Rainfall coated the dark lonely streets of Lamplight South Carolina like an unrelenting barrage. In the darkness the flickering neon light of the local coffee shop shone as a beacon in the obsidian void. An uncomfortable silence hung over the town threatening to choke the life from its brick and mortar.

Sebastian opened the aged plastic and glass door. A bell sounded at his arrival alerting the store's small crowd of patrons. The proprietor of the shop placed down a mug and dish rag and turned to face him. “What can I get you sir?” Sebastian eyed the long list of available varieties and flavours of coffee. It was surprisingly extensive for a small town store.

“I'll take a flat white. Two sugars. And a moment of your time.” The grey haired man behind the counter perked up his ears as he poured the prepared coffee. “You got a warrant? Most obvious big city cop ive ever seen.” Sebastian pulled out his wallet and showed his badge. Its chromed metal glinted in the store's light.

“There somewhere private we can talk?” Sebastian leaned forward placing his arm on the counter. “Everyone hears everything in this town anyway boy. Might as well tell the masses!” a chuckling voice of an older man came from behind him. “Names Jim. I've lived in this town since your grandpappy was in diapers." Sebastian smiled and grabbed his takeaway cup.

“I wanna ask about a young boy called Kevin Williams.” in a moment the shop fell deathly silent. Every member of the congregation looked at Sebastian with a blank stare. Jim kicked out the vacant chair opposite him. “Sit down detective. No one has said that name since before my brother died. Sepsis, couldn't get to a hospital in time." Confused at the mention of the man's brother, Sebastian sat in the open seat.

“I sense I've struck a nerve.” The patrons of the shop began to return to their prior conversations as the owner pulled up a third chair. “We don't talk about him. See what happened to him shook this town to the core. See he was raised by Chief Williams. By all accounts a good boy. He even worked here for a spell. He died when a shooter bombed part of the local high school.” the store owner ran his palms over his chin as he spoke.

“See the boy always had a sense of justice inherited from his adoptive father. He learned there was a shooter and went to stop him. Shooter went after Doctor Brenner, the schools councillor. Luckily the good doctor wasn't there but Kevin had been seeing him. He musta wanted to protect his friend." The man wiped a small tear from his eye with his thumb.

“You getting all sentimental now Forest? Boys got to of been gone for five years now. Detective your best bet is to talk to the cops down at the station. Hell if you can get hold of Chief Williams. Maybe see if you can get to Doctor Brenner down at the school too. I hear he's still there. There's a nice memorial outside. Wouldn't hurt to pay your respects.” Jim interlocked his fingers and sat back as the detective noted down names.

Finishing the last drags of a cigarette Sebastian read the memorial plaque embedded in the entryway of Lamplight high. “This plaque is to commemorate the life of Kevin Williams. Taken too soon. Forever in our hearts” he chuckled to himself. From everything he had learned Kevin had caused a good amount of trouble for the school. Their tributes were born of idyllic recollections.

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Entering the lobby he was greeted by a young dark skinned girl sitting behind a desk. Too young to be working. Obviously doing this role for extra credit. “Excuse me, I'm here to see Doctor Brenner. The counsellor. I called ahead. Detective O’ Brian?” the girl shuffled through a collection of notes and after much head scratching plucked one out. “Oh yeah I remember. Down the hall here and to the right. He's got this huge wooden door to his office. It stands out from all the others.”

With a nod Sebastian walked by. Pacing down the corridors he eyed the many posters aligning the walls “Kimberly for student president” “joe for student president don't vote for Kimberly” “chess club in the IT lab after school Thursdays.” he grumbled at his own memories of the tedium of high school. His gift had never caused him to be popular. People don't like when you divulge their every secret through a small hunch.

Passing the classrooms filled with lethargic students barely staying awake through the monotony of education Sebastian came to a large out of place solid oak door. Its adornments would not look out of place in a stately manor. As he reached up a hand to knock the latch on the door clicked open.

“Hello detective. C'mon in'' entering the room Sebastian bore witness to tall roof high bookcases adorning each wall. The room's stately charm matched that of its entryway stone faced from behind a large wooden desk, a thin man clad in a shirt and black suspenders. His sunken eyes added to the scowl that adorned his face.

“Doctor Brenner I presume? I was hoping you could help me with a couple questions about one of the kids you used to see.” Sebastian flipped open his note book and clicked the end of his pen. “You’re here about young kevin. Patient doctor confidentiality means I can't tell you much but that all depends on you detective." Surprised at the counsellor's knowledge of his intentions Sebastian chuckled slightly to himself.

“Now I'm always open to helping the police detective. But why bring young Kevin up after all this time? You know something?” the counsellor slicked back his light grey hair as he leaned forward intrigued. “They never found a body, did they Doctor Brenner? That section of the school got bulldozed after it collapsed but they never found him right?.

“They never found his body or the body of the shooter. Officer William’s report stated that Kevin was indeed there and he was attempting to stop the shooter when the section of the building collapsed. Tell you the truth I don't think Kevin’s dead.” the counsellor frowned and stood up from behind his desk. “That boy gave his life to protect his fellow students. We should all be so lucky to go out the same way detective.”

“There was something else. Prior to Kevin’s ‘death’ I was fresh on the force. As a beat cop I responded to a number of calls for bodies found all over the county.” the counsellor smiled as he placed his hands on his hips “now with that one i think you should be talking to Chief Williams. Not my area of expertise.” Sebastian flipped away his notebook and stood.

“These deaths started out mundane but as they progressed they became more and more gruesome and unexplainable. These deaths started right after Kevin started seeing you. First victim was even a member of the school's staff. Paul Anderson the sports coach.” the counsellor scoffed at Sebastian's words

“Kevin was a troubled boy that's to be sure but just what are you trying to imply detective?” The counsellor's frown grew more furrowed as a feeling of dread began to grow in Sebastian’s chest. “The killings stopped after he ‘died’” the counsellor stared intensely into the young detective's soul.

The door to the room swung open revealing a corridor full of students walking to their next class. A young girl stood waiting outside. “If you will excuse me detective, I have a student to see. I can't help you with your questions. Talk to Chief Williams down at the station. We do not need to see each other again.” The man's serious tone had completely erased any trace of his southern accent. It was fake. Likelihood it had never been real. #

The Officers at the Lamplight police station had yielded little help. They had, however, in their incompetence let slip the location of Chief Williams’ home. A remote cabin so far out in the woods outside of town that it had no zip code. The Chief had to have his reasons for being so remote.