25
135 days after the incident
Criminal Investigation Department, Portishead Headquarters
Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Portishead, Bristol
Friday, 17 June 2005, 15h00
AUDIO INTERVIEW #2, PART 1: Detective Chief Inspector Floyd
Homes (FH) and Scott Fromley (SF)
[Audio interference]
(FH): Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes, Avon and Somerset CID, interviewing Mr. Scott Fromley on the seventeenth of June 2005. So, Scott. Here we are again. You were a student at Elmbridge High in Somerset?
(SF): You asked me this last time.
(FH): It’s standard procedure—please answer.
(SF): Yes, I was.
(FH): For how long?
(SF): I told you this already. Since seventh grade.
(FH): The last time we talked, you were closemouthed about Miss Johnson. Didn’t seem to know much about her. And yet here you sit, key witness. Possible suspect. You may want to be a bit more honest with me this time round.
[Silence]
Did Carly ever talk about school? The teachers? How she felt about Elmbridge?
[Pause]
(SF): No.
(FH): So she never had any complaints about the school?
(SF): If you’re asking me whether she had a vendetta against the school—no.
(FH): You seem to know her quite intimately, Scott, to know what she thinks. Tell me more about what happened after the Halloween party, about what happened with Juliet McClarin.
(SF): For God’s sake, I don’t know, do I? I told you back in December that I don’t know.
[Silence]
(FH): Why don’t you tell me again?
(SF): Is this some kind of joke to you people? Are you all just sitting there wasting time? You’re asking me the same questions over and over, and my answer is the same—I don’t know!
(FH): You want to calm down for me? I’d hate to have to put those cuffs back on.
[Pause]
(SF): Sorry.
(FH): Tell me about Carly. How was she after Halloween?
(SF): I guess… after November she started to seem… I don’t know… not really herself, I guess. Naida told me that she was going to therapy more… that her sleep issues were playing up. Stuff like that.
(FH): Naida Chounan-Dupré. Whom you were dating at the time?
(SF): Yes.
(FH): Did Miss Chounan-Dupré tell you about Carly’s condition?
(SF): Condition? You mean that she never slept? Yeah, she told me. And I just told you.
[Pause]
(FH): Did you ever speak to Miss Johnson at night?
(SF): Um… [Pause] I don’t remember.
(FH): It’s best if you’re honest, son.
(SF): Yeah, I guess I did. Yeah.
(FH): What was Carly’s relationship like with Naida?
(SF): I don’t know. It was complicated, I guess.
(FH): Care to elaborate?
[Audio crackle]
(SF): Carly and Naida seemed close most of the time. I mean, they weren’t anything alike, so I don’t know why they were even friends, but they were. But then sometimes they seemed to hate each other.
(FH): They weren’t alike? In what way?
(SF): Carly was shy… she wasn’t that into guys or fashion. Naida’s louder than Carly. Stronger. Harder. She’s flamboyant and dresses the part whenever she can—[Laughs, then stops, swallows] Could.
(FH): You said that Carly’s relationship with Naida was complicated. But you’ve said they were close. How is that complicated?
(SF): Well, this one time, maybe around September or October, at the beginning of the school year, Naida was pissed about something. I tried to make her feel better, you know? Tried to find out what was wrong. She just said that they’d had some kind of argument and that it was upsetting her. I asked if she’d talked to Carly about it since then, and she laughed in this angry, kind of hate-filled way. I remember, clear as day, she said, “Yeah, right, I did.” That was all.
(FH): So you had the impression that Naida was angry with Carly?
(SF): Honestly, I thought Naida hated Carly at that moment. [Pause] Like any of that matters now.
(FH): So they had a falling-out.
(SF): [Dully] It wasn’t until after the Halloween party that things felt okay again between the two of them.
(FH): After the Juliet incident.
(SF): [Pause] Yeah. But like I said, I don’t know what happened to her. I want to make a phone call. I want to talk to my father.
(FH): Humor me for a few minutes more. In your own words, tell me again what happened.
[End of tape]
26
95 days until the incident
Naida Camera Footage
Saturday, 30 October 2004
Halloween Party Clip #1
Time Index Not Noted
“I’ve got it all set up,” Naida says into the camera. “Aila’s house is huge and perfect. So, dear viewers, I hope you delight in the horror of tonight. ’Cause we’re going to have us some nightmarish fun.”
The camera focuses on a wide porch, which is covered in grinning jack-o’-lanterns and box lanterns. The stairs leading up to the house, which itself glows orange from unseen light sources, are also lined with carved jack-o’-lanterns and an array of statuettes. The main statue, which stands on the grass, is of a life-size headless horseman. Each of the front-facing windows is covered with black material, out of which an image has been cut, and with the orange illumination inside, the effect is sinister. The whole house is one giant grinning face.
“This is it,” Naida says. “Tonight is going to be awesome.”
Naida carries the camera up the stairs and into the house, right through the wide-open mouth.
Halloween Party Clip #2
A living room, decked out in Halloween decorations—jack-o’-lanterns, spiderwebs, spiders, dangling black ribbons, candles, glowing lights. Students from Elmbridge High mill around, red plastic cups in hand. Johnny Farmer’s “Death Letter” plays from an unseen radio. Present are:
Scott Fromley, senior, dressed as Candyman
Brett [name omitted], senior, dressed as an Arthurian knight
Juliet McClarin, junior, as Red Riding Hood
Maggie Myers, junior, as the Little Mermaid Ariel
Carly Johnson, senior, in steampunk couture
Brenda “Bobbin” LeRoy, senior, as Smurfette
Mike Bowers, senior, as Dracula (It should be noted that Mike’s face still bears the fading marks from the vandalism of September. Otherwise, he seems unaffected.)
Naida appears from a door leading to the kitchen. She is dressed as a stylized Grim Reaper—her face is painted with a stark white-on-black skull design. She wears a black tuxedo that hugs her figure, a top hat, and black sunglasses. Between two slender fingers she holds a lit cigar, which she brings close to her lips, where it smokes provocatively.
“Ladies and gentleman,” she says, grinning, “welcome to the house of terror.”
The two younger girls, Juliet and Maggie, giggle and eye Brett from under their lashes. Brett, unaware, takes a sip from his cup, his focus on Carly, who is sitting on the sofa nearest the window. Scott snorts and stands up to greet Naida, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
Faintly, we hear his muffled words. “Hey, baby. You look sexy.”
She pulls back. “No kidding. You have a Grim Reaper fetish?” When he seems confused, she gestures to herself. “Collector of the Dead, for your delectation and delight.”
He nods, brows raised. “Kudos for effort.”
“Why, thank you, Candyman.”
“Mr. Daniel Robitaille,” he corrects her, before planting a kiss on her lips.
“Get a room!” Brenda yells, the lilt of laughter in her voice, even as she glances suggestively at Mike, who sits beside her.
“Wow,” Juliet says in Naida’s direction, “this i
s so cool!”
Brenda snorts, and Juliet’s blush deepens. Brenda turns to Mike and whispers, “What are they doing here?”
Mike grins but says nothing, and Juliet glances at Maggie, who smiles and shrugs.
As Scott pulls away from Naida, lips smeared white, we get a glimpse of Carly grinning at them.
“I should tell you,” Naida announces, “you are currently being filmed for my sociology project. Anyone who isn’t comfortable being seen should leave now.”
She waits, eyes passing over the faces present. No one moves, but several eyes surreptitiously scan the room for the cameras. Juliet’s lips frame the word where?—nothing more.
“Good.”
Scott leans into Naida, and we hear him whisper in her ear, “Isn’t it less effective if they know they’re being filmed?”
Naida shrugs. “Aye, but I have to give them notice, ethically. Otherwise, there could be problems if anything—unwholesome—comes out. This way, I’ve got my warning on camera. By staying, they agree to it. Besides,” she adds, turning her back on the room, and dropping her voice, “soon they’ll be too drunk to remember.”
“Oh, baby,” Scott murmurs. “You’re sneaky as a little fox. My minx of a fox.”
She looks up at him. “There’re cameras in this place you can’t even imagine.”
A similar piece of film from another camera was found in the online archives. The angle of the film suggests it is a camera Naida was wearing somewhere on her costume, most likely in her top hat, given the height.
27
89 days until the incident
Criminal Investigation Department, Portishead Headquarters
Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Portishead, Bristol
Friday, 5 November 2004, 10h00
AUDIO INTERVIEW: Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes (FH) and Maggie Myers (MM)
(FH): At what time did you arrive at the Dupré residence?
(MM): Um, my mum dropped me off at about four in the afternoon.
(FH): So early?
(MM): That’s when the party started. Naida said four.
(FH): Did you go alone?
(MM): No, I went with… with—
[Sniffling]
(FH): Take your time.
(MM): [Sniff] W-with Juliet.
(FH): Were you with Juliet the entire evening?
(MM): No. [Sniff] Juliet didn’t want to do the Ouija board, so she went to wait outside.
(FH): Why outside?
(MM): She wanted air.
(FH): Tell me about the Ouija board.
(MM): It was stupid. Mike found it in the drawer in the living room. It had all kinds of weird stuff in there, but he only took out the board. It didn’t look like a normal board, though. My brother bought one last year and it didn’t look like Naida’s at all.
(FH): Can you tell me if Juliet went outside alone?
(MM): Yeah, she did. But, I mean, Carly went out later, so I guess she wasn’t alone for long.
(FH): Do you remember anything else happening that night in relation to Juliet? Did she leave with anyone? Did you see any strangers talking to her? Did you hear any cars stop near the house?
(MM): No. She just stepped outside. If you want to know what happened, ask that Carly girl. She was there, she must know.
(FH): Thank you, Maggie. You can step outside.
[Scraping of chair]
[Footsteps]
[Door]
(FH): [Sigh] Once again it seems that Carly Luanne Johnson is connected to this event. It seems more and more likely that she is somehow directly involved. I recommend continuing the search for Miss Johnson so that she may be questioned before probable sectioning.
[End of tape]
28
Naida Camera Footage
Saturday, 30 October 2004
Halloween Party Clip #3
Time Index Not Noted
Several hours have passed, during which Carly has disappeared upstairs and come back down looking annoyed (presumably, as the sun has since set, she is now Kaitlyn), and during which also, Ari Hait has arrived, dressed as Sherlock’s Dr. John H. Watson.
Music blasts from somewhere in the room, sending slight vibrations and noise distortions through the camera. Mike Bowers sits beside Juliet, eyes half-closed. Languidly, he pulls a plastic bag from his vest and dangles it before her eyes. He murmurs something the camera doesn’t catch.
Juliet blushes and giggles.
“What is that?”
Mike turns his attention to Scott. “What is what? This? It’s weed, man. Where have you been?”
“Get that stuff out of here, Bowers. You think Naida needs her cousin’s place smelling like a bloody stoner’s den?”
Mike’s face turns red, and he gets to his feet. “What kind of a dickhead—”
“All right, my people,” Naida drawls, sauntering into the room. “I leave you for a second, and all hell breaks loose. I knew I was something, but never knew I was everything. It’s Halloween! Chill out.”
Kaitlyn mutters something that is not heard by the others. Increasing playback volume allows us to decipher her words: You know we don’t do this Halloween shit in England.
Ari whispers something in her ear, and she smiles.
“Get this moron out of here,” Scott growls, fists clenched.
“For bringing weed?” Mike says. “That’s a joke, mate!”
“You brought weed to my cousin’s house?”
Mike’s aggression wilts a little under Naida’s regard. “Well, yeah.” He holds it up between two fingers, suddenly a tall yet pathetic figure. “I thought—I mean, I didn’t think…”
Naida stares for a moment, and the room seems to hold its breath. “Well, I’ll have me some of that.”
Both Scott and Mike stare at her openmouthed.
Scott steps closer to her. “What?”
Naida takes the bag from Mike, opens it, and sniffs. “It’s a plant, Scott. Relax, okay?”
She winks at Scott, who seems momentarily charmed. Then he remembers Mike, scowls, and storms off.
Mike grins. “Let’s do this. Who else is game?”
Juliet claps her hands. “Me!” Her friend Maggie nods, and Brenda gets to her feet in acquiescence.
The only person unaware of—or uninterested in—the confrontation and the weed sits in steampunk couture on the same leather sofa, engrossed in a conversation with Ari Hait.
Halloween Party Clip #4
“Are you up for, um… marijuana?” Brett says, standing beside Kaitlyn’s chair. Though tall, he seems diminished beside her. Unsure. Ari whispers something in Kaitlyn’s ear, and she laughs, then turns to Brett, distracted.
“What?”
“Um, marijuana. You want in? Either of you?”
“Oh.” She raises her eyebrows at Ari, who smirks and looks away. “Not for us, thanks, Brett.”
Brett looks more than a little crestfallen. He tries again. “Uh, hey. I haven’t spoken to you in a while.” He steps from foot to foot, holding his plastic cup between both hands.
Kaitlyn stares at him, eyes narrowing. “Huh?”
“How are you?” he asks again.
“I’m… fine. Thanks. How are you?”
Ari leans forward. “Did you want something… specific?”
“I just…” He clears his throat and runs a hand through his hair. “Hadn’t seen Carly in a while, and I wanted to say hi. I didn’t get your name.”
Ari gets to his feet and holds out his hand. “Name’s Ari.”
“Right, from math. Brett.” He shakes Ari’s hand briefly, then glances at Kaitlyn. “You looked a little off the other day. Wanted to make sure you were feeling better.”
Kaitlyn frowns. “I did? Oh… oh, yeah. Thanks, Brett. Much better.”
Ari looks from one to the other and then sits down.
“I better go,” Brett mutters. “See you later, Carly.”
Kaitlyn smiles blandly at him and then turns back to Ari. Brett smiles awkwa
rdly at her back and scratches his ear. He rubs his head, drinking deeply from the plastic cup in his hands before stalking into the kitchen.
“That was weird,” Kaitlyn says, once he is gone.
“So. Carly,” Ari says, grinning. “Care to explain what all of that in the chapel was about?”
Kaitlyn doesn’t say anything.
“Carly? Because… you were talking about missing Carly, and—”
“Don’t call me that. Don’t call me Carly.”
“Why? Everyone calls you Carly.”
“I know. But please don’t ever call me that. Not you. Please.”
“I… okay. Whatever you want.” He hesitates. “What should I call you?”
“I’m not ready to tell you.”
Ari considers her, then smiles. “You’re so beautiful when you’re angry.”
She punches him in the arm but grins anyway.
Halloween Party Clip #5
Later, from the top hat camera, we hear a short, whispered conversation between Brett and Naida.
“What’s up, sugar?” Naida asks, her voice low, the screen jiggling as she walks into what appears to be the kitchen. She faces Brett, who leans against the sink, his hands balled into fists on the edge of the counter.
The Dead House Page 9