANEL 5

Konrad sits down next to the sickly Elise.

KONRAD

Almost no one read Hugo’s book yet Joseph created a hit show by ripping him off. Could definitely be a motive for murder.

ELISE

And no one would know how to fake a Piercer murder better than…

Erk

I have to throw up.

PAGE 11

PANEL 1

Konrad looks at Elise with her head hovering above the toilet.

KONRAD

I wouldn’t have guessed you for the type to ditch her bodyguard for an all night bender.

ELISE

I was just intending on a couple of drinks to take the edge off, but then...

PANEL 2

Flash back to the night before, Elise at a bar (Jake’s Good Times Place) in the same outfit but with put together makeup and hair. Deputy Cyril Hoskins is next to her at the bar in civilian clothes, beer in hand. Elise is not thrilled to see him, he is interested in her.

DEPUTY HOSKINS

Miss Elise Wright, doing some after hours research?

ELISE

Deputy Hoskins, did the Mayor send you to beat me up?

DEPUTY HOSKINS

Call me Cyril when I’m off duty. Let me buy you a drink to make up for the dumpster fire that was today.

ELISE

Whiskey Sour then.

PANEL 3

Back at the hotel, Elise still hugging the toilet while Konrad stands in the doorway.

ELISE

He wanted to drink me under the sheets. However I left with my journalistic integrity intact.

KONRAD

Clearly.

ELISE

Shut up. I thought if I got a few drinks in him I might get him to slip and reveal information about the Piercer case.

KONRAD

How did that go?

ELISE

Well I’m not a cheap date like scrawny girls, we were at it till closing time and neither of us had given ground.

PANEL 4

Flashback to the bar. Deputy Hoskins and Elise are sitting on the same side of a booth, hammered, empty bottles and glasses across the table. Elise is being flirty even as she rejects him, Hoskins is not giving up.

ELISE

Well… Cyril, the man says we have to go. You to your place, me to mine.

DEPUTY HOSKINS

Oh we don’t have to call it a night, we just have to go to the other side.

ELISE

What’s that?

PAGE 12

Consider leaving a tip so next time I can put up the images I need without watermarks.

PANEL 1

A map of the greater Pierre area. Need to show the cities of Pierre and Fort Pierre, which is on the other side of the Missouri river. Also need to show the time zones, Pierre is in the Central Time zone while Fort Pierre is in the Mountain Time zone. A dotted line starts in Pierre, crosses the highway 14 bridge into Fort Pierre, showing the path Elise and the deputy traveled.

CAPTION (Elise off-panel)

South Dakota law enforces a closing time of 2am. But Pierre is right on the border of the Central and Mountain Time zones. So if you cross the river over to Fort Pierre, you can keep drinking for another hour.

PANEL 2

Back at the hotel Elise is washing her face in the sink, Konrad is split between admiration and pity.

KONRAD

Wow.

ELISE

I almost didn’t go, I was already pretty plastered at this point. I’m glad I did though because Deputy Hoskins was getting desperate to get into my good graces.

KONRAD

Is that what they’re calling pants these days? Good graces?

PANEL 3

Flashback to the night before, Elise and Deputy Hoskins are now drinking in Fort Pierre (Drifters Bar & Grill). A sloshed Hoskins can’t maintain eye contact, is staring at Elise’s chest. Elise, who is in more control, humors him.

DEPUTY HOSKINS

You know, it’s funny, the other day you asked me the wrong question.

ELISE

Oh?

DEPUTY HOSKINS

You asked if there was anything done to your friend that only the real Pierre Piercer would have done.

ELISE

And what should I have asked?

DEPUTY HOSKINS

You should have asked if your friend anything in common with other victims.

ELISE

Did he have anything in common with the other victims?

PANEL 4

Close on the wasted Deputy Hoskins.

DEPUTY HOSKINS

Nope. Because unlike the original three victims, he did not have webbed toes.

PAGE 13

PANEL 1

Back at the hotel. Elise has removed her shimmery top and and is putting a more conservative top on. Konrad is facing the wall, but has turned his head at this new information.

KONRAD

They all had webbed toes?

ELISE

Not all of them. Just the first three.

KONRAD

What does that mean? Were they related?

ELISE

No, we had already researched the victims before. The only thing we could find in common was that they were all 17.

PANEL 2

Konrad now properly facing the wall as Elise pulls off her pants from last night.

KONRAD

Maybe they were all fathered by the same man and the mothers kept it a secret because they didn’t want their husbands to know.

ELISE

Seems unlikely, they looked nothing alike. Iron Eyes Cody was Sioux. Fred Lorz was white with blond hair and blue eyes. Margaret Fox’s mom was white and her dad was black.

KONRAD

It can’t be a coincidence, webbed toes aren’t that common.

PANEL 3

We see that by looking sideways Konrad can still see Elise getting changed in the reflection of a vanity mirror. Elise is pulling on a new pair of pants.

ELISE

No, it’s not a coincidence. We need to dig into their mother’s medical history. Find out if perhaps they were all on the same drug trial…

KONRAD

...a drug that never went to mass market because it caused children to be born with webbed toes.

PANEL 4

Elise pulling on boots.

ELISE

The thing is I don’t know if we’re going to be able to get three women to share their medical information relating to their pregnancy of their dead children.

PANEL 5

Close on Konrad looking cocky.

KONRAD

Well, that’s why you hire an unscrupulous private detective to steal their files.

PAGE 14

PANEL 1

Establishing shot of Avera Hospital.

CAPTION (Konrad off panel)

So we go to the local hospital posing as a couple from out of town come to visit a sick relative.

PANEL 2

Konrad picking the lock of a door labeled “Records Room, HIPAA regulations restrict entry to authorized personnel only.”

CAPTION (Konrad off panel)

Then I’ll find the medical records room and pick the lock to gain entry.

PANEL 3

Elise convulsing next to the records room, foam coming out of her mouth, concerned doctors and nurses gathered around her.

CAPTION (Konrad off panel)

It might take me a while to find the relevant files. If someone’s coming I want you to pretend to have a seizure. I’ll give you a fizzy sherbet powder to make a convincing foam at the mouth.

PANEL 4

Konrad tazing an elderly security guard in the hotel lobby. Elise behind him is covering her mouth.

CAPTION (Konrad off panel)

Normally I carry any weapons, but I don’t want to have to beat up some security guard just doing his job. I’ll bring my taser in case anyone gives us trouble.

PAGE 15

PANEL 1

Close on a serious Konrad back at the hotel.

KONRAD

You don’t want to get too elaborate with your disguise or else people notice them as disguises. Simple touches such as hats and glasses are enough. I’m going to use the alias Alan Smithee...

PANEL 2

Elise and Konrad facing each other, sitting on their respective beds. Elise is doing a hand gesture to indicate “all that.” Konrad looks disappointed.

ELISE

Yeah, no to… all that.

KONRAD

Well do you have a better plan?

PANEL 3

Iron Eyes Cody’s mom (Sioux) standing in a doorway, neutral expression on her face.

IRON EYES CODY’S MOM

I was taking alidomideth.

PANEL 4

Fred Lorz’s mom (white, blond, blue eyes) standing in a doorway, neutral expression on her face.

FRED LORZ’S MOM

My doctor was giving me alidomideth.

PANEL 5

Margaret Fox’s mom (white) standing in a doorway, neutral expression on her face.

MARGARET FOX’S MOM

Alidomideth.

PAGE 16

PANEL 1

Konrad and Elise walking away from Margaret Fox’s mom’s house.

ELISE

See, it was better to go ahead and try to talk to them, they were all very cooperative.

KONRAD

My plan would have still worked.

ELISE

Sure it would have.

They were all seeing a doctor Frances Griffiths, but he had a fatal stroke 7 years ago.

The drugs were being provided by Sackler Pharmaceutical.

PANEL 2

The GTO roads down a two-lane highway that goes through a field of dry grass and little else. A sign reads “Sioux Falls 215 miles” Big clear sky.

CAPTION (Elise off panel)

... they have offices in Sioux Falls.

PAGE 17

PANEL 1

Konrad driving, Elise looking bored riding shotgun.

ELISE

What’s your story Konrad? How did you become a PI?

KONRAD

When I’m on a job I prefer to focus on getting the information I’m hired to collect and not share personal information.

I find things go smoother that way.

PANEL 2

A black and white imagined scene of Konrad knocking a leather clad biker off his motorcycle with a baseball bat.

CAPTION (Elise off panel)

I’ll take that to mean you’re a disgraced former cop who was pushed off the force after you took the law into your hands against a rampaging motorcycle gang.

PANEL 3

Back in the car Konrad looks sideways at Elise. Elise is getting doe eyes imaging this dramatic story. Chibi form.

KONRAD

If you like.

ELISE

Were you taking revenge for your beautiful bride that they attacked?

KONRAD

Poets could not describe her exquisiteness.

ELISE

I knew it!

PAGE 18

PANEL 1

Elise, having calmed down, is slightly offended he hasn’t asked her any questions.

ELISE

Aren’t you going to ask me my backstory?

KONRAD

I know your backstory. You were the only one within a thousand miles when your boss died so you got promoted.

ELISE

That sells me a bit short.

PANEL 2

Konrad silently driving while Elise looks bored.

PANEL 3

Konrad reluctantly indulges Elise.

ELISE

I spy… something brown.

KONRAD

Is it dry grass?

ELISE

Yes.

KONRAD

Ok, we’ve done everything visible then.

PANEL 4

Konrad silently driving while Elise looks bored.

PANEL 5

Elise sings (Riptide by Vance Joy), Konrad takes a deep breath.

ELISE

I was scared of dentists and the dark

I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations

Oh, all my friends are turning green

You're the magician's assistant in their dreams

Oh

Oh and they come unstuck

PAGE 19

PANEL 1

Establishing shot of Sioux Falls SD, a much greener place than Pierre.

CAPTION

Sioux Falls, SD

PANEL 2

Konrad and Elise walk into a building for Sackler Pharmaceutical. This is a take on Purdue Pharma, which is owned by the Sackler family.

PANEL 3

Konrad and Elise approaching the receptionist desk.

ELISE

Hello, we need to speak to…

I guess the head of experimental drug testing?

PANEL 4

Close on the receptionist, a gothic beauty, Leeanna Vamp as a basis. She’s looking at them cockeyed.

RECEPTIONIST

Do you have an appointment?

PANEL 5

Konrad and Elise from the receptionist’s perspective. Elise looks off into space, Konrad looks at Elise sideways.

ELISE

We probably should have phoned ahead.

KONRAD

Tell her who you are.

PAGE 20

PANEL 1

Elise and Konrad are seated in the lobby, Elise is flipping through a magazine. Konrad is looking at his phone. A trim besuited man, Frances Griffiths, is coming out to greet them.

CAPTION

Shortly after that

ELISE

Why do they even have magazines in waiting rooms anymore? Everyone has smartphones now.

KONRAD

That can be your next case to investigate.

FRANCES

Ms. Wright? I’m Frances Griffiths, head of PR. Please, come to my office.

PANEL 2

Frances Griffiths office, he is taking a seat. Elise has already taken a seat, Konrad is examining an antique medicine bowl. Posters on the wall advertise various drugs. One is for “Buttruns: treating pain and addiction to painkillers” (based off the real medicine Butrans). Features a woman lying in a field, wearing a fedora. Another is for “Hysteringla: Now all you need is one pill a day!” (based off the real medicine Hysingla) Features a manically happy man in a fedora. A third poster is for “OxgenContin: Breathe Easy” (based off OxyContin). Features a woman underwater, also wearing a fedora.

FRANCES

You’re from the podcast Pierced?

I’m not sure how much help I can be, the last time I was in Pierre it was for a middle school trip to see the state capitol building.

ELISE

I wanted to ask you about alidomideth.

PANEL 3

Close on Frances, neutral expression.

FRANCES

Alidomideth… I haven’t heard that one mentioned in a while.

It was supposed to treat pregnancy nausea but it was only marginally better than a placebo, so it was dropped.

PANEL 4

Close on Elise, suspicious expression.

ELISE

Really? Because it seems to me that it was discontinued because it caused birth defects.

PAGE 21

PANEL 1

Frances looks offended, Elise still looks suspicious, Konrad has his brooding face.

FRANCES

I’ve never seen any reports of that.

ELISE

No? Because I’ve spoken to three women who were on alidomideth and each of their children were born with webbed toes.

FRANCES

The drug didn’t have any observed effects like that.

ELISE

It did. And I think Sackler was so desperate to cover it up they had those kids murdered.

PANEL 2

Frances standing, shocked. Elise remains calm, suspicious.

FRANCES

What?!

ELISE

Those three kids with webbed toes, they were victims of the Pierre Piercer. A cover up made to look like the work of a madman.

PANEL 3

Close on Frances wincing.

FRANCES

Even if what you’re saying is true about the effects of alidomideth, and I’m not saying it is, that’s an insane conclusion. I mean, we’re a three billion dollar company, we could have just paid to have the toes corrected surgically.

PANEL 4

Frances showing them the door, Elise hasn’t moved from her chair.

ELISE

So why didn’t you?

Why are those kids dead?

FRANCES

I think you should go.

PANEL 5

Konrad and Elise exiting the Sackler building, the sun is setting.

KONRAD

So what now?

ELISE

Let’s go back to Pierre.

KONRAD

Don’t we want to investigate Sackler more?

PAGE 22

PANEL 1

Elise, who looks somewhat beaten, walking down the street. Konrad follows looking concerned.

ELISE

The PR guy was right. These people fight their battles with lawyers, not assassins.

PANEL 2

Elise and Konrad entering Falls Park.

ELISE

Besides they’re responsible for thousands of opioid overdoses, they’re not going to lose their cool over a few webbed toes.

PANEL 3

Elise and Konrad near the waterfalls.

ELISE

What is this case?

---------------------------

Part 3 coming soon!

slasher
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About the Creator

Buck Hardcastle

Viscount of Hyrkania and private cartographer to the house of Beifong.

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