Chapter 5: The Hollow Truth

I don't think so. I'm just trying to process. It's gonna be Okay, Take Can you tell me what happened? I heard entire squealing, but I couldn't really see the car. By the time I got to him, he was in the road, all bent and bloody. Damn it, I'd warned him, got too close. What he was a good cup, a bit of an opportunist, but the best partner right had in years. You hang around here long enough, you know the type. They either move on to bigger cities with

bigger challenges, or burnout fast. Jake. He wanted to correct this case so badly. I wanted to be the hero, but this lid killer isn't just a crazy person, It's an infection on this tab. All right, let's clear this scene. Hine was one of ours people. Let's do right by him. It's over, it's all ending. I'm tig Torres and this is lethal lit. Detective Lehane, our one friend in the police department, is now dead. But if you've been listening to this podcast, you know his death was no random accident.

Lehane was run over by the lip killer, which means we've lost our only supporter inside the police department, just as the murderer is starting to evolve. In the original killings, the books or clues left at a crime scene would point back to the murder itself, But this time he called it in advance, dropping clues about the Great Gatsby to us. In Lehane before the murder. Was he taunting us, showing off that he knew exactly how we'd react, how Lehane would try to take matters into his own hands.

M it's in these dark moments that people have to step up. I know Aunt Beth did. She just didn't have anyone she could count on. If she had, she would have made it to the finish line and solved this. I feel like I'm so close to cracking the case. I just need that one last break to figure it out. It's so frustrating. Everything in Hollow Falls is on lockdown. I'm at home on suggested bedrest. Detective Carver had me checked out at the hospital, but they said I just

needed sleep. In the last twenty four hours, my friends and I have been terrorized, injured, and kidnapped. Max and I both survived and encounter with the lip killer, while Detective Lahane did not. So Needless to say, Detective Carver isn't letting any of us out of her sight, not even Ella. If we want to meet, we've got to slip past the black and white it's stationed outside our houses. But the upside of being in solitary lots more time to think, and two things stick out. First, the murder

of Detective Lehane was rushed. The lid killer only had time to make the broad strokes, no note, no elaborate staging. Is he worried because we're getting close to catching him or is it just part of a more complex plan? La Um, what's up? Is everything? Okay? I'm in the middle of recording the podcast. I know how he boards and it is do you mean? But lunch is on the table and I don't cook for ghosts. Okay, I

made your favorite. I'll be down in a few minutes. Okay, remember what the police lady said, did he the the energy around us? He's dark? The flock is so sick. You have to rest the care of yourself. I get it be down soon. Stop please, all the murdered talk when there's really nice, as I was saying. Second thing that sticks out now that I've basically memorized all of the ant Bath tapes, I know they cover most of the victims Amudola, del Canto, Senior Wosniac, except for one

there's a missing death. But um, check this out. I've listened to these tapes more times than St. Vincent's latest, and I'd never heard this before. Benefits of spacing out and leaving the file playing until the end by Ray Bradberry. That's important. But the pieces aren't adding up, and as usual, I'm running at a tape. Sam, if you hear this, I go down. This is on you. I'm counting on you to finish this in the event that I can't.

Fahrenheit is a major clue. Why Well, in all the books my aunt mentions in our tapes, each one is lined up with a victim except for this one. So why would she name drop just the Bradberry book here? Because it was a message to herself and to her only other hope, her partner, Sam Steiner. If we're missing a piece to this puzzle, there's a good chance hollow Fall's favorite ba lt loving hermit might have it. Sorry,

Ailauroavia will have to wait. I've got a craving for some old school diner food dig We've been sitting here for like yours, I feel gray hairs forming when and I are outside the Star of Diner entering our three of our steakout. We managed to ditch our security detail. Aboila and her homecooked food make for the perfect distraction. So now we're sitting here and when's Mom's car? Hoping for another glimpse of our elusive bigfoot, Sam Steiner, So when are we going to talk about you and ali

um the day after never? We're on a steak out here. We don't have time to like gossip tig. We're on a steak out. We've literally got nothing but time to kill. Are you uncomfortable talking about having sex with Ali? What? WHOA? No? Just I'm gonna be real with you, Tig. I like you. At first. I thought I got a vibe off of you. But what kind of vibe? Like good into chicks vibe? You get that right? Some people are gay? Of course I get that. I'm from New York. I know all

types of people. Okay, sure you really got that vibe off of me that I was into girls. It doesn't matter girls boys, by pan, that's your business to figure out. All I'm saying is if you're feeling Ali, that's cool. If you're just into dudes, also cool. But if you're confused about whether you're into girls, yeah, I'm here to help. Um. I don't really know what to say to all that, but I guess thanks. When a tig rull in your window? Oh ah, hey Sam, honey, running into you here? Get

up follow me. After our pulse rates returned to normal, Sam led us to his trailer, which is the place you live when you don't want anyone to ever visit. He offered us some tea, which we hoped would come with a side of more tea. I saw you guys hovering outside the diner hours ago. I was wondering when you would get the guts to come to me directly. What you were playing hard to get, unstoppable when there was something or someone she was after. She was like

a machine, steely, I'd focus. She set up all these clues for us to follow, each of which has led back to one of our tapes. I know she was pointing me in a direction for a reason, but I'm just not sure which vague notes and clues an easy roadmap to follow? MO that that that doesn't sound like that style. I get that she's probably your hero, and you've put around this this pedestal bit. What are you trying to accomplish by just following along? Are you bringing

anything if your own to the table. Why are we talking to this guy again? You're full of it, Sam. I know I'm not my Aunt Beth, And yeah, maybe following her clues looks like I'm just retracing her steps. But what's your excuse? Why do you give up? There's another tape, isn't there? Who told you that? It's the only explanation for the gap in Aunt Beth's narrative? And like you said, she's not the type to leave loose ends. Maybe I was quick to judge you. After all, the

best reporters pushed through. They they learn what to do when their investigation hits a roadblock, the backtrack. Right. So, my aunt mentions the book Fahrenheit for early on as one the killer used for inspiration. But yet none of the six murders include her own line up with that book, which makes me wonder if there's still another tape and another murder out there, and if there's anyone who could have it, it's you. In your research, so far have

you come across the name Anna Killedean. I've held onto this for a decade since that day. Let it go there to the crossing alone? Where were you that night? I was a desk jockey, the reporter who could work the phones. I was a writer. I wasn't the guy to pound the pavement. I mean that, that's why we made such a good team. I wanted to help, but there's no way I could follow into that place. It

just wasn't me out. He was just scared. So what if she was such a good friend of his and her was in danger, then why didn't you want me to explain myself to you? Here? Take the tape, do something with it. When Sam handed me the tape, I felt an electric shock. This could be the key to everything. My aunt Feth wasn't killed because she was annoying the lip killer. She was killed because she was close to

figuring out who they were. And the only other person who knew how close she got was Steiner, who's here hiding evidence in his dingy cave just because he never had the courage to take the next step. So let me get this straight. You've had this tape all along and didn't tell anyone. You didn't think it could be useful to solving her more. I listened to it, I did research, even talk to people interested in the case to who the Murder of Crows? So you know about

the group? Yeah, yeah, I mentioned a few, but about what was on there to some of them. I did as much as I could, but I couldn't crack it, and I couldn't give it to the cops. They would have just buried it. So I said on it. I'm not your aunt. Take I'm not made up of the same stuff as she was. But you people are already listening to you. You've created a movement with that podcast of yours. And you put that to good use. That's why you should have it. That's such a cop out, dude.

So who else knows about this tape? Anyone else besides the crew? I don't think so, And what I told them was too vague to really pass on to anyone else. I do know that Beth was seeing someone off and on at the time of her death. But and Beth had a secret hook up when No, Seriously, this is a big clue. What if she was Pillow talking Sam? What did she dish to you about her man? Look, she was my friend, but tib Beth kip those parts of her life very prevant. Well, we can figure out

the logistics of my aunt's social life later. So that's it. You remain here in your hideout while you let other people do the dirty work for you. Again, it's not like that, and come with us, help us. This is your chance to help us catch this killer. You owe it to my aunt Bath. What do you want from me? Nothing's changed. I'm still same scared piece of crap I was ten years ago. Okay, I can't help you. Do you want my blood on your hands too? I think it's about time you two left. I didn't have time

to hold Steiner's hand. I needed to know where he stood. Either he was helping us or he was holding us back. It was time to move on without him. And then finally we listened to the long lost tape and everything changed. It's the end of the road for the lit Killer. All of the clues he's been leaving up until now, the literary references, the obnoxious messages, the choices of victims. They've painted him into a corner. Anna kill Dean is

the key. The exceptions always proved the rule. Killed Dean's been listed as missing for weeks and shame Army. I never considered her part of the case. She didn't fit the victim profile until I was reading over some of Steiner's notes and came across her photo and realized I've met her before. Our connection, the person we both knew and common sent a chill through me. The call sealed it, her voice, the fear echoing through the line. It has to be her. I know what I have to do now,

I know where I need to go. Before we could process what we'd heard, the lit Killer reared has left uphead again. Just take a listen to Ali's message. Take It's me, it's alwis listen. Ella is missing. She was here at the hospital with us checking in on Max, if you can believe it. But now she's gone, and Carver's piste about you, and when slipping away to take there was another clue left here. So if you could

get yourself down here, I need to see you. I need to see that you're safe, and seriously would have killed you to answer your freaking phone when and I are walking back into Hollow Falls General ready to reconvene with the here you are. What the hell happened? Allie? How did elegant? I don't know. We were just in here chilling with Max, and she stepped out and then she was gone. I hate that. I'm now worried about her. Is Max? Still? I'm still here a girl. Don't worry

about me. These men's are killing my focus, though, So don't be offended if I is so down. Can we really trust Carver's guards if they couldn't even keep an eye on one blonde girl who never shuts up, it's a fair question. I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I shouldn't have let anyone wander off alone. But you know, Ella, she's so irritating, and she just keeps talking. So it's not your fault, Dolly. You said you found something, a clue. Well, the cops snagged the actual clue, but I managed to

take some pictures of this book. Joseph Conra has a heart of darkness. One of the pages was marked, and this passage was highlighted. Here let me scroll, yeah, here. But his soul was mad being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself, and by Heavens, I tell you, it had gone mad. I don't know what that's supposed to mean. But of course there's also another freaking note. I took a picture of that too. Give me your phone. I'll read it. Yeah, give her your phone. The news Titans,

and it requires your attention. Take no cops, no high school newspaper cronies. Ass Finales are for heroes and villains. If you have truly succeeded where your aunt failed, you'll know where to go. If not, did anyone much care for the mayor's daughter? Anyway? He's taunting me, goading me to see if I can figure out his stupid clues, if I can measure up to my aunt Beth. Take you don't have to do. I know where to go. Okay,

so we'll go now. The lid killer made it clear I can't bring friends or the police, and I can't put you guys at risk like I did Max. Distract the guards as long as you can. Okay, I'm going in alone. No, No, you're not. Sam, creepy diner, dude, brute, smelling flesh. I need to square things with you with Beth. I can't sit back and let everything happened around me. All right, let's roll, Sam, you're with me. I'll fill

you in on the way. How are you going to get past our new BFFs out there on a guard by the elevator. Hey, no, you won't let us come with you, but you'll let this guy. Ambeth trusted him. He was a old partner, now he's mine. No, this is total b s. We were your partners. Ohly, we can't let her do this. No, no one asked me, But this plan could totally use some work. The liad

killer said, no, friends, no police. He doesn't know Sam's back in play, so technically I'm still going on his terms, just with backup, which is more than my aunt had. Come on, Sam, let's go I'll call you guys when we have something. Remember, distract and delay. Heart of Darkness is about obsession, mental nous, and the quote unquote differences between civilized people and savages. The main character, Charles Marlowe, is a dude dealing in ivory who's headed down the

Congo River. If you haven't read the book, it's also kind of like that movie Apocalypse Now And if you haven't seen that either, I guess just think about what it would be like to go on a trip to meet up with a guy whose mental state was a question mark. My detective work has brought us to the Silko River, which empties out into Lake Deloia, a once popular camping site. I figure, if we have any hope of finding Ella, it'll be here. I didn't think we'd

be taking a through the woods exactly. Well neither did I. But I think following the Silko will get us to where we can. Oh God, what was that? I don't know? Come on, hello, are you there? Wait till phone. No, it's it's a what you're talking She's close. Let's go. After following Ella's voice for what seemed like an eternity, we came across a cabin, Ella, are you in here? It's tig We can hear you. Look, there's a closed door at the end of the hall there. Hello, we

got you, We're here. Help me on t That worked through. That's how curse died. Heart of Darkness. The memory flooded my mind as we worked to free Ella. My dad and Aunt Beeth discussing Heart of Darkness over dinner one night with aboila how the school had just voted to ban it. My aunt she had a friend, a teacher who had included the novel in his curriculum. Anyway, Okay, free's let's get out of here. Someone's coming. Can you carry Ella? All the clues had been right in front

of us. I missed them. Aunt Beth missed them. Sam missed them. Who else was in that murder of Crow's Club with you? Sam? Not a lot of people had blood cantil kids, Highsmith. Who else he's been here in this time? This is the place? He need us? Take Get behind me, No, get Sam, run, Jake Ellen. Sam. I'm Darbings in email for you. The last time we talked, I said some words I didn't mean and I'm not mad at you. Okay, I'm sorry I understand you want made for this. If you get this and I haven't

heard from me, I love you too, Sam. You're part of my family. I don't please send my love to Mamma and my brother and my sweet niece Tig. I hope this is just no a dramatic paranoia. But if there's a chance I can save someone, save Anna, Killdean, I have to try. I hear you. I know you're still out there. No running off after this murder? H Harry? Do you mind if I call you Harry or do you prefer Mr Levinson? Always the former? Thank you for asking. I think it's high time you and I had words,

don't you. On the next episode of Lethal Litt where where we were meant to be, tack tauris poor young girl was so tormented by her owns tragic field that

she's driven to madness. Einhorn's Epic Productions and I Heart Radio present Legal Lynton, a tig Torres mystery created an executive produced by Heather Einhorn and Adam Staffaroni, written, created and executive produced by Alex Sagura and Monica Gallagher, Directed by J. B. Block, Produced by A Rupe Senna Kayla, Chris Peterson and Sandy Smallen's art by Rebecca Mock, Creative direction and design by Ryan mccamn, with performances by Rebecca Silaire,

J B. Block, Matt Gumley, Paul Guide, Jennifer Giles, Rachel Orum, Land, Alba Ponsteleone, Shelley Shnoy, Luke Flattery and Gil Artino. Post production supervisor Michael Sinterer, Nicholas, recording engineer and dialog editor Michael Schneider, mixer Michael Sinterer, Nicholas, sound designer Justin Koehler, composer Jared Faber, Creative consultant Monique Chavez, studio manager Clark Chang, Production coordination Gail Artina and Laura Martin, Production assistant Rachel

Slotsky and Francesca Collo. Recorded at Navy Post in New York City, featuring the song's Jupiter performed by Donna Missel courtesy of Harvest Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises.

And Guardian Alien performed by Dana Williams, written by Dana Williams s C, s A C and Aaron Fenning s E. S A C. Courtesy of the Royalty Network, Inc. On behalf of Smig's song ascap Captus Pallace s C. S A C and Dana Williams Letha litt A Take Torre's Mystery is a protect auction by Ironhorn's Epic Productions for I Heart Radio had to Take Tourist dot com to share theories, discover new evidence, and follow case updates. For more information, visit Einhorn's Epic Productions dot com