Night Of The Zombie Chapter 2

Night Of The Zombie

Chapter 2

Seems like whoever set this tent on fire, didn't care if we found out about it, Mackenzie went on. I'll need to discuss this further at the police station, he said, glancing at Canning, who just nodded.

Can Justin come with me?, Zach said. Bit of moral support and all that?

No! Canning said a little too quickly. Well, he can come with you to the station, but you will be questioned alone.

I will need to speak with Mr. Landers as well. Seeing as he's in charge of production for this shoot.

We found Lee talking to another fireman near the entrance to the main tent. He was about the same age as Zach but his head was shaved and was clean shaven. He was shorter than Zach and was wearing black Bermuda shorts and button up purple dress shirt, untucked, and had on dark coloured deck shoes with no socks. He had a silver chain around his neck with a large silver cross.

Mr. Landers? Mackenzie said coming up to him.

Yes, Landers said. What can I do for you sir? He had a slight British accent and glanced nervously between Zach, me and Mackenzie.

We need you to come down to the station for some questioning, Mackenzie said. Just routine. We have some new evidence.

Is it related to Zach's warning note, he said, looking at Zach with a slight scowl. Didn't anyone get along around here?

What's this? Mackenzie said turning to Zach.

Mr. Bristow reported a threatening note, Canning said. We're investigating it as we speak, he added with a sigh. He turned to me. I suppose Zach asked you to look into this?

As a matter of fact, yes, I said defiantly. But I won't get in your way, if that's what you're worried about, Paul, I said, confused as to his sudden belligerence towards me.

Canning didn't say anything, he just nodded.

We can discuss the note at police headquarters, Mackenzie said. Come along.

But we have to clean this up, Lee said, pointing to the burned out tent. We have some scenes to shoot this afternoon.

You won't be shooting any scenes today, Mackenzie said gruffly. This tent and in fact this whole area will be cordoned off for a fire investigation.

Oh, great, Lee muttered, scratching his bald head in frustration. He turned to Zach. I told you this was a mistake, coming here to this hick backwater town. We should have gone to Emmetsburg to do the shoot. Less people and less hassle.

You don't know that, Zach said as we followed Canning and Mackenzie back to Canning's car. And it's not a hick backwater town. It's my hometown.

Well someone here really doesn't like you, Lee said.

How do you know it's me they don't like. Maybe someone doesn't like you, ever think of that, Lee?

Lee turned to Zach and I thought they were going to start punching each other, but Lee backed down and remained silent. What was going on between these two?

We got to Canning's car and there was only room for Zach and Lee. Justin you'll have to take your own car, I'm afraid, Canning said without looking me in the eye.

I nodded and headed to my SUV, Van and Raj in tow. Van was still partially made up in zombie make-up. Dude, you can't go roaming the streets looking like that, Raj remarked with a grin.

Why not, it's not any worse than usual, I remarked without missing a beat. Van turned to me.

Yeah, well you don't need much make-up to look like a zombie, he retorted. You've been looking pretty deadly lately.

Ha, ha! I mumbled.

I'll stay behind, Van said. I want to see if Mandy can get any of this stuff off me. It's starting to itch anyway. Catch you later, eh, Boris? He said.

Sure thing, Igor, I remarked, calling Van by his character zombie nick-name that we made up for each other once we learned we got parts in the movie. I'll stay with Van, Clyde—er, Raj said.

I headed to my SUV and drove to police headquarters. I was very familiar with this place, not because I had been in trouble with the law, but because Dad used to work here until he retired years ago to become a private investigator. Over the years I had gotten to know a lot of the local officers.

Maddie Burton was on the front reception when I walked in. Maddie had graduated Port Salser Collegiate a few years ago and was currently in training to become a police officer.  She was petite with long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail and green deep set eyes. I nodded hello to her as I passed as she was on the phone.

Wait, Justin, she said, covering up the receiver with her hand, when I tried to go by.

She returned to her call, bade goodbye and hung up. You can't go back there, she said sheepishly. Paul told me to tell you to wait out here. He's almost done with those 2 movie guys. Say, you're friends with Zach Bristow, do you think you can get me the phone number of the other guy, the producer Lee Landers?, she added nervously.

Ah, sure, I said.

Thanks, Justin, she said.

I turned back and headed to the waiting area just inside the front door. I sat down but stood right back up again. I approached Maddie who smiled at me.

What's up, Justin, she said. You don't have his number already do you?

No, it's not that. It's Paul. Did he seem—different to you lately? You know, acting gruffer than usual.

Maddie bit her lip but remarked, No, not really, Justin. Why?

There's been a few—incidents regarding the movie shoot, I explained. Zach asked me to look into it—just keep my ear to the ground, nothing official. Paul seemed really annoyed when he found out I was going to help Zach.

Maddie was silent for a moment. Well—there is something. I don't know if this is why he's annoyed or not—well I would be annoyed but—well—.

What is it Maddie? You can trust me. I won't say anything to Paul. I thought he was a friend, but he's mad at me about something.

Paul's been transferred—to another jurisdiction, she related in hushed tones. Somewhere in Northern Ontario. Not sure exactly where yet. It's not official, they're expected to make an announcement in the next few days.

Transferred? But why? I asked, bewildered. I thought Paul liked it here in town?

Maddie was silent for a moment. I only hear talk, she went on. Just among the other officers. Seems Paul's track record for solving local crimes has been not up to par, at least according to the new chief.

I knew that Port Salser had recently gotten a new chief of police, Reginald Rose, and he wasn't too keen on me or my dad. I had heard Dad talking recently about a disagreement between the two with Dad saying that Chief Rose didn’t appreciate help from local private investigators. He wanted minimal interaction between the police force and “outsiders” as he called it.  Could this be why Paul was transferred?  He didn't want him working with Dad—or me? If this were true, no wonder Paul was annoyed at me.

Thanks Maddie, I said. I won't say anything, but I'm glad you told me.

She nodded as the phone rang again and she answered it, turning away.

A few minutes later Zach and Lee came down the corridor. Zach came over to me when he saw me. Justin, he said. Glad you're here.

Is anything wrong? I asked.

No, they just questioned Lee and me. But we don't know anything.

Lee came up at that moment. I noticed Maddie staring at him out of the corner of my eye.

Just that we don't know who the target is, he remarked. If it's one of us or someone who just hates zombie movies. You should have told me about the note, he added.

You were real busy, Zach said quietly. Besides, I thought it was just a stupid prank.

Lee nodded. Look, I'm sorry, Zach for going off on one earlier, he said with a sigh. I don't want to fall out over this. We have to work together, after all. And I’m sorry I called this place a “hick backwater town”. It’s quite lovely here, actually, he added turning to me, then grinned. And besides, Justin and his family live here so it must be a nice town.

We went back to my SUV and I drove Zach and Lee back to the set downtown. Firemen were still milling around the burned out tent and the police had roped off most of the set area.

Mandy came up a moment later, Van and Raj in tow. What about my makeup and supplies, she asked, glaring at Lee and Zach.

Sorry, Mandy, Lee said. I’ll make a few calls and get some replacements for you. Hopefully tomorrow we can continue with the shoot. We can’t do anything else today, he added, turning to Zach. Can you continue to work on the script, though?

Zach nodded and turned to me. Can you help? He asked. I need to talk to you about something.

What about us? Van said. Mandy had managed to remove his makeup and prosthetics and he was back to his old plain self.

Come along, Zach suggested. If you don’t mind hanging out with an old dude.

Can we grab some lunch first, Raj suggested. It was now 1 pm and I was starving.

Sure, Zach said. Where do you want to go?

Van, Raj and I  exchanged glances. We knew the perfect place.

It ended up that Lee came with us as well as Mandy, so the six of us headed to Billy Burger, my favourite burger joint in town. It was the home of the Ginormous Baconitis Burger featuring fresh cut fries and milkshake all for the astonishing low price of $12.99 plus tax.

After ordering, we grabbed a large booth near the back and dug in to our culinary masterpieces.

So what did the police say? I asked, after taking a sip of my double chocolate shake.

They’ll beef up security and they’re going to question the rest of the crew this afternoon, Lee said, taking a bite of his veggie burger. They asked Zach and I if we had any enemies—stuff like that. I don’t have any enemies, he went on, unless you count some of my investors on that last movie Zach and I produced.

The one that bombed, Raj said, wiping mayonnaise off his moustache with a napkin.

Yes, the one that bombed, Zach said with a snort. Thanks for reminding us, buddy.

We all laughed and Raj just looked embarrassed.

You don’t think one of those people could be behind the fire and the note, I asked, getting serious.

What note? Van said, slopping Billy sauce (ketchup + an unknown ingredient) onto his t-shirt. He always seemed to do that every time we came here. Good thing I wore an old ratty shirt, he added, trying to wipe the sauce off, but failing miserably.

I got a warning note, Zach remarked. I showed it to the police already.

And you showed Justin, of course, Raj added.

I nodded. Yeah, it just warned Zach to take his zombies or he would—well—

That I would die, Zach said, putting down his burger and wiping his beard with a napkin.

Nut cases, Lee remarked. Whoever would leave a note like that. Nutters the lot of them. Do I think one of my investors could be behind it, maybe. I don’t know. They were really upset when the movie didn’t do well.

So you produced that one as well, I asked, not having made the connection before.

Yeah, Zach and I worked on that one together. I admire Zach as a director, Lee went on. We became mates back in L.A. I’m originally from Manchester, England and moved to L.A. a few years ago to pursue my passion for making films. I got into a bit of trouble when I first got to L.A. but soon cleaned up my act. I started film school where Zach and I met at a filmmaking course soon after and we’ve been mates ever since.

Zach nodded. Yeah, Lee’s a great guy. You notice the lack of hair, that’s due to the stress of working with me, he added.

Lee laughed and rubbed his bald pate. Yeah, you know it, mate. And this guy thinks he’s cool with his nice little beard, like he’s hip or something.

Zach just grinned and stroked his beard. At least I can grow one, mate, he said. Last time you tried to grow a beard, it looked like an ugly animal crawled up on your face and died there.

Ha! Lee said. Very clever, mate. I just prefer to look like a civilized human being.

Mandy had remained silent up till now, quietly eating her cheeseburger. Everything OK, Mandy?, Lee said.

Mandy didn’t respond. She had stopped chewing. She dropped her burger and stared ahead. Suddenly her face went red and she started flailing her arms.

Mandy? I asked, putting down my own burger. Guys, I think Mandy’s choking!