Original subtitles

Sorry. Please.

What? Don't let him find me.

What? What?

Okay.

It's okay. You're okay.

Yes,

hello. I need the police.

There was something in her that could never shake the feeling of his hands

around her neck.

Deep in a place where no therapist could probe. Where no medication could dull.

Clearest in the quiet moments.

Where most average people would feel their safest.

That's where he would always be with her.

Ladies and gentlemen, Alice Kerrigan and her latest release, The Murderer in My

Mind. Just a reminder, you can purchase the book here today, and Miss Kerrigan

will be doing signings later on as well.

Now, if you're okay, Alice, we'll move on to the Q &A portion of the afternoon.

So if there are any questions, yes, there is. Hi, Alice. I'm a big fan.

Hi, Claire.

Nice to see you again. Thank you for coming to so many of my readings over

years. Of course. I love your work.

For my question, in this book, and especially the piece that you just read,

touch heavily on aspects of mental health, and I was just wondering if this

shift in your work going forward.

Well...

Short answer is yes.

For those of you who don't know, when I was a child, I was the victim of a

serial abductor named the street boy, a killer the police never caught.

I have spent a lot of my life dealing with my trauma.

And that's why I chose to dive into the minds of others to try to understand the

mindset.

Behind the people who commit these atrocities.

Now, all of my work has been fictionalized versions of stories like

But if you're interested in a true story, then you can read my next book.

No, I'm... You can't mean that... What is the next book going to be about?

Well, from what I can recall, the Strigoi would have been a middle -aged

when he took me, so...

If he is still out there, then he's likely too old to be a threat to me now.

So my next book is my first -hand experience of what happened.

Wow.

I mean, that's a massive bombshell.

This story's been dissected by the online community for years.

Are you bringing new insight to the table? I mean, have you been working

the police accessing their case files? Have you managed to find a link to any

the other victims? I so appreciate the passion.

I'm sure you're aware from all of your very well -researched time on the

Internet forums that the devil is in the details.

And I know you have a lot of questions, but I promise that most of them will be

answered in the book. And I'm not far off a completed manuscript now.

Does anyone else have any questions?

Man. Did I miss it?

No. When they said two, they meant five.

I'm sorry.

I know. Work happens. Okay.

You gotta get out there so I have something to write about.

Well, I got your room all set up for you.

Ever pegged you as sentimental?

Well, there wasn't much else I could do with it. No matter how hard I scrubbed

it, it still just smelled like book nerd.

You ready?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Much changed?

This is an Eureka tree.

Sorry, what?

The tree.

I've got ones just like it in my greenhouse.

Even more beautiful than this one.

Do you want to see?

No.

Um, no. No, everything looks the same.

You want to do Thai tonight?

There's a Thai place out here now? Yeah.

So, I finally get this guy pulled over. He takes one look at me. And he's like,

okay, great. I'm backed into a corner by some chick. I can take her. Wait, are

you saying he got out of his car and tried to hit you?

He tried to yank a baseball bat out from under his seat.

Never managed to get it out fully, though.

Got stuck halfway, which was enough to make him lose his balance, flip

backwards, and smoke a set on the asphalt.

Was he okay?

Nope.

Actually, he needed a lot of stretches.

Lost. Fair bit of blood, too. But actually, when they tested him later,

found enough alcohol in his system that he should have been legally dead.

That's insane.

See?

Lots of things happen here.

We got enough content for five more books, at least.

Although,

you know what might be more interesting if the cops were the ones who threw him

to the ground?

Everyone loves a good conspiracy or a corrupt cop.

Don't be like that.

We were having a nice dinner.

Fine.

I won't be passive.

I'm just gonna say it so it's said.

I think you left so you could run away from your problems.

And if you ever want to function properly again, you gotta move back here

face your demons.

Wow.

You don't think I'm functional.

Okay, well, just because I'm not reliving the glory days of high school

living in my childhood home and playing let's dress up like mom and dad doesn't

mean I'm not functioning.

I'm a really respected author, and what I am writing for your information is

incredibly emotionally informed, so I'm helping other people who are also

struggling with their traumas.

So, you are struggling.

Like, writing this stuff for me, it's like free therapy.

No, it's... Like you're making a fake Alice to deal with all the stuff so the

real one doesn't have to.

You know, even with this new book, you're outright talking about what

but it's not the same as actually dealing with it.

Oh, kind of like how you became a cop so you could save people like you were

never able to save me?

Not really dealing with the problem either, are you?

Look, Em...

What happened?

None of it was your fault.

We were just kids.

And now I am dealing with it in my way, and you are dealing with it in yours.

Okay?

Yep.

Okay.

You done?

No, no, no, no, no.

You

doing

okay?

Sorry.

Stupid question.

I'm Detective Ethan Cole.

I'm going to ask you a few questions about what happened tonight, okay?

What happened?

So what were you and your sister up to tonight?

We had dinner.

I was in town, so I'm staying here.

Do you know if she mentioned that she was going to be going out, maybe meeting

up with anyone?

No, I told your people already she was taken.

Do you know if she's seeing anyone currently?

No, I don't know. What does this have to do with anything?

Look, Alice, did you and Emma get into a fight tonight?

No.

My sister was taken by the Shigoi.

That's who the note is from.

Okay.

Look, I'll be in touch, and if you can think of anything else, then please.

Anything else? What else do you need? She was taken.

Listen. The neighbors didn't hear a struggle. None of our people can even

fingerprint. Okay, that's great. There's clearly a struggle inside the house.

He's smart. He understands DNA.

I know because he took me when I was little.

Look, I'm just going to come right out and say it.

You announced your new book today discussing all of this, and we can't

that your boy has just come back after 15 years, okay?

Look, Emma's one of our own, okay? She's a good cop. I worked with her before,

but...

She has been put through the ringer with this review, and I know you two haven't

always... What review?

She didn't tell you?

Your sister's been struggling

lately, and I know her drinking's gotten a little worse.

And then there was the incident with the perp that got hurt. It wasn't her

fault. Anybody would have done the same thing. It was just bad luck, but she

took it really hard.

And I know you two have had, you know, some challenges.

We may be very different people, but we love each other.

Those are the best ones at pushing our buttons, right?

My sister wants me to move home.

She just doesn't like that my books imply that the police can't get their

done. I am telling you, she was taken. Just look at the evidence.

If she's still not home in 48 hours, come down, file a missing persons

and that'll help us get our job done.

A lot can happen in 48 hours.

Ah, so you're awake.

We're going to have some fun, you and I.

I hope you have faith in your sister.

I'd hate her to take too long to find you.

Okay, so the forensic team was here. They combed the place for DNA and

fingerprints, but there was nothing.

There was no forced entry, so Emma might have opened the door for him, but he

shouldn't have been able to overpower her, so he must have used some kind of

chemical agent like chloroform, as cliche as that sounds.

And he left a brick.

No DNA on that either, his or anyone else's.

No, this one has a maker's mark on it, but it's just a number.

Yeah, it's 55868.

Yep, yeah, I can hold.

Hi, yes, no, I'm still here.

I would say this one is more like a pale red color. My guess is it's clay.

Okay.

Well, if I reach out to the manufacturer, do you think they'd be

what it was used for?

Okay, yeah, no, I understand.

Do you have any names or numbers of people I could reach out to who were

before it shut down?

Okay. Okay.

Yeah, thank you.

Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't even see you there.

Wait, Claire?

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

Wow.

I can't believe I'm running into you like this.

Like, literally running into you after I went all turbofan at the signing.

Okay, don't worry.

It was really nice to hear your enthusiasm.

Okay, because, you know, I spend hours online arguing on message boards, and I

mean the number of theories I've heard about the Strigoi and the things he's

done and people dismissing him like he's some sort of supernatural boogeyman.

It's just that... Well, I'm really excited to read your book and see what

confirms and what it debunks.

Thank you.

Sorry about my reaction. I'm just, um...

I'm having a bit of a day.

So... Well, if what you said about this tree boy is true, I can only imagine

what your day -to -day is like.

Thanks for taking the time to chat. I appreciate it.

Um, hey!

I'm sorry. I just... Is something wrong?

Like, something more? It's just that you... Well, you look so...

I'm sorry.

I should not have said anything.

I'll... No, it's okay.

This is a little complicated.

But you know what? I'm just going to put all of my cards on the table here. I'm

going through something, and I could really use a sounding board.

I mean, you say you're a true crime expert, right?

Yes.

Okay.

Lifetime is bringing The Chrisleys back to reality.

Dad got a 12 -year sentence.

Mom got seven.

Christina's Best was the highest rated show. The very next day, the show was

canceled. And it gets realer than ever.

Our household is completely divided.

I'm not going to get mad at me.

I don't even want to have a relationship with him.

I have nothing to hide. And depending on how long this interview goes, you might

see more than what you bargained for.

The Chrisleys, back to reality.

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I spoke to the agency in New York, and they're interested.

Maybe we should give them something more real sexy.

Yeah.

We can have our headshots taken and maybe even win 500 bucks.

13, unsolved homicide.

Yeah, I cut ties with the people that are holding you back.

This could be life -changing for you.

What do we have to lose?

The girl who survived the Alina Thompson story.

Watch now.

I mean, there's got to be more to it. He can't just be upset about the book, can

he?

I don't know.

And I've spent the better half of the last decade trying to understand the

of people like him.

Yeah, but of all the girls he supposedly took, I mean, why would he have been so

sloppy?

Did he let you go on purpose?

I don't know.

If I'm being honest, I don't remember a lot about that moment.

I'd been in his house for months, and I genuinely can't remember the last

time I actually saw his face.

But there was something about the way that he talked to me, the way that he

talked about all the other girls, as if he loved us.

I don't know, it was dark and violent and twisted.

But love.

Yeah, love through abuse.

Exactly.

And now I have to do the one thing that no one has ever been able to do.

Find him.

Well, almost no one.

What do you mean?

Seller files?

Really, Claire?

Hey, you know, this has more to offer you at the moment than the police. So,

know, I think you should show a little respect.

Okay.

Okay,

so the main consensus here is that there are three main suspects the police

didn't investigate thoroughly enough.

A Dr. Adrian Blake, who had been a physician to at least three of the

A Charles Mercer.

who was arrested for assault and is a registered sex offender.

He was never properly linked to the crime.

And a man known as the Trenchcoat, often seen by the housing complex near the

train tracks, somewhere near Smith and Pine.

Okay, well, it's not Dr. Blake.

He's dead, first of all. And I investigated him on my own for a long

Charles Mercer, I do remember him being convicted after I was abducted, but I

also remember seeing some news reports and I didn't think he looked like the

street boy physically.

Trenchcoat, I mean, as far as I know, he's as good as an urban legend.

Okay, so what do you want to do?

I mean, we could track down Mercer, see if there's a link in any way, or we

could just start roaming the streets of Smith and Pine, knocking on doors.

Do you know of anyone that could...

Help with that kind of information?

Matter of fact, I do.

You want to come?

Of course.

I just have to call my boyfriend really quick and let him know.

Then I'm all yours.

Okay. Okay.

Ethan. Hi, it's Alice Kerrigan. Oh, hi.

Look, I was hoping you could do me a favor.

Yeah, like I said last night, my hands are tied unless you can... No, I was

actually just hoping for some information.

Uh, on?

Charles Mercer.

Alice, what are you planning?

No, look, I'm just trying to get things straight in my head, okay? I know people

said that he could be the Strigoi, so...

You know, I just, I've never seen him in person. I thought maybe if I could see

him, even if just from a distance, then I could cross him off my list.

You know I can't give out personal information.

Oh, not even for a sex offender on the registry?

Any information.

I can't have you harassing old men playing chess in the park, Alice.

Now look, I hope you feel better. Get some rest.

Oh, he likes you.

What? He gave you that without even hesitating.

So that wasn't a metaphor?

Stanley Park has tables for chess.

Where old men play all the time.

Okay.

My, the mighty police officer.

I hope your sister moves quickly.

Your stamina is surprisingly lacking.

I think that's him.

What's wrong?

I don't know if I'm up for this.

What do you mean?

Well, it's just, I mean, I engage with this stuff online.

You know, from a distance.

I get it.

I won't be long.

Okay.

You go to the park to play in the sun, and God curses you with spectators.

No matter how beautiful.

Oh, I thought I was a little old for your taste.

Here I was having a nice day.

I can see that.

I'd like you to stand up.

And I'd like to have whiskey with my lunch, but my meds won't allow it.

Life's full of disappointments, Alice.

I know who you are.

You were in all the papers at one time.

Then you started writing about people like me.

Even mentioned me in an interview on a morning program.

Do you know why I'm here?

Research for a new book. Stand up.

No, you're not.

You're disappointed.

You know what? You're right. I am disappointed.

Because I'm angry. And it's because of people like you. I know.

The police blamed me for the abduction of the Smith girl. They had no evidence

because I didn't touch her.

They didn't care.

They took a closer look at me and found their evidence.

That body turned up in the place where I worked.

It was a little Italian place.

A locker room talk back then, the way the staff leered at the girls.

Do you think one of your co -workers killed her? I don't know, but I've had a

long time to think about it.

There were a lot of felons in that place, a lot of broken people.

The owner himself did time for violent outbursts.

He beat a boy half to death.

I really am sorry for interrupting you.

I didn't mean to make you relive all of this.

We're all products of what we've done.

It's always just beneath the surface anyway.

I guess you've got some experience researching crime.

Occupational hazard.

It's got to be different this time, though.

Yeah. Yeah, I just finished researching all of this for the book, but it's

definitely different this time.

There's something I want to show you I

Thought this was gone forever My parents gave it to

me for my eighth birthday from my grandmother He told me he loved

the way it looked on me and that I should never take it off So now I can't

figure out if it's a reminder of my parents Or if it is just tainted by him.

You should put it back on.

Really?

Yeah.

It's yours, isn't it?

May I?

Now, come on.

What were you thinking about Mercer? Right, yes. Okay, so nine -year -old

Smith is the first victim that we can tie to the Strigoi. She was out for

dinner. Then she was later found dead in the dumpster outside the Paradiso.

Which is where they found Mercer.

Exactly.

Who says his boss is a violent ex -con?

And it is very possible that the police missed something if they were looking at

the wrong guy.

So what do we do?

Talk to the owner?

You do.

And while you're doing that...

I will look at their employment record.

All these years, you're still perfect.

Hey, Alex, wake up.

Oh, back off.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry. I really, I thought I was past this.

Are you good?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm really sorry.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Are you coming?

Yeah.

Yeah, just give me one sec, okay?

Okay.

I spoke to the agency in New York, and they're interested.

Maybe we should give them something that will affect them.

We can have our headshot taken and maybe even win 500 bucks.

13, unsolved homicide.

Yeah, I cut ties with the people that are holding back.

What do we have to lose?

The girl who survived the Alina Thompson story.

Watch now.

Only on Lifetime.

Listen, I'm really sorry again.

Oh, don't worry about it.

That's how I wake up, too.

After you. Thank you.

We're on reduced lunch, so the menu isn't accurate.

Oh, well, that's not a problem.

We didn't come here to eat.

Great.

What are you selling?

Buying, actually.

Are you the owner? Why?

I represent a property development company, and we're interested in this

town.

Prices are down.

We're trying to buy up properties and build.

And you want me to give you my life's work for a song.

Get out. No.

Actually, we want to buy your life's work.

For above market value, before you get desperate and sell to one of our

competitors.

We're in early with the better deals.

Make sure we get the business.

I'll let you two talk.

I'll run to the restroom.

How much?

Well, we've already actually purchased three buildings on this block, and I

think you'd be pleased to know that they were all...

I'd be more than happy to run through the numbers with you. I think you're

impressed.

What are you two up to? Um, you know what? I think if you just sit...

Antonio is definitely not the Strigoi. I could tell just from looking at him.

Though apparently he did have a knee replacement surgery before I was

And Mercer just isn't him either.

So the Strigoi was taller.

Broader?

So he left this

with a note.

No handwriting.

Who did they say the manufacturer was?

Um, the company that I called said that it would have been that clay firing...

The old Wilson Foundry. Oh, sure.

Yeah, I remember that place.

Shut down ages ago.

They were over near the train tracks.

Paradiso only had 12 employees when Mercer was there.

One here named Stephen Gray. Guess where he lived?

A street down near the train tracks?

Hines Street.

Trench coat. Mm -hmm.

All right.

Let's go.

Okay, so if this goes south, you want me to let the air out of her tires?

No.

You were great back at the restaurant, but I do think we need to keep a

lower profile here.

Okay.

Charlotte? Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you there. No, it's

It's just a little too much coffee.

Are you Charlotte?

I'm Charlotte. We spoke on the phone. Oh, of course you are.

Oh, thank you so much for opening up for us on such short notice. Oh, it's my

pleasure. I've had this place on the books for a little while, just waiting

an interested buyer like yourself.

Now, she's not a lot to look at, a bit of a fixer -upper, but the bones are

great. Oh, and the zoning here is excellent.

So if you want to, you can just knock her down and build from the ground up if

you've got the chutzpah. Oh, my gosh, you're a riot.

That's what everyone says.

Like I said, we're just looking to set up workspaces for at least five of our

employees. I mean, possibly more. I mean, location, location, location.

Am I right? Essential to everything.

I can't wait to see the inside.

Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, let's go. Actually, you know what?

What's out back?

Oh, there's a garden back there, full of potential.

A few weeds you need to take care of, but I'll take you there next.

You know what? That's okay. Why don't you two head inside, and I'll just take

peek out back. Oh, I don't... You know what? You should let her go. She gets

creative ideas sometimes, and, well, it'll give us business people a chance

talk some numbers.

All right then.

Come on, Charlotte.

I think you're going to love it. So can you tell me a little bit more about the

neighborhood?

Our father may have taken our mom.

Dad, he's docking you.

Were you aware that your mom was in a fortune?

Is it true you buried your mother in your own backyard?

I didn't have anything to do with Monster.

I told you I'd be back for you, girl.

Monster and the Family.

The Stacey Kananen Story.

Available to stream October 12th. Only on Lifetime.

in the next five years. Oh, it should be amazing. And, well, that leads us back

to your colleague.

So nice. So thorough. Thank you so much.

Is everything okay?

Of course.

Yeah. My colleague is an avid gardener.

And, you know, if we're going to do this place up, we want to make sure she can

do it up right.

Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Okay.

Sure.

What do you think?

Could you just give us one minute?

Take all the time you need. Thank you.

So?

Yeah, so it's definitely his home.

Well, what did you find?

What I can only assume are his first few victims.

Cat skulls.

I stopped digging it, too.

Oh. It could be a pet cemetery, maybe. No.

No. I also found the shirt that Emma was wearing the night she was taken.

What?

I think he wanted me to find this.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure. Okay, okay.

So what do we do?

I mean, we can't just... Call up your police crush and have him run a

check on Stephen Gray. No.

There's a database.

Private detectives, they won't advertise it, but basically you can pay to have

access to information on people.

And you have access to this?

Research.

Okay.

Um, what about our doting real estate agent?

I have a feeling you can figure something out that will let her down

Yeah, okay.

I'll meet you out front, okay? Okay.

That house hasn't been sold in decades.

The same person has owned it from before he worked at the Paradiso.

Rebecca Gray, his mother.

And where is she now?

But then that third day, was it Friday?

Well, it doesn't matter.

That was the night that Rebecca really seemed to light up when we wheeled her

out.

She always loved playing bridge.

You're right.

She's a big card player.

But since that latest stroke, well, the smile doesn't quite leave the eyes, if

you know what I mean.

It's OK.

We were just passing through.

We just wanted to make sure she knew we were here.

I'm sure she'll appreciate that.

Shall we go see her?

Yeah.

Rebecca, look who's come to say hi.

Well, isn't this a lovely surprise?

We wanted to come say hi while we were in town.

Of course.

Well, I'll leave you girls to it.

Any issues, I'll just be in the office.

So, how are you?

You're my nieces, of course.

Yes. Yeah, we're actually here to talk about Stephen.

Oh, my darling boy.

Such a loving child.

Isn't he just?

You know, we were actually just at your house. We loved your rose garden.

I have always prided myself on my roses.

You know...

a few other things in your rose garden.

Seems your son had a bit of a grudge against the neighborhood cats.

What? My son didn't even know.

He always loved animals, always has.

I don't know why people were accusing him. Where is your son now?

Tonight?

Is it Thursday?

He helps at the veteran's soup kitchen every Thursday night.

Really? Of course. That's our Stephen. Always giving. So he's a philanthropist?

Always has been.

I'm sorry, dear. Whose daughter were you again?

One of Richard's nieces?

Yes. Oh, poor Richard. If only he could see who his son is now.

He always said Stephen was a soft boy.

He needed firming up around the edges.

I know it was hard on Stephen, but I think deep down he appreciated the

How did Richard firm him up?

What? Well, I mean, you know, the usual ways.

Such as?

Well, I mean, he taught him to fight.

Hmm.

How to throw a punch or how to take one?

Rebecca, how often was Richard beating your son?

Was it once a month?

Once a week?

Daily?

You want to talk about that?

When did Stephen start hitting back?

He never meant to hurt his dad. I know.

I'm sure he felt awful.

Couldn't bring himself to speak at the funeral.

He's coming back to get me.

He's coming back for me.

He's coming back for me.

He's coming for me.

He's coming back to get me.

He's coming back to get you. He's coming back to get me.

That's not what they told me.

You lied to me.

Stop right there. Oh, what's going on? You have to go now. They're on to us.

What?

Alice, what happened back there?

Where were you?

I stepped out. I had to call my boyfriend.

I thought we were going to be there for hours. That's why she was rambling.

It doesn't make any sense.

What?

Him trying to stop me?

He was the one who set me out on this hunt.

He's the one who taunted me to find out more.

Nothing to be expected.

My mother isn't talking.

No. I told you, she's not to have any visitors but me.

What?

Not so fast!

I don't question his decision.

I know exactly who he is and I'm going to tell everyone.

I am God's messenger.

I have a message for my father. Tell him I'm done.

Surviving My Father, The Rachel Jeff Story.

Watch now.

Only on Lifetime.

I told you he liked you.

Hey, you did good work today.

Catch your breath.

I've got some time tomorrow, if that helps.

Sure. Thanks.

I'll, uh, catch a cab up the street.

Tell me all about him tomorrow.

Evening, officer.

Alice.

Busy day?

Something like that, yeah.

Yeah.

There was a call to the station earlier, something about a misdemeanor theft at

an Italian restaurant.

Shocking. Did they make off with some pasta?

Staff records, actually.

You know, Mercer used to work there.

It's been a really long day, officer.

Detective, actually.

Detective.

And I would invite you in, but... But I'd have to decline.

Yeah.

Do you... Do you know a man by the name of Stephen Gray?

Can't say the name rings a bell, no.

I think I'm on to something.

He's worth looking into.

You know I can't just go looking into random citizens.

Yeah. Hey.

You doing okay?

Just really worried.

Stay here.

Stay here.

No, no, no, no. That's too long.

Get them here in ten minutes.

No. No sound of these saying where it is.

I am so sorry.

We obviously need to get some people here to recheck the place.

Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?

Alice.

It doesn't make sense.

Help me, but hinder me.

Look, we'll get some emergency accommodation set up for you, okay?

Cool.

Thank you.

The evidence on Stephen Gray remains inconclusive.

I know that he worked at the Paradiso around the same time as Charles Mercer.

And the murder of James Smith.

He lived on Pine Street with his mother, Rebecca, where he left me cat skulls

with Emma's T -shirt, which I can only assume was to taunt me.

But it leads me nowhere.

But everything started falling into place with Claire.

She was the one that brought up cellar files, which led us to Trenchcoat, then

Pine Street, then Rebecca.

I never asked her last name.

Kerrigan Karafan.

Okay, so she's a bit upset.

I started to put everything together last night.

Is that Emma?

God, you're not supposed to be here. You're not supposed to be here.

Look, Charlie.

No.

Charlie is dead.

Okay? Okay.

My name is Claire.

God, why do you have to be so perfect?

Claire, please.

Just stop.

No. All those years living in your shadow.

I'm sick of you.

Please, you don't have to do this. No, don't!

You don't know what I told you leaving did to him, okay?

How much he suffered.

All because of you!

Claire.

We're friends, you know that, right?

No, I'm his wife, you idiot!

Jeremy didn't have a...

ceremony to make it official. Okay, but I'm the one who's loved him.

Fed his desires for years in your absence.

I'm the one who cared for him when he first got here.

No!

You need to stay here.

You can come with me.

Good afternoon, ma 'am. License and registration?

Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

Where are you coming from today?

I'm sorry. I should have pulled over and I should have called for help, but my

phone, it wasn't working up there, but my sister is still there. It's okay.

It's okay. All right, just take a breath.

We're here to help you. You were swerving pretty badly back there.

I received a tip from your boyfriend.

He said that you had an argument, all right?

You would be under the influence.

No, no, no, no, that's the streak away. Can you call Detective Ethan Cole? He's

been helping me. We've been talking about this.

May I?

Yeah.

Your boyfriend said that you left in a hurry.

That you're prone to, uh, episodes. Does that sound about right to you? Officer,

you have to believe me. I don't even, I don't, I don't have a boyfriend. I don't

have a boyfriend.

Still with the vehicle, stand by.

Negative, Officer Carter.

All positions, detective inbound.

Copy that.

Okay, so I'm going to need you to stay in the car here and wait for a little

while. Can you do that for me?

Yeah.

Why are you doing this to us?

You're waiting for the police in your car, aren't you?

I imagine even if you haven't done anything, it must feel uncomfortable.

I remember that feeling, being interrogated.

The police thought I could give evidence to incriminate Dr. Blake.

They almost caught you?

They never...

Wait, wait, wait. Emma, please.

If you tell them where you...

I had a feeling I'd see you again.

You all right?

Rough call?

Yeah.

That's not fine.

Yeah.

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Who is Claire McIntyre?

You wouldn't believe me.

Try me.

Okay. A number of years ago, the police almost caught the street boy.

His name is Stephen Gray.

Since her abduction, Charlie Cooper has been with him, and she is going by the

fake name of Claire McIntyre.

That's a lot to absorb.

Do you have any evidence that supports this?

You said if I gave you something more that you could look into it further.

Yeah.

What can you tell me about Stephen Gray?

He worked at the Paradiso around the same time as Mercer.

His first victim was Jane Smith.

And he fits the description of the trench coat that's been circulating for

years.

Okay, what else?

Alice. Nothing concrete.

Alice, I can protect you.

Yeah, but you can't protect Emma.

I have given you something. Please.

Let me collect my thought.

Okay.

I will check in on you soon.

Okay.

Drive safe and go the speed limit.

It's a really high dose.

He's dying.

Thanks.

How convenient.

You have something I want, and I have something you need.

Alice.

Well done.

Claire told me you were sick yesterday.

I have the refill of your prescription here.

Blackmailing a sick man.

Your darkness is showing.

You're more like me than you realize.

I want my sister.

Deal. Meet me tonight.

Where? The rooftop garden at the top of the Lennox building.

Did you know this is an Eureka tree?

Sorry, what?

I've got more like it in my greenhouse.

Just like this one.

Even more beautiful.

And even more beautiful than this flower.

Do you want to see?

Let's get my parents.

They're going to meet us there.

Okay.

How dare you?

6 p .m.

Alice, everything okay?

Yeah, I have some more information for you and...

I could really use a favor from you and some colleagues that you trust tonight,

but I am playing this my way. Is that understood?

Not even a little.

Alice, tell me everything.

I think I have enough evidence for you to arrest this tree boy, but I need to

prioritize my sister, and I need your help watching over someone who is

currently tied up in the back of this car.

Why?

Who?

Charlie Cooper.

She's this tree boy's wife.

Stephen Gray was born to abusive parents on the wrong side of town.

His father tortured him. His mother enabled a cycle of pain and fear that

propel Stephen down a dark path.

But nurture is only part of the equation.

Stephen already displayed unusual tendencies.

One look at the missing pet posters around the neighborhood could tell you

In a bid to put himself in his father's shoes and show mercy on his victims,

Stephen began abducting young girls.

Hey, are you sure about this?

Yeah, I'm sure.

But every time, his father's voice in his head proved too strong, even after

Stephen killed him.

And every time, Stephen would burn through his victims and need to find a

replacement.

Where's my sister?

Right to business.

Stephen Gray was born to abusive parents on the wrong side of town.

I think you'd be quite proud.

It's very comprehensive.

Do you remember the day we first met?

There in this garden.

You were pretending to be the gardener.

And you were pretending to be a teenager.

Is that why you gave me a flower?

There was a black spot in the surveillance here.

I'd been watching you.

Your parents left you here often. They worked in this building.

And this was supposed to be a safe place.

But everywhere should be safe from people like you.

I did what you asked.

I looked into your life.

I think you'll find I've been quite generous in my interpretation.

But from what I can tell, a few pills aren't going to change what's happening

you.

You're not wrong.

Everyone who reads this story is going to know that you are a monster.

What was your point? Point?

Dear Alice...

is that the story lacks poetry.

What are you talking about?

Did you never wonder why I let you go?

Of course I did.

My story is your story, Alice.

You and I connected.

I had to let you go.

And as soon as I did, I regretted it.

Every girl I took since then was a poor reflection of you.

Just as every story you've written contains a reflection of me.

Where is my sister?

There's a note on my phone in my jacket pocket.

It details where she can be found.

I'll place it on the ground when we leave.

When you come with me Where I'll show you

No.

Our stories are linked.

They should end together.

Don't move, don't move, don't move!

Please, hey.

Sabrina needs to get hurt, okay?

I have stage four cancer, detective.

Hurt is a part of me.

Please.

Just let her go.

I did that once.

I won't make the same mistake twice.

I don't want to die alone.

Come with me, Alice.

A final chapter to our story.

Perhaps we'll find ourselves somewhere with white flowers.

It's over.

They can't hurt you anymore.

I can't imagine what it would have been like for you.

I've seen some pretty nightmare stuff in my years on the force.

People go through unimaginable trauma and I've been there to pick through the

pieces.

She's safe.

That was the hardest thing I've ever been through.

And you went through it.

But worse.

Longer.

And as a child, Alice, I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

It doesn't matter.

No. No, it's not okay.

I've been pushing you to just get over it.

I know it's still fresh for me, but I don't think I'll...

us don't define who we are.

Okay?

You know, the whole time, I just kept thinking to myself, what would

Emma do if it were me?

And that is exactly what I did.

All right.

Let's do one last look into the tree line, all right?

I'm not interrupting.

It's okay.

We did a sweep of the property.

There's evidence of other incidents, but no one else here.

Looks like they were the only two.

Emma, when you're back on your feet, I'll give you a full debrief. And Alice,

think it'd be good for us to speak again as well.

I have your number.

I'll give you a call.

Like that.

Stephen Gray may have died, but his actions left scars that kept the street

alive.

Dear Charlie, I don't even know how to start this letter, but

I feel like we have so much to talk about.

It's a start.

Thanks for cooking.

Of course.

Looks delicious.

Eat up. We spent months unraveling the truth.

Not of a shadowy figure, but of a broken boy whose pain

turned to cruelty.

Here you go. Thank you for coming.

We had both lived it. Thank you for coming.

And together, we wrote the ending.

By reclaiming this story, we made sure we would be his final victims.

Hi. Hey.

Everyone, this is Charlie Cooper, co -author of this book.

Why don't you sit down?

Thanks. Thanks for coming.