Chapter 26: I am Not a Good Person

When Debbie arrived home from the police station, she was completely drained. They had spent just under an hour there, but the stress of telling the same lie to so many people was exhausting. She plopped down on her bed and fell asleep immediately. Debbie woke two hours later to the familiar aroma of spaghetti sauce. Her mom was preparing for tomorrow's Sunday dinner. Sunday sauce was a tradition Debbie's mom learned from her mother, and her mother before her.

Debbie reached for the phone and then withdrew her hand. She decided she would not call JJ's house again, but instead go to where she thought he might be. It's unlikely he was at the Dunes, since she would have heard about everyone going there by now.

Debbie went down to the kitchen and smiled at her mom. Mrs. LaCata was humming and stirring a large silver pot.

"Nice nap honey? I went up to check on you and you were out cold."

Debbie nodded her head in response.

"Mom? I'd like to go up to the arcade. I'm feeling a lot better, and I'd like to see my friends."

Mrs. LaCata brought the wooden spoon to her lips and sipped the steaming red liquid.

"MMM...perfect," she said and placed the spoon in the sink.

"I don't know Deb. You were out of school a lot this week, you shouldn't push yourself."

"I know. But really I am feeling pretty good. The nap helped too. Let me go, just for a few hours. Please?"

Debbie's mom brought out a new wooden spoon from the drawer, uncovered the pot, and slowly stirred the sauce.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Please mom? I'll be home by ten, two hours earlier than curfew," Debbie begged, bringing her palms together in prayer.

"Okay. But ten is ten Deb. Not a minute later. I don't want you relapsing."

Debbie smiled, turned, and ran up the stairs to change and fix her makeup. The phone rang before she could reach the bathroom.

"Debbie! It's Franey for you!" her brother yelled.

Franey? Oh no. That's right. Tino said it was either me or Franey he saw.

After her unwavering insistence that Tino was mistaken and it was not her he saw, the detective must have contacted Franey. There was also the possibility that Tino tried Franey after he didn't get anywhere with her. Debbie thought about ignoring the call, but decided she needed Franey. If neither of them admitted to delivering the letter, then the detective would have to assume Tino had gotten it all wrong.

"Hey Franey. What's up?" Debbie chirped.

"Hey Deb. How ya feelin?"

"Oh. A lot better, thanks."

"Are you up for a movie then?"

A movie? Funny, no mention of having to go to the police station. I guess the detective didn't call her. Otherwise, she definitely would have said so. No point in bringing it up.

"Well, I was actually thinking of going to the arcade. My mom is letting me out, but I have to be in by ten. A movie would end too late at this point."

"I would be up for the arcade. Sure, let's do that. Greg will be there. But, if he asks, tell him it was your idea to go. I don't want him thinking I can't spend a night without him."

Debbie was glad Franey was willing to go to the arcade. If she had any chance of finding JJ, the arcade was a great place to start. Plus, if Greg was there, then the odds were good that JJ was too. And if he wasn't, then Greg probably knew where he was. It would be easy for Debbie to work JJ's name into the conversation without looking too desperate.

JJ and Debbie had come out as a couple, sort of. In the weeks after Stacey's disappearance, they had hung out together at the Dunes, but with everyone there. Their time alone together was sporadic and started to decline as of late. Debbie could feel he was pulling away from her. JJ began making excuses as to why he wasn't available. There were even a few times when he failed to show up at her house blaming it on being too stoned and falling asleep. A few weeks ago, when Debbie started to make a fuss, he would say that she was too possessive or that she was acting jealous, and both were a turn off. She had to handle their relationship delicately. She was JJ's girlfriend; he had acknowledged that. It was better not to do anything to make him change his mind.

"Great. Let's meet at Howie's Deli at 7:30 and we can walk the rest of the way together" Debbie suggested.

Franey agreed and Debbie hung up the phone.

When Debbie arrived, Franey was waiting outside the store. She was wearing a purple leather jacket and smoking a cigarette. Debbie loved that jacket. Her own coat was nice. It was black leather, and the lining was a deep crimson. She really wanted a purple one. Debbie's mom offered to get her one for Christmas, but Debbie said it would look like she was copying Franey and did not want to look like a loser.

They arrived at the arcade just before eight. Franey asked Debbie to follow her to the bathroom before getting some tokens, but she wasn't listening. Debbie's full attention was on scanning the arcade for JJ.

"Debbie? Deb? Hello? Earth to Debbie?" Franey called and waved her hands in front of Debbie's face.

"Oh. Sorry. What? What do you need to do?" Debbie said apologetically.

"Jeez Deb. Are you okay? I was asking you to stop in the bathroom with me."

Franey pulled Debbie by the arm and dragged her towards the bathroom before she could object. As they reach the bathroom door, Debbie spotted JJ. She recognized his blonde locks and the way they curled up in the back, just brushing his collar. She was also very familiar with the way he held himself when he stood. JJ was straddled behind a girl at an arcade game. His arms were wrapped around her, and his hands were on top of hers holding onto the controls. She was giggling and his chin was resting on top of her head.

Debbie froze. The flashing lights and musical chimes were mute. All she could hear was the laughing and cooing coming from JJ and the girl.

"What are you staring at?" Franey asked and followed Debbie's gaze.

"He's an asshole Deb. I told you. I told you he was a selfish jerk. Do you know he told Greg like a week ago that you guys had pretty much run your course? Greg told me to stay out of it. So, I didn't say anything. Plus, I hadn't seen you two together much recently, so I figured you were fine with it."

Debbie turned her head slowly towards Franey and squinted her eyes. She was hit with a way of nausea. She pushed Franey out of the way, ran into the bathroom, threw open a stall and vomited into the toilet.

Franey hurried after her.

"Oh my god Deb. Are you okay?" Franey's voice echoed throughout the tiled walls.

Debbie threw up a second time before she could respond.

"Yeah. I'm okay. Just go ahead and see if Greg is here. I will be out in a minute."

"Are you sure I should leave you?"

"Yeah. It's fine. I think it's the flu. I must not be over it like I thought. I'm going to call my mom to come get me."

As soon as Debbie was sure Franey had left the bathroom, she broke down.

After roughly ten minutes, Debbie left the bathroom and walked out of the exit that opens into the parking lot of the mall. She found the closest pay phone and called home.

Mrs. LaCata's car arrived twenty minutes later. Debbie's mom flashed her lights when she saw Debbie sitting on the sidewalk near the exit of the mall.

"I knew you were pushing yourself Deb. You are staying put the rest of the weekend."

Debbie didn't argue. She put her head against the window and closed her eyes. She just wanted to get home and cry herself to sleep. Debbie was completely crushed by what she saw. She did everything she could to make JJ happy, but it wasn't enough. She didn't understand what she did wrong.

Debbie knew she had to face the truth. He used her. JJ used her and she had let him. He needed an alibi for the night he was with Stacey and Debbie gave it to him. She lied to the police for him. She lied to her friends and her parents. She helped contribute to the suffering the Orlando family was feeling. And worst of all, she ensured Stacey would never be able to hurt JJ. Debbie let her love for JJ turn her into someone ugly and evil.

It was enough. The Orlando family deserved to know the truth. The entire community deserved to know what she knew. Mrs. Orlando should know her daughter will never come home. No amount of prayer, or banners, or interviews will bring Stacey back.

Debbie went straight up to her room when she got home. She took the stairs two at a time feeling energized by her decision. She sat at her desk and pulled a notepad out of the drawer. Debbie took a deep breath in and then exhaled releasing air and stress from her nose and chest. She picked up the pen and began writing.

To Whom it May Concern,

The body of Stacey Orlando can be found in the woods behind the Town Center Mall.

I am not a good person.

Debbie's eyes filled with tears. She sat back in the chair until her vision cleared before completing the note.

Sincerely,

The Killer, JJ Williams