The Project

Giovani walked into Sara's office.

They shook hands.

"God, I feel terrible." said Sara.

"I know." said Giovani. "It's been three days, and it still feels so unreal."

Sara sniffled.

"I got the results for Larry and Mia's autopsy."

She handed them to the detective.

"Mia died from blood loss through the stab wounds in the chest, the back and the abdomen. She was already dead when the killer put her in that coffin."

"That's sick." said Giovani. "We're indeed dealing with a psychopath."

Sara nodded.

"What about Larry?"

She sighed. "There were no complications with the surgery. Larry was poisoned. Guess what poisoned him?"

"2C-I?"

The doctor nodded.

"The Slayer gave Larry a very painful and slow death. Larry received a large dose which made his vital organs collapse one by one."

"Jesus. 2C-I, by any chance, do you have it here in the hospital?"

She shook her head. "No, it's extremely rare and that's why most people have never even heard of it."

"It doesn't sound like the kind of thing you could buy on the streets, even if it was, stuff like that just doesn't happen around here."

He could only think of one person with the money and connections to get their hands on something like this.

Daniel Clarke.

"I can't even imagine how his parents are feeling right now."

Giovani grunted.

If there was one couple in the world who didn't deserve to be parents, it was Mr. and Mrs Brighton.

Giovani had been tasked with the messy job of breaking the terrible news to his parents, but it was a secretary who answered.

After getting the news, she gave her condolences and told the detective that Mr Brighton was on "An important business trip overseas." and Mrs Brighton still had "Obligations in New York."

Long story short, Larry's parents will not be attending his funeral.

He relayed the whole story to Sara.

Sara shook her head in disgust. "My God, that's horrible."

"I know, what's sad is that it doesn't even surprise me. Are you coming to the funeral?"

"Yes." she replied.

"Me too." said Giovani. "I'll go get ready." He took the files and left.

STARK'S

Paul was with Izzy and Alex, almost ready for the funeral.

"Where's Camila?" asked Izzy.

"She went to see Macy." Paul replied.

"Macy hasn't gone out in three days. She said she's too sad to do anything."

"Can't blame her." remarked Paul.

Alex wasn't listening. He was looking at someone who had just entered the restaurant.

"Don't I know you?"

The visitor smirked.

"We might have seen each other before."

Alex took a good look at him and rolled his eyes.

"You're the idiot who thought it'd be funny to dress up like a killer, even though there was an actual killer on the loose."

Julian raised his hands.

"Whoa, man. I saw that costume and liked it."

"What do you want?"

"My name is Julian Norman. I think your friend knows me." said Julian, smirking in Paul's direction.

Izzy's eyes widened as it dawned on her.

"Wait, is he...?"

"Yeah, that's him." said Paul. He turned to Julian, repeating Alex' question.

"What do you want?"

Julian smirked.

"Nothing actually. Just wanted to stand toe-to-toe with the competition. Kinda disappointed, Camila's definitely lowered her taste."

Paul glared at him.

"Well, I'll see you around, Paulo." He threw his trademark smirk and left.

Izzy looked puzzled.

"Ok? Totally not weird at all."

MACY'S HOUSE

"I don't think I can get through it." said a devastated Macy. "I'm not just wrecked inside, I feel dizzy and I've lost my appetite. I can't keep anything down."

Camila looked her over.

She didn't look too good.

"It's ok, Macy, you just need some fresh air. You will get through this. We all will."

Macy sniffed. "You're right. I haven't thought about anyone but me. At least we'll all be together."

"Come on, let's go."

They linked arms, and Macy opened the door.

Daniel Clarke was there.

"Dammit, you creep! You can't just come over like this! Especially when you're not welcome!" yelled Macy.

"I know you're grieving. I can't imagine the pain you're going through."

The words would've been received well, if Clarke didn't say it with a grin on his face.

Camila bristled.

"Knock it off, Fatty. Tell us the real reason why you came."

"I just came to give you and your friend my sincere condolences. The fact that it's a double tragedy makes it even worse."

He replied, grinning even more.

Macy clenched her fists and glared at him.

"Well I won't take up anymore of your time. I am truly sorry for your double loss."

He turned around and left with the shit-eating grin still plastered on his face.

Macy stared at him in disbelief then closed the door. "That bastard. I swear, if he keeps mocking us..."

"Don't let him get to you."

Macy nodded and furiously wiped the tears that were already flowing.

"Come on." Camila said, grabbing Macy's hand. "We have to go."

POLICE STATION

Davenport was studying the notes he had made himself.

He had been trying hard to memorise the bits and pieces of everything he read in Mia's notebook before the Slayer took it.

"Still on that? You know it's pointless." asked Giovani who was standing by the door.

"I have to do something." replied Davenport. "The killer might strike again anytime soon." He groaned in frustration.

Giovani approached him. "Take a fucking break, Bruce, let's go to the funeral."

"Fine. But I'm not giving up. I will catch this fucker."

Giovani stopped him with a knowing look.

"We will catch him."

Davenport rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

CEMETERY

The two coffins were ready to be buried.

One next to the other, with flowers on the top of them.

Mia and Larry's framed pictures were next to their respective coffins.

Davenport and Giovani arrived early. It took about 10 minutes before people started showing up.

Mia's parents, Alex, Macy, Camila, Paul, Kai, Sara, Davenport, Giovani and dozens of their friends from school and around town were in attendance.

The priest came up.

"Dear brothers and sisters. We're gathered here today to celebrate the lives of our beloved Larry Brighton and Mia Larsson, who we lost tragically, but we know they're now in the glory of our Lord."

The priest launched into a sermon about the concept of life and death for the next 20 minutes.

Then, it was time for the eulogies.

Alex stood first.

"Larry and I have practically been friends since we in third grade. I remember in the sixth grade, I was being beaten up by this really mean kid, Larry stood up to him and tried to defend me. Then we both got beat up."

The crowd let out a short laugh at that.

"He was my best friend. And Mia....Mia was my girlfriend, the first girl I ever truly loved. We spent the two most wonderful years of my life together. I have so many memories with Larry and Mia, I wish I made more.

Goodbye, Mia. Goodbye, Larry. Until we meet again."

Mia's parents spoke too, then everyone lined up and placed two white roses, one on each coffin, as they walked past it and silently left.

CLARKE MANSION

Julian walked into the living room.

Daniel Clarke was there, reading the local newspaper.

The front page had Larry and Mia's yearbook pictures along with the headline:

"The Slayer's fourth and fifth victims laid to rest today."

"Hey, boss."

"How was it?"

"Oh, it was lovely. I even had a time to piss off Diaz and Stark a little."

Daniel chuckled.

"That's alright, but don't waste your time with that. Don't put my project at risk. Now, come on, we got work to do."

He led Julian downstairs to his basement.

"You probably find it strange that I hired you to watch a bunch of teenagers and make sure they're not snooping around. But those kids made things so hard for Silko, you know?"

Julian nodded.

"Was it that bad?

"Yes. He got stuck after they discovered some details about him and he couldn't even do his do his job right. The project got complicated after that and now that things are going smoothly, I wanna make sure I don't suffer through the same thing."

They reached the bottom of the staircase, Clarke pushed open the door at the end of it and stepped inside, turning the lights on.

Julian breathed out and stared around the room.

"I'll never get over how spectacular this is, Clarke."

Boxes of instant noodles were stacked in orderly fashion against a wall.

Julian patted it on the side, knowing fully well that the contents had no relation to noodles at all.

He grabbed one box and placed it on the counter top in the middle of the room.

Clarke stood next to him as he opened it, his eyes roving over the parcels, each carrying a white substance.

"1500 kilos. I don't know how you managed to pull this off, Clarke."

"Sacrificed a lot, but it was worth it. This is my end game, and it's gonna make me rich."