Chapter 6: The Crossing

Hollow Falls High history teacher and talent newspaper advisor Harry Levinson is the maniac behind the murders that rock this town a decade ago, as well as the new wave that hit just as I arrived. Who killed and framed my aunt Beth Torres the one person who got close to cracking the case. Good news, right, Not exactly, Sam Steiner, my aunt's partner, and I trekked out to this desolate cabin in the hopes of rescuing the mayor's daughter, Ella

high Smith. Instead, we're trapped with Levinson and his creepy old bird mausoleum. From what little I can see in the dark, we're surrounded by stuffed birds and avian skulls. It's horrible. So this is how it ends for me and Ella? While Sam, poor Sam is bleeding out on the floor. It's over, Levinson. Don't you realize that this is the final act? We are aware we were meant to be a trres You're better for me as the original lid killer, and now you frame as the new legier.

Poor young girl so tormented by her aunt's tragic fault that she's driven to madness. Sam, just stay put, I'll get us out of this. How sweet Death's old, spineless partner finally sheds his cowardly skin to be reborn a hero, dead hero Still, Sam, I thought I've been fairly clear in my note tig no sidekicks, Sam, I'm so sorry. Steiner is dead. Ella's fever is ramping up. The convulsion should start soon, and then well it'll just be the two of us. So why just the one live bird?

What is that a pigeon? That's clearly a dove. I'm thinking of naming her tat Over there, that's Anthony the Falcon. Next to him is Jake the Sparrow. And that porcelain owl over there that's my favorite of the entire collection. That's you named your dead birds after your victims. Of course I did. We're all one big, happy family. Here a collection of my greatest stories. But alas, it's time for this sequel to conclude. Just one bird left to go. You tried your best kick, but there can be only

one Beth, and you, my dear, are not her? How's your Shakespeare? Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight? It's a fellow, right, good, good, that's right, my young faces Temona, What do you, tig? Really? If you got the quote, you don't need me to explain further. It's time for the curtain to fall. What did you mean that there can only be one best? How well did you know her? Of course I knew her well. I had to put on the act when we spoke, didn't I the helpful,

kind hearted teacher? But it was all smoking mirrors. You remember the mirrors, don't you take it? She still figured it out, she knew it was you. Let's not give her too much credit. She got as close as I wanted her to get, even if she disrupted my plan. I had my own contingencies, hence the romance. Oh, Tig, didn't you know I wasn't just your aunt Beth's occasional confidante. No, no,

we were much more than that. If things went over differently, you might even be calling me Uncle Harry right now. Romance connects us all my day. Why, Vincent? Why kill all these people who cares about the white tig? You, of all people should know the world is full of dark and explicable things. It's time to end this, and I need to pose you just right. These presentations can be so time consuming. I thought you'd at least have some grandiose reason behind all of this. If not, what's

the point? Killing for nothing just puts you on the same level with all the other aesthetic They were fools, each and every victim, from Mary Wazni after Sam Steiner, who's still inching towards Rigamortis right over there. They were all fools. I've spent years as a thankless teacher at that god forsaken school. My first few semesters they even had you teach remedial English. Can you believe it? Me? I have master's degrees in eighteenth century British literature and

European history. Sure I had blemishes on my record, But had they bothered to ask I explain the new here I was forced to perform for kids who were guaranteed to flunk out anyway. Well, Leanderthals couldn't care less about the significance of the Count Shell and Lord of the Flies, or the dramatic differences between Shakespeare's tragedies and histories. No, they just wanted to have sex, get high, and skip class. But they were pawns in my own grand story. I

gave their insipid lives meaning purpose. They weren't just zombies shambling through life anymore. They were people, characters with beginnings, middles and brutal, memorable endings and mean I was the writer. So what they didn't care about the work I was trying to teach them. That's fine. They had no choice in the matter. And you know what, my dear take there was a hello story, bloody, gruesome, full of twists and double crosses. Beggins would have been proud you are thick?

Am I sick? Or am I the cure? I took out each and every one of those super rats, one by one, and all the while, no one except Beth came even close to finding out what I was up to. But even she was so, so very easy to manipulate a little Sherlocke and crusade trude quite acic. I could appreciate her romantic gesture at the very end if she could change me, But that didn't dampen the wave of pleasure. I felt well shooting them without her take, really throwing

things around like some irate oddler in here. Sometimes, despite your best intentions, you turn into the teen scream queen, especially when you think someone's about to drag you to the trash. What get away from her? Loving Oliver? How nice to see you get a knife? No, no, you caught me, you little ingreat. What were you thinking? This is one of your comic books, Oliver? You're not there? Oh no, just your dumb owl statue. Beware, for I

am fearless and therefore powerful. How's that for a literary reference, Harry, way to come to my rescue? Well, I didn't really get to save the day. Are you okay? I don't think I'll ever be okay again, But in that moment, there was hope, hope that this was all over. Carver and the cops stormed in a few seconds later, paramedics right behind. They took Ali and La to get some much needed medical attention. It was too late for Sam Ali showing up when he did really made for the

perfect distraction. And now, at last it felt like we were getting to the end of this whole mess. The men who killed my aunt Beth was now finally going to jail. The news of Levinson's capture spread fast. The lip killer had been revealed and it wasn't Beth Torres. The haters got quiet, the conspiracy freaks felt validated, and I, well, I don't know how. I felt tired, unsure, but hopeful. This is Sarah Parks w h f Z News reporting live.

Police have confirmed that Hollow Falls High teacher Harry Levinson has been arrested and will be charged in the recent lit killer murders, including that of former Ledger reporter Sam Steiner. Local teens tig Dores and Ella high Smith, daughter of Mayor Highsmith, were found alive at the scene. Authorities the loss of Sam that was a tough one. I didn't get to know the guy all that well, but he risked his life to save me. His death felt like like another piece of my aunt Beth was now lost

to me. But I did what I set out to do. I think Aunt Beth would be proud and well, she can rest easy now you know I did this for her, for my family. The Tora's name has been cleared. After all the post arrest insanity and after Ali got out of the hospital with his knife wound bandaged up, we all reconvened at a Boila's house. This murder game is officially over. I still can't believe it was Levinson all along. How are you guys taking it? You knew him way

better than I did. I am all about that rear view mirror and putting his toxic acid in it. He just I mean, I thought we knew the guy. You know. For now, I'm all about repressing the negative and celebrating with my awesome. I was so focused on catching the lick Killer that I didn't think about what we'd do after, or if there'd even be an after. Skip this moby track, tig For the love of God, everyone, we beat the

lick Killer. Damn straight, we did, and we'll also you know, class over that hole me having a crush on to Okay, here's to Tick, who made it all happy. Yeah, cheers take Here's to you guys for being there when I really needed you. We did this together. No, no, no, of all of us, tig you are allowed to take the most credit, Drew. We all risked life and limb some of us more than others. But because of you, we brought down a mass murderer. Yeah, and you get

to have the biggest I told you so. He rolled into the talent office and told us what you were gonna do, and you did it. Proved your aunt's innocence. That's so sick tick. He's right, TI did it. Thanks guys, it go ahead and order the pizza. I'll be back in a few I really wanted to celebrate with them, but I just couldn't, not yet, not while something was still missing. That new tape that Sam gave me saved us in more ways than one. But there are some

things that are still bugging me. I think it's time we talked about the victim that brought us here in the first place. Beth torres here. She is on that final tape, just a few hours before her death. I'm about to head out to the crossing, but wanted to record this before I hit the road. I'm not sure I can handle driving and talking at the same time. Honestly, the lead killing referenced fahrenheit in that first note, So if this is his last kill all involved some serious flames.

That dystopian novel features a lot of burning books, and the Crossing seems ripe for a forest fire. Mr bothered by that call from Anna Killdean calling for help, afraid for her wife, I have to go. I have to save her if I can. That night, Anna kill Dean had managed to briefly escape Levinson and get word to my aunt Beth that she was being held somewhere near a super creepy place called the Crossing. Aunt Beth didn't hesitate to try and rescue her, and that was what

led to her death that night. That's the last recording I have of her. So I'm we're done. We've listened to everything. What are you still recording for? Hey? Come celebrate with us. I can't yet. I feel like I'm missing something like this woman who called my aunt on the night she died. Who was she? She was important enough for Steiner to mention her, and on this tape, my aunt Beth said, person, take not your aunt, tag, I got you the pineapple pizza, Travis. Do you wanted?

How's it going in here? Trying to get her out of podcast mode. I have to make peace with my aunt in my own way. Okay, okay, in taken, I'm supposed to check in with the nurse about my stitches. Anyway, I'll catch up with you later. Sure, what's still bugging you about this? Do you remember the name Anna killed Dean? What my aunt said on Sam's tape? Who was she? I don't know. What do you want to do? I'm not sure. I don't want to be a drain on

everyone's fun, but this is really important to me. You know, I'll know when it's done. After destroying a few pizzas, we decided to reconvene at the Star Diner for some caffeine and evidence analysis. Just take an Okay. I didn't piece all this together until I real listened to my aunt Beth's final recording for the hundredth time. Just give us the bad already. I'm having major caffeine withdrawal, all right. My aunt Beth name dropping Fahrenheit for one stuck with me.

So I compared the evidence from her death to the others. The sense I got was that Levinson was in a hurry. He hadn't fully planned for Beth to show the handwritten note versus a typed one. The evidence of her being killed at the scene as opposed to being moved the Shakespeare reference instead of Bradberry. M hmm. The lig Hiler was usually so meticulous. This felt rushed and random. Then I pulled up a police report about a burn Jane Doe. Now I know I was right about what Anna Killed Dean.

I feel like that name should mean something to me? And yet, yes, can I get an ice soy latte with two splendors? Sorry to continue? Anna Killdean was the woman my aunt Beth tried to save the night she died. Turns out they knew each other. Anna called Aunt Beeth while she was running from the lid killer from Levinson to ask her for help. Jesus. Obviously she didn't make it in time. But unlike all the other victims, Anna

Killdean is still technically missing. But I dug around, and about six months after my aunt Beth's murder, there are police records that point to an unidentified woman who was found dead in the school library of a town about two miles from here. A tiny bird called gray Malkin. Anyway, the woman's body was burnt beyond recognition, So she that body must have been Levinson's Fahrenheit four. Still you think that's a little bit of a stretch. I did until

I read the report Black Covee. Okay, so what I really asked for was crema package around the table by the ketchup if you want to get fancy yolo and all that. Oh God, this place is the best. So the report, what did it say? The here? Check out this part. The victim appears to have died from self immolation, Forensic evidence around the body suggesting she poured a nearby canister of gasoline over Did they really think someone would

do that to themselves to keep reading? Also found near the body, it was a charred paperback book, badly damaged. A few interior pages remained legible despite the fire damage. The book was a copy of Rape Bradberry shaheits with one. In the novel, the old Woman sets herself on fire. Wait? Wait? What so the cops just thought this woman was having a little speculative fiction binge before setting herself on fire?

Didn't they watch the news? The detective on the case, guy named Murray Lambsman, was a few weeks from retire meant he did the bare minimum and walked away. So Levinson burned her to death. Horrible. Okay, so it's another disgusting murder, which apparently is just another day around here. I mean, it totally sucks. But why should we care about her? She was debate. The lip killer used to drain my aunt, just like he used ella debate me. And after my aunt died the lip killer stopped. He

went underground for a decade. So she's the Kaiser says that, like we know what that? Yes, exactly, she's the missing link. But it's not just that she was different. She wasn't a remedial student. She was a grown woman, divorced, lived a rough life on the fringes of society. She didn't grow up in Hollow Falls, meaning she didn't go to Hollow Falls high not your typical lit killer victim. What made Levinson veer off course to killer? And why? So?

Not done? Damn it? I knew that celebration pizzas too hasty, So then what's our plan? Honestly there is no plan, But I know what I need to do right now to put this case to bed. I need to go to the crossing and say goodbye to my aunt. Beth alone. Uh is this really the best time? How old? She needs closures? She needs closure? All right, you're right, you're right. Do what you gotta do for you, and then we'll

reconvene to tackle our next nightmare problem. I left Maximum Win with a few cleanup tasks, and then it was off to say my advice. Okay, so when I said I was going alone to the crossing, that wasn't exactly the truth. Wow, you were kid. This place is beyond creeping. I'm not sure how it stacks up next to the old amusement park, But Hollow Falls that's where the lip Hler left his mark. He kind of passed through this tiny town and changed it forever. Hollow Falls is the

big picture. But the Crossing, it's the boiling point. The cops found my aunt's body on the shore of this brook, under the branches of that willow tree. Her neck was snapped, but Levinson had clearly taken a time to dress her up in some vintage white dress. Staged like the others. I am incapable of my own distress. There is a willow grows aslant the brook. That's what the note they found with her body said. The cops never released it publicly, but we got to see it. They claimed it was

their suicide. Note, Hey, that's right. Maybe this town is the problem, she said. He's going on about the birds above and the hole that runs underneath. Maybe this is just a pleading ground for killers. I don't know which which book was a mental look like Hamlet? Levinson saved one of the Shakespeare classics for my Aunt Beth, and it a girl named Ophelia goes mad and kills herself, allegedly by dropping from a willow tree into a waiting body of water. Jesus, he was planning a similar fate

for me if you hadn't. What did he say to you? He called me his Desdemona. She was a character and Othello, she's strong, She pisss off her dad, but she's independent and fierce and like my aunt, like your aunt. What she's murdered by her lover. Oh sake, that's horrible. You sound almost surprised. What do you mean? Is this the part where you pretend to have no idea? Tig is that hit Ali? I fall for you and then you kill me the same way Levinson killed my heart. Levenson

was so right. His literary theatrics are way too on the nose. I mean, if it were up to me, I would have killed you in a much more interesting way. So you were what his serial killer sidekick he wishes he's the past, I'm the future. My plans for you are better than anything that old hack could cook up. I'm still impressed you figured it out. I underestimated you, tig torres. That doesn't change how the story will play out. Hapless teen reporter dies in same tragic spot. Is her

aunt hear that? That's your destiny? Calling, tig you've read Anna Karna right? Yes, she dies jumping in front of a train, Confused, angry, and betrayed. Sound like anyone we know. I can't believe Levinson was gonna kill you using a Shakespeare reference. My version will be so much more poetic. Holly, you don't mean this. You don't know anything about me. You breathe into this town thinking you understand us in our history, but you just bailed when things got too

tough for you and your family. You know what happens to people like that, take leave when things get told, like what happened to Anna Kildean? What did you just say? I know she meant something to you. Know. This is I still know the fruit Levinson killed her for you, didn't he even though she wasn't one of his students, even though he had no reason to. I knew it was you, aally. It broke my heart over and over to think so, but I knew it was you. You

didn't suspect anything. If you had, you wouldn't have climbed into my room that night begging to have sex. Get over yourself, boy, wonder that doubt was already there. You left clues all over the place. You just happened to be around when we discovered Tony's body. In the first clue, how you found that book so fast in the principal's office. How you let Ella get hit napps from the hospital. I wanted to believe it couldn't be you, but mhm,

here we are. The evidence is the evidence. When I listened to that clip again, that's when I knew your plan, that you were going to try and recreate how my aunt died. I told when to tell you I was going to the crossing to get closure. So when you showed up here, all wide eyed and eager to be supportive, that's when I knew for sure you were going to try to kill me. You know what else is good

about Anna, Karenina take It's simple. All it takes is a train and you if you broke open my stitches, m we're the same, you and I. You're still too busy chasing after order in a world that's just chaos and death. Life. That's not part of the game, though, is it? All? The game is what I make of it. Levinson Want You is disciple to cheat in the final round. Don't pretend to be in my head. Levinson saved me. He took me in when your stupid aunt tried to stop him, tried to save my That and a woman.

She got what she deserved. They both did, and then I really got to learn from him. I was just waiting for the perfect moment, and it appeared like a gift when you came back to town. Tag. It was my time to shine, and I would have if he had hadn't kidnapped me. That wasn't his place. It was my turn, and you were mine. Sure Levinson helped a bit, but it was my chance to prove myself. But then you, you and I you and I want it was gonna be your turn eventually take You know how drama works,

there needs to be a climax in epic conclusion. I needed to work myself up to it. If I was just another victim to you, Why did you risk yourself to save me from Levinston. Maybe it's because of the way you feel about No. I can do it. I can go through with it. You can't, though, can you? Allly? This isn't who you are. You're not Levinson, You're not a kill. Just shut up. You have no idea, there's no coming back. From the places I've been to, I

figured you out. You're just a lost little boy, and you're not as strong or as smart as you thought you were. That now, what the hell I trust a love interest when you've got real friends. Paydacks starts now. You psychopath got you on tay he believe we ever considered you one of all. I had them record you while you admitted everything. Sure they were surprised, But like I told you, Ali, you're so damned lost, you just don't get it. There are still so many pieces lust

on the board. Sh he's getting on the tracks because he's that crazy. I lolling. The police found no trace of Ali Price on the tracks, and there was no real evidence that he got out of the crossing either. But I know he's gone for now. That Ali had not only assisted Levinson and carrying out the second wave of lit killer murders, but had taken over the role was the kind of mystery you don't want to unravel. But now it's over, over right, and only a matter

of time before the cops find him. You should know better. This is hollow fall, Listeners, Alie hurt me, He hurt people I cared about. It's only over when I find him, and when I do, he's gonna hurt. If this game is just starting, you better believe I'm gonna win that before I shut this off and stuff it in the mail too, Sam Babby, Mommy was right. Maybe it's not just about stopping the lick Killer. Maybe this Ton is the problem. He was my best student, my brightest, smartest boy.

When the Iron Works closed, the jobs went away, and the town it got different. Seems you're not a nubie when it comes to the world of true crime, Tig Torres. I'm not your aunt, Tig. I'm not made up of the same stuff as she was. But you people are already listening to you anyway in case something happened to me. I love you, thanks for everything. Tell mommy I love her too, my brother, and oh that's worth so much.

Kiss taking on the forehead and she'll do. Okay, get a spot sharp, Okay, day find out a week's past, and Hollow Falls is starting to creak back toward normalcy. When in Max are back working at the Talent I work there too. Now the new advisor seems nice enough. Levinson's heading to trial in a few months, and there's been no sign of Alley. So mission accomplished. Listeners, my aunt path was exonerated, so you could say I did what I set out to do. But too many more

bodies have dropped, too much blood has spilled. The lid Killer turned into a story of two obsessed murderers, and only one of them is behind bars. Speaking of which, Hey, Ally, I know you're out there listening. Sometimes when I lay in bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling, I think of that look I saw in your eyes that night at the crossing, that flicker of humanity. You might try to deny it, but it was there. It tells me I wasn't crazy to like you two fall

for you. You were the first person I let get close that close. You remember the obsessive, manic attention to detail, the extreme fixation I had on saving Aunt Beth's reputation. Well, all that energy is pointed at you right now, Buddy. I'll find you soon, and in the meantime, I know you will be thinking about me too. I'm ting Taurus and this is Lethal Lit. Iron Horn's Epic Productions and

I Heart Radio present Legal Lit. A tig Torres Mystery created and executive produced by Heather Ironhorn and Adam Stafferone written, created and executive produced by Alex Sigura and Monica Gallagher. Was directed by J. B. Block, produced via Rupe, Senna, Kayla,

Chris Peterson and Sanny Smallen. Art by Rebecca Mock. Creative direction and design by Ryan mccam, with performances by Rebecca Silaire, J B. Block, Matt Gumley, Paul Guide, Jennifer Giles, Rachel orum Land, Alba ponste Leone, Shelley Shnoy, Luke Slattery and

Keel Artino. Post production supervisor Michael Sinterer, Nicholas recording engineer and dialog editor Michael Schneider, mixer Michael Sintter Nicholas, sound designer Justin Hohler, 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 ny V Post in New York City, featuring the song's Jupiter performed by Donna Missile 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 songs as Caps Captus Palace s E S A C and Dana Williams Letha litt A. Take Torres Mystery is a production by Ironhorn's Epic Productions for I Heart Radio Had to Take Torrest dot com to share theories, discover new evidence, and

follow case updates. For more information, visit Einhorn's Epic Productions dot com