The Outkast

darkness.”

“Hmm… appropriately put,” Brian observed. “I must acknowledge I didn’t sniff around hard enough on the case, which explains why I never had access to this golden piece of info that was supposedly at my disposal. A man in my office couldn’t be disappointed in himself any more than I am at present-disappointed for letting my people down.”

“It’s all right. That’s why I’m here. Now that you’re in the know, it’s time you acted with great speed. Holly’s hell-bent on wiping this peaceful community out, and she’s started doing so in dribs and drabs, one man at a time, until every soul is consumed. But we can’t let her.”

Brian shook his head. “Not in a million years. I’ll see to doing everything within my power to stop her before she gets too far.”

“Awesome,” Donnie said, brimming with exhilaration. “While you’re investigating the case of the little boy, who has been a kingpin of his mother’s heinous company for a while, I’d suggest you do an even more intense one on Holly herself.”

Brian kept on nodding, like a man completely enthralled by another’s profound rationality.

“I really don’t want to appear unreasonably outspoken, Sheriff-but allow me to say she’s the real brains behind Trevor Carter’s murder.”

“No, you’re not unreasonably outspoken. In fact, you’re not outspoken at all. You’re only presenting the case in its true light. I’m really appreciative of your effort to make things right.”

Donnie relaxed in his seat.

“So,” Brian said, “why on God’s green earth are you doing this?”

Donnie tensed, building an instant scowl that spread widely across his features. Apparently, the question hit a raw nerve. It made him appear somewhat thrown

Brian proceeded. “I mean, what’s your gain in this bold venture? What do you intend to obtain when it’s all over?”

Speechless, Donnie shook his head slowly, still wearing the big frown, as if he was in great shock that such an irrelevant question had been posed at a moment when he should have scored big.

“Come on, Donnie. There’s gotta be something in it for you.”

“There’s nothing in it for me,” Donnie snapped, having found his tongue at last. “My interest only lies in the well-being of my people-your people. I’ve come to let you know she’s gone to town on killing more people. My interest-my gain, as you’ve put it-is the people’s safety.”

“And you’ve done a marvelous job telling me. No one could’ve done it better. There’s an opening in the department-as you might have gathered, since you hear and see a lot. Deputy Todd Kilgore is leaving. You might want to step in his shoes so you could express your true devotion to your beloved town more effectively.”

Donnie recoiled, lowering his gaze.

“I’ve wanted to talk to you about Rob, but not about the rubbish you’ve been spouting since you stepped in through the door.”

Donnie grunted.

“Saying stuff like this, based on mere hearsays that are largely unfounded, can easily land you in jail.”

“I can provide witnesses-sure witnesses, who will-”

“What’d you know about Robert Smallwood?” Brian cut him short. “What’re the possible challenges he might have been going through?”

“There are no challenges besides the ones common to every student. Not that I know of, anyway.”

“Common challenges like what?”

Donnie shrugged. “The common experience. The teenager’s inevitable struggle to keep from being unruly and stay obedient. Some of them-a fairly good number-also struggle with their academic works. Stuff like that, you know.”

“How’re his academic and extracurricular standings?”

“No great shakes, but there’re worse kids in his class.”

“Does he get bullied by other students capable of such act?”

“No.”

“You ever observed he’s lonely, Donnie? Has there ever been a time you noticed the boy might have been thrown out of the walls of the school and left forgotten in the cold-in a manner of speaking?”

“No.”

“Not even on a single occasion?”

“I’ve never made such an observation, Sheriff. Not even once.”

Brian realized the acting principal’s replies were coming really fast-too fast-and he had stopped meeting Brian’s gaze as he spoke. He had also become taciturn since the switch of subject. “Well, one can safely assume the boy’s never suffered a bout of loneliness at any point in time while at school. Is that correct?”

“Maybe, maybe not-I don’t know. It’s pretty hard for me to give any reliable reports on what the boy has or hasn’t suffered. The things I know, I’ve already shared.”

The things Donnie knew were wrapped in his effort to cast aspersions on the personalities of Holly and her son. Brian didn’t bother about that aspect of their talk. It had been rendered a forgotten territory. “How so? Why’s making a dependable report such a difficult task?”

“I’m not the one directly responsible for the boy. Don’t even teach his class any subject. Cheryl Ferguson and Blake O’Neal might be the suitable pair to help you in that regard.”

“Oh, sure-I understand that,” Brian said. “I get it you’re in the towering office, attending to things much more important than babysitting one irrelevant boy. But I thought perhaps-just perhaps-there might have been at least one instance where coincidence had played itself out, allowing you a glimpse into the boy’s world, even amidst your super-busy schedule.”

Donnie didn’t utter a word. He kept his gaze on the floor.

“Do you care for every single kid at your school, Donnie? I mean, besides nourishing them academically, do you really look after them every step of the way to sufficiently familiarize yourself with what they’re going through, as though they were your children?”

Donnie looked up, face burning with anger. “Of course, I do. Isn’t that supposed to be my duty?”

“Sounds a bit contradictory to me, but it’s all right. I must say I’m glad to hear you’re willing to do that which is expected. On that note, I’d like to ask a favor of you before letting you go.”

Donnie cocked his head to one side, a funny posture akin to a dog waiting for its master to drop a rejected drumstick for its own lovely consumption. “I’m all ears.”

“I want you to keep your eye on Rob henceforth. I want to know what goes on between him and every other student he comes in contact with when he gets back to school.”

Donnie’s eyes widened. “When he gets back to school?” he said. “You dropping the charges against him, Sheriff?”

“I’m not dropping any charges because none has been preferred against him in the first place. Not yet, Donnie. And if it would make you feel a little better, I’d say he might be locked up like a monster he is at the end of the day. Or he might escape it and rejoin your company. I don’t know-let’s wait to find out. In the meantime, if he gets back to school, keep your eye on him.”

Chapter 9

He was an outcast-The Outcast.

He had no friends, just enemies.

Well, that wasn’t purely true. He had one friend, who made his heart leap for joy, warts and all. He was his only True Blood. And he would kill anyone who got in the way of either him or his True Blood.

Now, Sheriff Brian Stack had begun to poke his nose where it didn’t belong, doing everything to interfere with The Outcast’s noble assignment. He and his deputies had commenced investigation, hoping to find an adequate explanation for the enigma surrounding the recent murders. But they would get none-adequate or not. In lieu of an