Episode 1.03

Hallow Hotel

Detective Siobhan Lane walked back to the police car as she removed the latex gloves she had worn at the crime scene. She tossed them into a plastic bag to be disposed of later on and shook her head. “Where’s the kid that discovered the fire?” She asked one of the uniforms.

“He’s over there Detective. Wait until you see who it is.” He said with a joking tone.

Siobhan looked over and there sat the damn pizza boy from Saul’s. “You again kid? What do you do, go looking for trouble?” she asked him as she walked over to him and his beat up car.

“No Detective Lane, I swear I just stumbled upon it when I was delivering a pizza to the room.” Replied the delivery boy.

Siobhan rubbed her pounding head. This whole situation was not something she needed, and definitely not something that the town of Pinõn Hallow needed either. “Just tell me what happened kid.” She said as she leaned against the car.

The delivery boy looked up at Detective Lane, “Well I got to Saul’s and he said I had to deliver a pizza here at the hotel to Room 115 and so I got the pie and brought it over.” He looked down at the ticket with the address, “Well when I got here I parked my car, and got the pie and brought it to the room. Well when I knocked on the door, there was no answer and then I smelled smoke.”

Bethany McKay came walking up to the motel, and saw all the police. She searched around and then she spotted Siobhan, her old friend. She laughed to herself as she realized the she was in a suit and no longer the regulation uniform. Pushing her way through the other guests she went over to Siobhan, “Siobhan, what the hell happened here?” Bethany demanded to know, causing Siobhan to jump.

Siobhan turned to see who was talking to her and ended up with a jaw-dropped face as she saw Bethany, “Bethany, what the hell are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m staying here until I get to talk to Conner, tell me what happened?”

Siobhan turned to the delivery boy, “I’ll deal with you later.” She told him before looking at Bethany, “One of the guests I think his name was Brighton Simpson was killed in a fire tonight. The Fire Department thinks its arson.”

Bethany went pale as she looked at her old friend, “No, Brighton can not be dead. He just can’t be!”

Concern covered Siobhan’s face, “Bethany, did you know him?”

“He’s my twin brother. Of course I knew him.”

Maggie’s Apartment

Releasing her hair from her pony tail, Maggie picked up her brush and began to untangle her blonde locks. When she was done she began applying her make up, finishing up with a clear coat of lip gloss. She took a deep breath and looked at her image in the mirror. This all seemed so unreal to her but it was completely real. Tonight would be her first date with Conner McKay, successful business owner, a wonderful father, and probably an amazing husband, who just had a horrible wife. “I won’t dwell on Bethany McKay, she’s out of the picture. If she wasn’t, Conner would never have asked me out.” Maggie said aloud to herself as she checked the length of her skirt before someone knocked on her door.

Trying to remain calm she went and answered the door, opening it and finding herself greeted with Conner’s amazing smile. “You look amazing Maggie.” He said to her, noticing the blush covering her face.

“Thank you, you look great too Conner.” She said as she grabbed her purse and they left for their date.

Pam’s Apartment

Finally having decided on a sweater, Pam put the cardigan on over her black tank top. Stepping back from the mirror she checked out the image it produced. Feeling inadequate with her hair she quickly grabbed her brush and gathered it for a pony tail. Securing it with a hair elastic she smiled. “Perfect.” She said before grabbing her bag and leaving her apartment.

Hallow Hotel

“Brighton Simpson was your twin brother? I thought you said he was part of some weird cult.” Siobhan inquired, trying to make sense out of Bethany’s comments.

“I saw him earlier today when I was checking in, but I blew him off.” Bethany explained, “and last I knew he was part of this really weird cult. It was all men, most were gay and some were so lost they took whoever was in charge’s word that they too were gay. I remember when I tried to convince him to get out of there. He told me that he had found the perfect guy and that the leader was right that the Greek men had the right idea about how things should be and that this is what God really wanted.” She shook her head as she hugged herself, enwrapping herself with her arms. She then looked up at Siobhan, “I need to find Conner.”

“Bethany, are you sure about that?” Siobhan asked, knowing that Conner was out with Maggie.

Bethany looked at her friend, “He’s my husband, and my brother was just murdered. Of course I’m sure about this. I need him and I need my little girl.”

Hallow Hills

Chad walked into the house, and went into the closet. He took a box down from the top shelf and removed the package that had been delivered for his mother earlier that day. The pictures had been safe there for now, but not for long. Kip could find them, or worse his mother. He was just very thankful that his father was off in Europe right now, he couldn’t be a disappointment to his parents, he wouldn’t allow himself to be. Even if it meant lying about his past and his time away from Pinõn Hallow.

Adel walked into the foyer of her manor just as the phone rang. She went to the table that sat in the middle of the room and picked up the phone, “Good Evening, Hallow Hills.” She said and her face started to show her true emotions, “Doug is doing what? Well damn you stop him. . . No I will not having him doing this to me. I am his wife, and I plan on staying that way no matter what!” She then slammed down the phone and scampered up the stairs.

Chad stepped out from the closet, having over heard Adel’s phone conversation. Puzzlement covered him as he held on tightly to the package, “What the hell is wrong with Mom?” he asked aloud.

Looking around he started going upstairs, dropping one of the pictures on his way.

Pinõn Hallow Mall—Roof

“Just keep your eyes closed for a couple more moments.” Conner told Maggie as he set up a boom box, and pressed play on the CD. “Open them Maggie.” He told her as the sounds of the music filled the roof.

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn’t stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I though would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can’t get near you now

Oh, can’t you see it baby
You’ve got me goin’ crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I’m with you
I’ll take the chance

Oh, can’t you see it baby
You’ve got me goin’ crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

While the music played, Conner took Maggie into his arms and they danced on the roof of the mall. The lights of the small city of Pinõn Hallow glowed all around, like fairy lights at Christmas. Conner looked down at Maggie, “You’re so special Mags.”

She blushed, “You have no idea how much that means to me Conner.” She said to him, before his arms tightened around her and they kissed, softly and deeply.

Outside Conner’s Apartment

Bethany’s face was stained with tear marks as she reached the apartment she once shared with her husband before she ran off in search of adventure. It was stupid, she would admit that now. She stood in front of the door for a moment breathing deeply, trying to relax. All she wanted right now was for Conner to wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly. After what seemed like an endless amount of time, trying to gather her courage she knocked on the door, and waited for someone to answer. No one did. She leaned against the wall next to his door and sank down to the floor, crying again.