Otis Slays Christmas: Killer Santa Slasher at Kmart

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The parking lot is packed, the lights are blinking, the

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doors are about to lock. Otis thinks the cashier loves him,

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and tonight He's decided to prove it. A Santa suit,

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a shotgun, and a blue light special that turns the

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whole store into a slaughterhouse. How did you get in here?

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What's that you want to be scared?

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Come with me?

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This is Weekly Spooky. Hello, my spookys, It's not only Wednesday,

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it's Christmas Eve and it's time for a little spooky

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in your weekly. I'm your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto,

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and wow, we've had over twenty five show releases in

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the month of December to make sure that your holiday

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season is scary and bright, and we really do appreciate

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you joining us for the ride. My voice is tired,

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my body is a bit weak, and I could use

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a day off, but not before giving you one last

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twisted Christmas gift to unwrap. Whether you're traveling, working one

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more ship, or wrapping gifts, this is meant to help

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you have a little fear in your cheer. And if

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you love what we do here at Weekly Spooky and

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want to send us a little something under the tree.

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Head to Weeklyspooky dot Com slash Join, and for as

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little as one dollar a month, get two bonus episodes

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and over five years of creepypasta readings and audiobooks at

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Weeklyspooky dot Com slash Join. But now let's get to

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the matter at hand and our story for tonight. Lean

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in close. What if the most dangerous thing about Christmas

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Eve wasn't the weather, or the roads or the last

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minute crowds. What if it was the person standing behind

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you in line, smiling oddly too hard, clutching a cart

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full of supplies, convinced the holidays are speak, decide it

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directly to him? Is Santa Nide's story takes you? But

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not the kind that bring on a freezing night in

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nineteen ninety six, where the doors are closing, the music

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is playing, Turn down the lights, plug in the Christmas tree,

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lock the door, and if you hear laughter in the aisles,

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well pray it's coming from the speakers. Otis Slays Christmas

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by David O'Hanlon, Sunday, December twenty second, nineteen ninety six.

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With only three days left until Christmas, the k Smart

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parking lot was packed with holiday shoppers. People drove up

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and down the lanes, endlessly searching for an empty space,

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like it was Captain Flint's treasure. Otis had optioned to

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simply park at the adjacent Daylight Donuts instead of spending

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his Sunday sitting in the parking lot's miniature traffic jam.

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He snugged his workcoat around him. The flat terrain of Ittawa,

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Oklahoma offered little protection from the strong, frigid gusts coming

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out of the Northwest. He stuffed his hands into the

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pockets and fidgeted with the contents as he walked to

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the store. He glanced back at the Pontiac Fierro with

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a stomach full of butterflies. With the holidays, they were

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working lots of mandatory overtime at the Pittman Poultry Plant

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six ten hour days a week. Since August, he'd been

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working in the evisceration department, gutting out turkeys, geese, and

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chickens for family get togethers. He'd saved every dime to

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buy his own car. The Fiarro was a decade old

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with a quarter million miles on the odometer, but at

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least it was his. He couldn't wait to show it

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to Diane Huby, Muller, Carpenter County's most accomplished drunk, rang

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a bell out in front of the store, next to

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a bright red bucket and a Salvation Army sign. No

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doubt it was community service following his indecent exposure incident

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that summer. Hughby couldn't have weighed more than a hundred

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and twenty pounds, and the Santa suit sagged limply over

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his skeletal frame. The stub of an unfiltered Lucky stuck

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out from between the polyester fibers of the fake beard.

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Huby put his whole body into ringing the bell, swinging

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it with his entire arm and zero regard for his

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shoulder health. While he belt it out, half remembered carols,

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ODIs dropped fifty cents into the bucket. On his way

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inside the k Cafes. Little Caesars had just fired up

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their convection ovens with the first cook of the day.

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ODIs paused next to the corral of shopping carts and

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took in a deep breath. The smell brought out a

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little giggle of excitement that happened whenever he was happy

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or nervous, and sometimes just because he'd been bullied his

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entire life over the little tick, but his mother assured

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him it was a good thing. She said he was

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an angel delivering laughter for God's children to enjoy. Otis

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didn't really buy into all that, but it sounded nice.

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He ran his hands through his head, careful not to

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disturb the delicately crafted part. He'd used his father's brilliantine

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to look extra sharp for his big moment. He rubbed

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the greasy remnants off on his denim pants and pulled

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out his shopping list. As soon as he was done,

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he'd go to Diane's lane to check out. She'd started

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cashiering at the Big K back in the spring, and

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Otis had fallen in love with her instantly. She gave

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him little codd messages whenever he came to her for checkout.

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Did you find everything all right today? Did you catch

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our blue light special? Be sure to visit the K

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cafe on your way out? Will you be paying with

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cash or card? He was in every Sunday. She knew

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he didn't have a card to pay with and that

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he always got a slice on the way out, but

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she still asked. That was how he realized she was

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really giving him secret messages. Otis bought a lot of

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puzzle books there after all, she'd probably thought it would

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be a fun way to tell him she had the

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same feelings as he did. Otis loved going home and

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deciphering the cryptograms she gave him after each visit. He

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had a notebook just for the task. Her last one

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had been particularly difficult. He was afraid he wouldn't figure

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it out before his next visit, But the night prior

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he'd had an epiphany. He broke the code and saw

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that she had fallen in love with him as well.

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Every damn week, Diane groaned as she pushed through the

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stockroom doors Jewles, Where are you? Has anyone seen Jewels?

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Two of the seasonal help exchanged stoned glances the manager.

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Diane reminded them, oh, one of them said, but that

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was where the revelation ended. Seriously, Diane huffed, Listen, cheech

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and schlong, have you seen our boss back here or not?

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I think he's in the office, the slightly brighter of

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the two replied. Diane stormed between them straight to the office.

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Jules was tediously studying the previous day's reports. Diane didn't

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bother knocking. She barged in and grabbed the back of

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Jules's chair, spinning him to face the security monitors. She

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jabbed a finger against the screen, indicating a man perusing

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the puzzle book section of the magazine Racks. This shithead

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has been coming in every Sunday since I started working here,

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she said. It doesn't matter how busy I am. He

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only comes to my register. If I'm on break. He

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wanders the store until I'm back. I've been asking you

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for months to take me off the Sunday shift, and

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I've been trying, Jewles said, turning his attention back to

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the reports. Finding Sunday help is hard, and since that

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supercenter opened, our sales have been on the decline. Corporates

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cut our hourly budget. If I hire someone that could

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work your shift, I wouldn't be able to replace those

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hours for you. I'd also have to cut at least

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sixteen more from the others just to keep that person on.

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And for what some guy thinking you give great customer service,

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We have seasonal help. Put one of them on the register.

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Have you met Arnold, He's the best of the batch.

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Jewels pointed at the electronics counter on the monitor. I

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watched that boy tie his shoe the other day and

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he had to recite the bunny thing to get it right.

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He's twenty six, Diane. That's the quality of our seasonal employees.

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They're here to restock Christmas decorations and to give holiday

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shoppers someone to trample while we all retreat to safety.

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They are, for lack of a more gentle term, morons.

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Then for my safety, put one of them in the

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line of fire, Diane demanded. That guy is not right

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in the head. He gives me the creeps, Jewels, what's

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he said? What's he done? Jewles dropped the print out

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on the desk. Having a favorite cashier isn't a crime.

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If he threatens you or bothers you off the clock,

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then I can do something about that. He doesn't even

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linger at your register. Honestly, I've looked into your complaint,

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but there just isn't anything there. If he was here

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for all your shifts, maybe I could trespass him, but

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he he Isn't you work four days a week and

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this is the only one he comes in for. There's

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nothing I can do, Jewles, there is something wrong with

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that guy. He scratched at the four days of accumulated

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scruff on his neck. Before rolling his chair backwards across

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the small office, he pulled the schedule from the bulletin board,

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causing thumbtacks to shake loose from the well worn cork

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and release their papers to the floor. Jewels huffed and

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rolled over them as he returned to the desk. He

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slapped the handwritten schedule down in front of Diane grab

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a pen. He said, you're picking a shift for Christmas Day?

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The hell I am, she scoffed, I have plans. You're

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drinking cocoa and watching Rudolph with your cat. He corrected

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her as he stood and straightened his tie. I'm going

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to go out there and make small talk with the weirdo,

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during which I'm going to casually mention that you are

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out sick today. You're going to sit in the break

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room getting paid the entire time worth mentioning while that

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conversation happens, and then I will come and get you

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once he leaves. In exchange, you are definitely working the

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Christmas reset. You can take off the following Sunday, which

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gives you two weeks without the creep. Maybe he'll take

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an interest in someone else in that time. That's not

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a great plan, Jules, be happy I have one at all,

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the manager shrugged. Work a few hours on the reset

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and you'll be home in time for cartoons. Stop motion.

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Diane scribbled her shift onto the schedule. It's stop motion,

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not a cartoon. Otis tried not to pout as he

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loaded his items onto the conveyor. He'd really want to

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to see Diane. He was going to offer her a

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ride home in the new car. That's when he'd tell

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her that he'd cracked her code and that he was

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in love with her. They'd spend one final Christmas in Itawa,

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but they'd do it together. Then they'd start new lives.

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He'd already worked out every detail. He wrangled the wrapping

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paper on to the checkout's belt and pushed his cart ahead.

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He only ventured into town on Sundays, so he wouldn't

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have another chance to talk to Diane before Christmas. He

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nodded to whatever the cashier said while he tried to

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think of a solution. He didn't even know if Diane

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worked days or nights the rest of the week. Strange stuff,

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mister the cashier said, doing gag gifts. Otis snapped back

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to reality. He looked over the items still waiting to

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be scanned. Duct tape, fishing line, gift boxes, drain cleaner,

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and wrapping paper were all that remained on the conveyor.

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He examined the cashier more carefully. Shelby had already been

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working there when he started making his Sunday trips. Otis

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always thought of her as a display rather than a

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store employee, with the way she dressed herself in the

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latest fashions. She'd gotten her hair done in the frosted

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bob cut made popular by some sitcom actress last season,

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and wore ultra low rise silver tab jeans with a

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blouse that was one deep breath away from blasting the

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buttons into the stratosphere. He wondered if the bimbo had

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somehow figured out his holiday plans. Otis giggled nervously, odds

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and ends. He said, everything is so busy. I thought

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I'd grab some other essential with the gifts. Is all

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I get that, Shelby said, lifting the bottle of sulfuric acid.

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This stuff smells horrible. By the bye. I share an

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apartment with two other girls, so we have a lot

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of clogs. Like every other day. We got those new

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crystals and they work great and they don't stink. Have

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you tried them?

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No?

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ODIs started putting the bags into his cart. Maybe next time.

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Finally getting some time off now that Christmas is here,

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shell Be asked. Otis shot a paranoid glance at her.

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Why was she questioning him? How did she know anything

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about him? His stomach churned. What do you mean, he asked, sharply.

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I've just got a clogged sink, is all. I'm not

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going anywhere. You work for Pittman Poultry, right, shall be

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pointed at the logo on Otis's jacket. My dad works

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there too, so I know the overtime's been crazy. Oh yeah,

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it sure has, ODIs said, but he wasn't convinced by

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her act. She was on to him. What's your father's name?

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Maybe we worked together, Stanley, she said, while scanning the

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wrapping paper. Otis stiffened. That sealed it. There were a

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half dozen Stanley's working at the plant. She'd picked a

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common enough name to throw him off, but it hadn't worked.

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I love the commercials this Christmas. Give your mom a

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big pecker, shall be snorted. Then she laughed. Dad says

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it's uncouth or something, but I think it's hilarious. You

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should really let some of this home repair stuff. Wait.

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You know you guys earned your downtime over there, that's

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for sure home repair. ODIs glanced at the plastic sheeting

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in one of the bags. Repainting for my mother, A

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gift that keeps on giving. Aw, that's sweet. Say you

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wouldn't happen to know when Diane will be back. He

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00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:15.160
looked at the total on the display and fumbled for

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00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.480
his wallet. I was sad to hear she's under the weather.

241
00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.839
She's always so helpful news to me. She didn't look

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00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.519
sick this morning. Shell Bey shrugged. Must have been something

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00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:31.119
she ate. Is that right? ODIs twisted his toe into

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the floor. Do you know when she works next? Guess

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it depends what's the matter? Right? Otis counted out the money,

246
00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:48.920
giggling each time he laid out a bill. I sure

247
00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.880
hope it's nothing serious. Otis collected the last of his

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bags and made a hasty exit from the store. He

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paused on the sidewalk, taking in heaving breaths. The parking

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00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:07.279
lot warbled and shifted violently. A wave of nausea rushed

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00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.279
over him. His hands shivered from nerves. Instead of the

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00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:15.839
bitter cold wind, Hugh Bee's banging of the Salvation Army

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00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:20.799
bell sounded like a full blown cannonade. Meeting Diane had

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00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:24.559
changed his life. Getting the car was just one part

255
00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:29.039
of the equation. Otis was reinventing himself in order to

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00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:33.279
have a real life with Diane. And there was still

257
00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:38.200
so much to do. But they were on to him,

258
00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:43.359
and they'd blown their cover. Managers didn't just tell customers

259
00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:48.720
about cashiers being outsick. All those questions were a ruse

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to draw out a confession so they could hold him

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00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:56.880
for conspiracy. Otis knew the score. The Feds had been

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00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.880
on his back ever since his discharge. He'd caught them

263
00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:06.839
plenty of times in their little costumes, pretending to be panhandlers, waitresses,

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00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:13.640
even coworkers. Yeah, Otis knew they were watching. They had

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00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:18.319
figured out his Christmas plans, which meant he had another problem.

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He kept all of that information in a journal under

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00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:27.240
his bed. Otis pushed the cart across the parking lot,

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grinding his teeth the entire way to the doughnut shop.

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There was a mole in his home and Otis knew

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00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:41.519
exactly who it was and why she'd sold him out.

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That was why he was going to kill her to

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begin with. It was late the next morning when ODIs

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00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:57.880
ventured into the den carrying a large wrapped hat box.

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He stopped between his father and the antiquated television. Holding

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the gift out in front of him. He bit down

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00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:11.000
on his tongue to keep from giggling, knowing the sound

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00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:16.279
would spur another verbal assault from his old man. What

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00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.559
the sam hill is this? Read, Kilgore demanded from his

279
00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:26.480
lazy boy. Christmas ain't till Wednesday, I know, Otis said,

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00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:31.000
handing him the package. It's like that song, you know,

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00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.960
the one about the twelve days of presence. Twelve days,

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00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:39.240
Otis not two. What happened to the other ten? His

283
00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:42.960
father asked, couldn't afford them after buying that piece of

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00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:49.079
shit Pontiac. It's a classic, dad, Otis whined, It's got

285
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more miles than Santa's goddamn sleigh. Reid shook the box

286
00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:58.160
as violently as the arthritis allowed. Better not be geese,

287
00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:01.400
a fucking layan, or another one of those free turkeys

288
00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:05.599
you get from work. Don't worry, dad, it's not a bird,

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00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:10.559
ODIs promised with a giggle. Hope, it's a copy of

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00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:15.519
your lease agreement read spat. You're thirty six, Otis, you

291
00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:17.960
want to give me a useful gift, move the hell

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00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.359
out of my basement. Well, that gift was going to

293
00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:25.039
wait until Christmas morning, but I guess the cat's out

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00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:29.079
of the bag now I am moving out, dad, Otis

295
00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:33.039
told him, as he knelt behind the couch for another gift.

296
00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:38.680
Hits a merry fucking Christmas. Indeed, read let out a

297
00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:42.799
hacking smoker's laugh. Let's see what's in the box. Then

298
00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:48.759
Otis watched as his father tore off the pristine wrapping paper.

299
00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:54.079
The scraps collected around his chair, Awaiting the first opportunity

300
00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:57.519
for the old man to bitch about someone needing to

301
00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:02.359
clean it up. He flipped the it off. ODIs chewed

302
00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:07.440
his bottom lip, but then broke out into boisterous chuckling

303
00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:13.599
when he saw his father's confusion. The elder Kilgore stared

304
00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:18.079
into the box with its plastic liner before giving it

305
00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:21.839
a shake. Boy, only you could forget to put the

306
00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:25.119
present in the box before you wrapped it, Reid said,

307
00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.920
the goddamn sperm that made you must have been swimming backwards.

308
00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:34.960
H silly me. I'll fill it in now, dad, ODIs said,

309
00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:43.160
Chambering the axe over his shoulder, ODIs hummed jingle bells

310
00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:49.000
while he rewrapped the box containing Reed's head. His father's

311
00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:53.559
body was still sitting in the recliner. ODIs felt a

312
00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:57.400
warm drip on the back of his neck and looked

313
00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:03.440
up at the arterial spray across the textured ceiling. He

314
00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:06.920
hadn't considered that when he came up with the plan.

315
00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:11.240
He wasn't sure how he'd clean it up either, but

316
00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:17.240
it probably wouldn't matter in the long run. Brakes squealed

317
00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.559
to a stop under the car port. Otis checked his

318
00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:26.240
watch and cursed. His mother and sister had gone to

319
00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:30.039
the mall for some last minute shopping and were supposed

320
00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:33.400
to go see family friends so that Josie could show

321
00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:37.480
off her fuck trophies. Otis should have had a few

322
00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:42.119
more hours to kill. He turned the volume up on

323
00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:45.200
the TV and shut the den's door as he went

324
00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:48.519
to greet them. He opened the kitchen door to the

325
00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:53.160
car port and watched his sister unbuckle the first kid.

326
00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:58.880
Otis couldn't stand his niece. She was ten, and rambled

327
00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:03.880
endlessly about her Tamagatchi in a shrill, half shriek that

328
00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:08.480
never lowered in volume or speed. The other one, CJ

329
00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:13.359
seemed decent enough. The two year old didn't say much,

330
00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:19.119
and he was fascinated by Otis's work knives. They'd arrived

331
00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:23.440
Friday evening along with Josie and her husband. The first

332
00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:27.319
dipshit cowboy she could find when she got to Utah.

333
00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:33.200
Carlton was a wiry, sun baked car salesman from Provo.

334
00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:37.039
He'd come with Josie on three visits over the past decade,

335
00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:41.799
and Otis was sure Carlton hated him more each time.

336
00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:48.160
That was to be expected, he supposed, After all, Josie

337
00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:53.720
never could keep a secret. Clara Belle got out of

338
00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:58.240
the car, and for once, she wasn't screaming. Her eyes

339
00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:02.359
were dark rimmed, and ODIs noticed vomit spatter on her

340
00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:07.119
fluorescent sweatshirt. She pulled her denim jacket tight around her,

341
00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:12.359
heading straight into the house without a word. What's wrong

342
00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:16.880
with her? ODIs asked. She talked mom into eating at

343
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:21.440
the food court, Josie said, leaning against the station wagon.

344
00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:26.000
Then an entire bag of gummy worms fifteen minutes later,

345
00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:31.240
then a Fanta, then some chocolate covered pretzels. We weren't

346
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:34.759
at the Bohannons ten minutes before she downed six buckeyes

347
00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:39.000
and turned into a puke fountain. His sister ducked into

348
00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.799
the vehicle to unhook CJ from his car seat. The

349
00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:49.160
toddler clamored down clumsily and hugged Otis's leg before waddling inside.

350
00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:53.920
Don't bother Grandpa, he said, with a slight snicker. He

351
00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:57.319
might lose his head. Dad's in one of his moods,

352
00:26:57.960 --> 00:27:01.559
Josie asked, as she squeezed past her him, pausing long

353
00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:06.119
enough for their bodies to press together. Oh dear, their

354
00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:09.640
mother said, struggling to grab as many bags as possible.

355
00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:13.359
I sure hope it passes before your uncle arrives. We

356
00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:17.680
don't need another one of those Christmases, like Dad needs

357
00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:22.799
an extra excuse, Josie said, under her breath. Otis watched

358
00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:25.880
her walking through the kitchen. He was sure it was

359
00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:28.839
her that had told the Feds what he was planning.

360
00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:32.920
Ever since they were kids, she'd been nosing around where

361
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:36.480
she wasn't supposed to. She must have found his journal

362
00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:40.079
while he was at work. Friday night, Otis went and

363
00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:43.359
helped his mother collect the rest of the bags, after

364
00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:47.240
promising he wouldn't look inside any of them. Once she'd

365
00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:51.160
separated the gifts from everything else, she ran off to

366
00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:55.680
her bedroom to begin wrapping. Josie sauntered into the kitchen

367
00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:59.680
to help Otis put away the rest. Mister Bohannon wanted

368
00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:03.000
to show off his new pool table. He'll bring Carlton

369
00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:07.759
back later. Josie said, what's the story? Why does dad

370
00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:12.000
have his shoes blaring? He's just going a little death,

371
00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:16.000
ODIs giggled, you mean death? Sure?

372
00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.519
Why not?

373
00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:21.759
ODIs stacked the canned yams in the narrow pantry. I'll

374
00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:26.000
go turn it down in a moment. Why bother, Josie asked,

375
00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:32.160
sounding suddenly closer than before. He turned, and her breasts

376
00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:35.920
pressed against his chest as she pushed him back into

377
00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:41.000
the pantry. Josie's tongue disappeared into his mouth and her

378
00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:44.640
hands went to work on his belt. ODIs pushed her

379
00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:48.079
back to arm's length, but not before she got his

380
00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:54.000
buckle open. What what are you doing, ODIs demanded? What

381
00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:59.039
we always do, Odie. Josie backed away, drawing Otis's belt

382
00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.680
from the loops. The TV's up so loud, we won't

383
00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:06.319
even have to be too quiet this time, Carlton could

384
00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:11.079
come in. ODIs said, so what. Josie let the belt

385
00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:15.319
fall to the floor and turned around, leaning over the counter.

386
00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:20.680
You told him, Josie, ODIs picked up the belt. We

387
00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:25.119
said we would never tell anyone, of course, I told him.

388
00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:29.559
Josie tugged her skirt up higher. Remember the last time

389
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.960
we did it in the kitchen. ODIs looped the belt

390
00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:39.039
over his sister's neck. Oh, she parred. Someone's got a

391
00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:44.279
new kink. That's not the only thing new about me, Josie,

392
00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:48.680
I have a girlfriend now, ODIs said, and she is

393
00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:53.880
not into threesomes. ODIs jerked the belt tight, whipping Josie

394
00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:57.319
away from the counter. He slung her down and dragged

395
00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:01.200
her across the floor. She clawed at the figature, bending

396
00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:04.720
back her nails on the thick leather. ODIs stretched for

397
00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:08.400
the basement door. He swatted wildly for the knob while

398
00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:10.880
he curled the belt up to keep the pressure on

399
00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:15.519
Josie's throat. Frustrated by his failure, he took a chance

400
00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:19.720
to look behind him and pulled the door open, Josie

401
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:22.240
exploded from the floor like she was coming off the

402
00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:25.160
O line. She barreled into him, and they toppled down

403
00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:29.039
the stairs together. ODIs grabbed for the belt and pulled

404
00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.680
her closer to him. He wrapped his thick legs around

405
00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:37.599
her waist, cranking back on the accessory. I know you told,

406
00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:42.759
ODIs said, you were always so jealous. When she finally

407
00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:47.559
stopped moving, ODIs threw her over his shoulder and lugged

408
00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:52.480
her back upstairs. He went to the den, dropping her

409
00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:56.039
on to the love seat. Her peasant top had slipped

410
00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:59.359
during the scuffle and one of her breasts hung out.

411
00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:03.680
ODIs gave it a squeeze for old time's sake, before

412
00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:06.920
adjusting the belt on her neck so that the buckle

413
00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:11.559
rested under her chin. It wasn't the gift he'd picked out,

414
00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:15.480
but he had to admit it looked flattering on her.

415
00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:21.079
Some people were hard to shop for, but not his niece.

416
00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:25.079
The embroidered pillow had been just the thing to finally

417
00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:28.680
shut the brat up. ODIs took it off Clara Belle's

418
00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:32.319
face and put it back in the gift bag. He

419
00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:35.680
took both to the den, setting the present under the

420
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:39.799
tree with the others, and discarding his niece on to

421
00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:44.200
her grandpa's lap. He draped her little arm over the

422
00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:48.960
stump of his father's neck. That'll be a nice photo

423
00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:54.519
for mom's album, ODIs giggled. A shadow spilled into the room,

424
00:31:54.880 --> 00:32:01.599
and ODIs whirled around, expecting Carleton. Instead, he found Sie Jay.

425
00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:06.960
ODIs reached into his pocket for the spool of fishing line.

426
00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:12.559
Little boys loved to fish, so he'd picked that out

427
00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:16.799
just for the toddler. It was the stuff they used

428
00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:19.680
for marlin, so he was sure it would hold up

429
00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:23.160
to the task. He rubbed his thumb on the fiber,

430
00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:28.079
wondering if it would cut into the child's neck. Part

431
00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:30.960
of him hoped it would so he could watch his

432
00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:38.480
head pop off. Santa. See Jay whispered, not yet, ODIs said,

433
00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:42.720
still a few days early, buddy, But Santa's not the

434
00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:46.240
only one that gives presents. I have something for you.

435
00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:51.880
Would you like that? The little boy nodded, and ODIs knelt,

436
00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:56.720
waving him to come closer. He gave his nephew a hug.

437
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:03.440
See Jay giggled much like his uncle. An unfamiliar feeling

438
00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:07.680
came over ODIs, and he relinquished his grip on the wire.

439
00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:13.720
He whispered to SIEJ and pulled something from his other pocket.

440
00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:18.279
ODIs slid the thin curved knife from its sheath and

441
00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:21.680
wiggled the blade in front of the child, letting the

442
00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:26.200
whole light reflect off the polished steel. He put the

443
00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:37.880
point against the child's navel. Remember, buddy, never go too deep,

444
00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:42.279
he said. You want to spill the guts out, not

445
00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:46.400
cut them to pieces. Even pressure, and then you move

446
00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:50.720
smooth to the other side. ODIs dragged the blade across

447
00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:55.279
the power ranger's pajamas while giggling. He put the knife

448
00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:59.480
in its sheath before handing it to the boy. Go

449
00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.680
put that un to your pillow and get some sleep.

450
00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:05.240
Remember to stay out of this room until Christmas? Can

451
00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:10.760
you do that? C J nodded? Promise, he asked. The

452
00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:14.880
boy nodded with double the enthusiasm and ran back to

453
00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:19.039
the guest room. ODIs went to the Christmas tree. The

454
00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:23.440
colored lights flashed over him while he rearranged the presence.

455
00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:27.000
He took one of the peel and stick bows off

456
00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:32.360
a box and attached it to the bloody axe. That's

457
00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:36.880
much better, he chuckled. Time to give mommy her present.

458
00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:41.599
ODIs had planned his gift giving for Christmas Eve, but

459
00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:44.960
with the FEDS watching him and Carlton do back at

460
00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:49.840
any moment, there just wasn't time to waste. He turned

461
00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:53.159
off the heater and cracked open a window. It was

462
00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:56.239
cold enough that the bodies might not start to smell

463
00:34:56.360 --> 00:35:00.159
straight away. Josie told the FBI what he want was

464
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:03.440
going to do, but they weren't expecting him to do

465
00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:07.800
it until the next day. The Kilgores would have their

466
00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:12.360
final family Christmas. As soon as Otis dealt with Carlton,

467
00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:18.599
then Otis and Diane could be together. There was still

468
00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:22.559
the issue of how to arrange that, since she hadn't

469
00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:26.320
been at the store. He weighed his options as he

470
00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:30.239
gathered the role of plastic sheeting from his Kmart bag.

471
00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:34.440
He laid it out carefully along the hall, taping it

472
00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:38.960
into place and making sure the carpet was completely protected.

473
00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:44.159
For their twentieth anniversary, Mildred Kilgore had asked to have

474
00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:49.000
the house recarpeted in a cream colored high pile she'd

475
00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:52.119
fallen in love with at a friend's house. The only

476
00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:56.119
problem was the way it clashed with the old paint job.

477
00:35:57.320 --> 00:36:01.840
No more drab beige hallway for mommy. ODIs went to

478
00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:05.000
the glass fronted cabinet in the corner of the den.

479
00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:10.239
Mildred Milly, to her friends, had been asking her husband

480
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:14.960
to repaint for eleven years, so it seemed fitting ODIs

481
00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:17.800
would borrow one of his father's tools to give her

482
00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:21.960
the present she'd been asking for. He went to the

483
00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:25.519
hall and called for his mother. She peeked out of

484
00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:30.880
the bedroom. I'm still wrapping presents, Milly scolded, and tell

485
00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:34.360
your father to turn down that television set. The neighbors

486
00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:39.559
are going to complain. ODIs giggled. His mother always worried

487
00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:43.440
about that ever since he could remember, even though the

488
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:46.880
house sat on the outskirts of the county and the

489
00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:50.960
nearest neighbor was a half mile away. In a minute,

490
00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:56.000
ma'am Otis told her, your present can't wait until Christmas.

491
00:36:56.679 --> 00:37:00.880
My present. Milly stepped out of the room and jumped

492
00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:04.400
at the sudden crinkling of plastic beneath her bare feet.

493
00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:08.400
She walked out on to it, staring at the blue

494
00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:12.320
tape holding it to the trim. She beamed with joy

495
00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:16.760
as she looked up at Otis, is your father finally

496
00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:22.159
going to paint for me, No, Mommy, I am. ODIs

497
00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:25.119
whipped the four to ten pump action to his shoulder

498
00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:28.920
from behind the door jam and put the first slug

499
00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:35.639
between his mother's eyes. ODIs tossed the binder into the

500
00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:39.480
back seat. For months, he'd been compiling pieces of The

501
00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:44.760
poor Man's James Bond, Uncle Fester's Guide to Household Chemistry,

502
00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:49.760
the Anarchist's cook Book, and similar research manuals into a

503
00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:54.840
neatly categorized three ring binder. Every skill he thought might

504
00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:59.639
come in handy during his little sleigh ride had its

505
00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:04.280
own section marked with a colored tab. The section on

506
00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:08.519
lock picking had been short, but detailed enough that he

507
00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:12.599
was certain he could perform the task. He stepped out

508
00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:16.480
of the fierro and tugged his coat tight around him,

509
00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:20.880
running as fast as he could while hunched over, He

510
00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:23.280
pulled off his gloves and went to work on the

511
00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:28.519
lock of Kmart's garden center. During the winter, there was

512
00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:32.280
nothing on the outdoor pad, so the lights were turned off.51300:38:33.039 --> 00:38:36.800



It seemed like the best place to gain entry. After51400:38:36.880 --> 00:38:40.920



ten minutes of trying, he finally gave up and simply51500:38:41.039 --> 00:38:43.519



kicked out the glass with the steel toe of his51600:38:43.559 --> 00:38:48.280



work boot. No alarms went off, so he reached in51700:38:48.920 --> 00:38:52.920



and turned the lock, hoping the other things he'd learned51800:38:52.960 --> 00:38:57.920



from those tattered print outs worked much better. Otis took51900:38:57.960 --> 00:39:01.760



a flashlight from his pocket and navigated the dark store.52000:39:02.519 --> 00:39:05.559



Though he could have done it from memory, he loved52100:39:05.559 --> 00:39:09.440



that store almost as much as he loved Diane. He52200:39:09.559 --> 00:39:12.880



stepped into the stock room and panned the light around52300:39:12.880 --> 00:39:17.239



the shelving. Everything was crowded with carts and racks of52400:39:17.320 --> 00:39:21.159



overstocked merchandise that could be quickly rolled out to restock52500:39:21.280 --> 00:39:25.280



in a flash. He giggled as he explored the real52600:39:25.360 --> 00:39:31.039



life Santa's workshop. ODIs checked his TIMEX. The little Elves52700:39:31.079 --> 00:39:34.280



would be returning in a few hours, and he needed52800:39:34.320 --> 00:39:38.119



to speed things up. He shook off the wonderment and52900:39:38.280 --> 00:39:42.039



went to the manager's office. The filing cabinets were all53000:39:42.119 --> 00:39:46.639



meticulously labeled. ODIs found the one he needed and pulled53100:39:46.679 --> 00:39:50.280



open the d through f drawer. He stared at the53200:39:50.360 --> 00:39:55.480



names written on the file folders and groaned. He didn't53300:39:55.519 --> 00:40:01.320



know Diane's last name. It'll be changing soon, he giggled53400:40:01.800 --> 00:40:06.000



and began his search. He finally found her in the53500:40:06.079 --> 00:40:11.960



last drawer. Diane Woarchowski lived at the Grayfolk Court apartments53600:40:12.320 --> 00:40:16.199



on the other side of Ittawa. Otis read her entire53700:40:16.320 --> 00:40:21.519



file for deeper insights into the future Missus Kilgore, but53800:40:21.760 --> 00:40:25.920



the documents were fairly to the point. She hadn't even53900:40:25.960 --> 00:40:30.800



included a resume with her application. There would be lots54000:40:30.800 --> 00:40:34.000



of time to get to know each other later. He54100:40:34.119 --> 00:40:37.800



tucked the file into his jacket and closed the drawer.54200:40:38.639 --> 00:40:41.480



He was sure the police would blame the broken glass54300:40:41.639 --> 00:40:46.079



on delinquent kids, and he doubted any one took inventory54400:40:46.159 --> 00:40:50.440



of employee files. He paused to look over the schedule54500:40:50.920 --> 00:40:56.079



hung on the wall. Diane worked Saturday through Tuesday and54600:40:56.199 --> 00:41:00.480



had penciled in an extra shift on Christmas Day with54700:41:00.599 --> 00:41:04.800



a little frowny face next to it. His problem and54800:41:04.920 --> 00:41:16.480



hers was solved. He'd pick her up the next night54900:41:17.000 --> 00:41:20.639



so that she wouldn't have to work Christmas Day. That55000:41:20.920 --> 00:41:24.880



fake manager and the bimbo would surely alert their FBI55100:41:25.039 --> 00:41:29.599



handlers once he was spotted. Of course, ODIs made a55200:41:29.599 --> 00:41:33.599



few changes to the office before quickly exiting the store55300:41:34.159 --> 00:41:37.840



and sprinting back to the Fiarro. He was getting tired55400:41:38.239 --> 00:41:41.599



and there was still work to be done. He'd grab55500:41:41.639 --> 00:41:44.960



a nap, then clean up. While he waited for Diane's55600:41:45.000 --> 00:41:50.920



shift to end, ODIs knelt beside the trunk, exhaust roiled55700:41:50.960 --> 00:41:55.480



from the seams in wispy tendrils. He dragged the garden55800:41:55.519 --> 00:41:58.480



hose out of the muffler and tossed it into the55900:41:58.559 --> 00:42:06.119



ditch on the trunk, but got no reply. Poor Carlton,56000:42:06.760 --> 00:42:14.719



ODIs giggled, Hugh must be so exhausted. ODIs wretched over56100:42:14.760 --> 00:42:18.920



the toilet, hitting everything except the bowl with a wave56200:42:19.079 --> 00:42:23.480



of projectile vomit. Shelby had told him the acid stunk,56300:42:24.000 --> 00:42:26.719



but he hadn't considered just how bad it would be56400:42:27.519 --> 00:42:31.559



in the confines of the bathroom, especially once the hares56500:42:31.599 --> 00:42:37.920



and fatty deposits began dissolving. He regretted not just dumping56600:42:38.000 --> 00:42:41.760



Carlton in the sewer. He stumbled out of the room,56700:42:42.320 --> 00:42:46.440



teary eyed and scrubbing puke from his chin. It was56800:42:46.519 --> 00:42:51.079



the final kilgore Christmas, and Otis wasn't about to let56900:42:51.159 --> 00:42:55.519



Carlton ruin it. He had never liked his brother in law.57000:42:56.119 --> 00:43:00.639



Even before Josie had told him about their relationship. Carlton57100:43:00.679 --> 00:43:05.000



had treated Otis like some kind of freak. He constantly57200:43:05.039 --> 00:43:09.000



made comments about ODIs still living at home and called57300:43:09.039 --> 00:43:13.679



his job morbid. It wasn't like Otis grew up wanting57400:43:13.719 --> 00:43:17.480



to butcher poultry, and he hadn't always lived at home either.57500:43:18.159 --> 00:43:21.119



For a while he'd been in the Air Force. He57600:43:21.199 --> 00:43:24.480



might have stayed too, if it weren't for the FBI.57700:43:25.559 --> 00:43:29.760



They had ruined his career because of what he had heard.57800:43:30.199 --> 00:43:33.800



Otis went to the kitchen and splashed water onto his face.57900:43:34.559 --> 00:43:38.840



The garbled transmission replayed in his head with absolute clarity,58000:43:39.480 --> 00:43:42.519



like he was hearing it for the first time. He'd58100:43:42.559 --> 00:43:46.679



been monitoring radio frequencies for Soviet chatter when he'd picked58200:43:46.760 --> 00:43:50.440



up the first message. Otis always had a gift for58300:43:50.519 --> 00:43:57.880



solving puzzles and cracking codes, even extraterrestrial ones. He'd spent58400:43:58.039 --> 00:44:01.599



almost a year looking for the source, and even attempted58500:44:01.639 --> 00:44:07.079



several replies, but to no avail. When he presented the58600:44:07.119 --> 00:44:11.159



evidence to his superiors, they didn't just laugh at him.58700:44:11.719 --> 00:44:15.320



They put him on trial. They claimed that by changing58800:44:15.360 --> 00:44:20.079



the alignment of their satellites, ODIs had jeopardized national security.58900:44:20.920 --> 00:44:25.159



He was booted out within a month. The FBI had59000:44:25.239 --> 00:44:28.519



kept a tail on him ever since. They did their59100:44:28.519 --> 00:44:32.400



best to blend in and look like ordinary people. But59200:44:32.559 --> 00:44:36.559



Otis knew a spook when he saw one. He'd moved59300:44:36.599 --> 00:44:40.079



back in with his parents to protect them. Only they59400:44:40.159 --> 00:44:44.679



couldn't understand that, just like Carlton. They thought he was59500:44:44.760 --> 00:44:49.039



a loser with no ambitions. They couldn't see what he59600:44:49.079 --> 00:44:53.280



had done and continued to do. He definitely wouldn't miss59700:44:53.320 --> 00:44:57.440



that bunch of ingrates. Otis went back to the bathroom59800:44:58.039 --> 00:45:01.639



and watched a dismembered hunk of Carlton sink below the59900:45:01.679 --> 00:45:06.840



bubbling surface. The once brackish acid was tinged with pink,60000:45:07.440 --> 00:45:11.400



with swirls of deep crimson as it dissolved his brother60100:45:11.440 --> 00:45:17.000



in law. All too slowly. The toilet burbled, drawing an60200:45:17.000 --> 00:45:20.960



irritated sigh from Otis. It was the only one in60300:45:21.000 --> 00:45:24.920



the house, and he'd clogged it up, flushing Carlton's organs.60400:45:25.719 --> 00:45:28.239



He was thankful he'd gotten his morning shit out of60500:45:28.280 --> 00:45:32.559



the way first. Otis shut the door and started to60600:45:32.599 --> 00:45:37.360



the den to finish his preparations. Carlton didn't deserve to60700:45:37.400 --> 00:45:44.119



open presents with the real family. You why it's stink, see,60800:45:44.239 --> 00:45:49.119



Jay asked drearily. The jump nearly sent Otis into the ceiling.60900:45:49.960 --> 00:45:54.280



Damn it, buddy, don't sneak around like that, he said.61000:45:55.159 --> 00:45:58.719



You haven't been up snooping for presents, have you. Sej61100:45:58.880 --> 00:46:03.880



shook his head. It smells bad. Your daddy clogged the shower.61200:46:04.599 --> 00:46:09.159



Otis giggled. Let's get some frosted flakes. Then you need61300:46:09.159 --> 00:46:11.360



to play in your room. We're going to have a61400:46:11.519 --> 00:46:15.039



very special Christmas tonight, but you can't ruin the surprise.61500:46:15.880 --> 00:46:23.000



Promise you'll stay in the room. The boy nodded. Otis61600:46:23.119 --> 00:46:26.400



laid out little Carleton Junior on the couch next to61700:46:26.480 --> 00:46:30.400



Grandma in the den. He hadn't been sure how much61800:46:30.480 --> 00:46:33.800



valume it would take to knock the toddler out, but61900:46:34.239 --> 00:46:37.800



three seemed to do the trick. The boy hadn't even62000:46:37.880 --> 00:46:42.760



noticed the extra frosting on the flakes. Otis rolled the62100:46:42.800 --> 00:46:46.039



four ten inside a throw rug and stuffed one of62200:46:46.039 --> 00:46:50.639



his father's pistols in his waistband. He tossed the rug62300:46:50.760 --> 00:46:53.840



into the trunk of his car, along with the other62400:46:54.079 --> 00:46:58.760



presents he'd made. According to the schedule he'd seen in62500:46:58.800 --> 00:47:03.199



the office, Diane would be getting ready for work. He62600:47:03.239 --> 00:47:06.559



would have plenty of time to deliver the rest of62700:47:06.639 --> 00:47:15.159



his gifts. Chuck Pittman, the poultry Prince, had been given62800:47:15.199 --> 00:47:19.119



a cushy job at his father's factory and lorded over62900:47:19.199 --> 00:47:23.239



the workers for six long years. He had taken a63000:47:23.280 --> 00:47:28.960



particular interest in making things difficult for Otis. Josie and63100:47:29.039 --> 00:47:33.760



Diane hadn't been his only girlfriends. He'd been seeing a63200:47:33.800 --> 00:47:38.239



receptionist at the plant named Melissa for a year before63300:47:38.400 --> 00:47:43.039



Chuck showed up. He'd been jealous of Otis. The money63400:47:43.079 --> 00:47:47.559



and the fancy degree didn't interest Melissa, and that really63500:47:47.679 --> 00:47:52.079



ruffled the Prince's feathers. He expanded the shifts in the63600:47:52.079 --> 00:47:56.960



evisceration department to keep Otis out of the way. When63700:47:57.039 --> 00:48:01.719



that didn't work, Chuck resorted to strong arm tactics. Human63800:48:01.800 --> 00:48:05.760



Resources ambushed Otis in the break room, demanding that he63900:48:05.960 --> 00:48:12.920



cease all contact with Melissa. Otis hadn't listened. He steered64000:48:13.000 --> 00:48:16.280



clear at work to make Chuck think he'd won, of course,64100:48:17.199 --> 00:48:22.079



but continued to visit her at home for weeks. Afterwards,64200:48:22.760 --> 00:48:27.320



Chuck realized he couldn't win Melissa away, so he settled64300:48:27.320 --> 00:48:31.840



on making sure Otis lost her too. One day, she64400:48:31.960 --> 00:48:35.519



didn't show up for work, and by the time Otis64500:48:35.559 --> 00:48:42.280



got off she'd been relocated somewhere far away. Otis found64600:48:42.320 --> 00:48:47.679



her duplex hastily packed and abandoned. He'd spent months looking64700:48:47.719 --> 00:48:51.679



for her. Chuck paid well to cover up her disappearance.64800:48:52.760 --> 00:48:55.440



He even had people say they had talked to her64900:48:55.480 --> 00:48:59.480



on the phone were gotten letters from her. But Otis65000:48:59.519 --> 00:49:04.440



knew that truth, and it was finally time for some payback.65100:49:07.639 --> 00:49:11.360



ODIs arrived at Diane's apartments in time to see her65200:49:11.480 --> 00:49:15.840



coming down the staircase. She turned back and blew a65300:49:15.920 --> 00:49:20.039



kiss to her living room window, where an obese Siamese65400:49:20.559 --> 00:49:27.320



basked on the windowsill. ODIs snorted irritably. He'd never liked cats,65500:49:27.400 --> 00:49:30.440



and to top it off, he was allergic to the65600:49:30.519 --> 00:49:34.760



damn things. At least she was feeling well and whatever65700:49:34.800 --> 00:49:38.639



they'd done to her hadn't been serious. He would have65800:49:38.760 --> 00:49:42.440



six hours to complete his business with Chuck and get65900:49:42.519 --> 00:49:46.519



back to Kmart. He considered going up to the apartment66000:49:47.320 --> 00:49:51.679



after the previous night's folly, he wasn't feeling confident about66100:49:51.760 --> 00:49:56.079



picking the lock. He heard a car start and watched66200:49:56.119 --> 00:50:01.159



for Diane to pull out. The Volkswagen sputtered, then belched66300:50:01.199 --> 00:50:04.559



smoke as she turned out of the parking lot. As66400:50:04.599 --> 00:50:10.400



the snow started falling in fat, wet flakes, ODIs put66500:50:10.400 --> 00:50:14.679



the car in gear and pulled out. The Pittman Estate66600:50:14.880 --> 00:50:18.440



was located a few miles outside of Ittawa, off a66700:50:18.480 --> 00:50:23.559



stretch of private blacktop. That worked out great since ODIs66800:50:23.639 --> 00:50:26.559



was starving and the drive out there would take him66900:50:26.559 --> 00:50:30.480



past a few fast food joints. He fiddled with the67000:50:30.599 --> 00:50:34.840



radio until he found some Christmas tunes. He turned up67100:50:34.880 --> 00:50:39.000



Brenda Lee's Rocking around the Christmas Tree while he debated67200:50:39.000 --> 00:50:45.599



the dining options. ODIs sang along cheerily. With the snowfall67300:50:45.719 --> 00:50:50.400



growing in intensity and his naughty list almost finished. He67400:50:50.480 --> 00:50:55.320



couldn't possibly have been more in the holiday spirit. Something67500:50:55.599 --> 00:51:00.719



was bothering him, though he squirmed in his canvas company jacket.67600:51:01.679 --> 00:51:07.239



It sure was warm, but it wasn't very festive. And67700:51:07.360 --> 00:51:12.159



then he saw Hube Muller. A break in the cloud67800:51:12.199 --> 00:51:17.800



cover illuminated the drunk like the Christmas Angel. Hub chugged67900:51:17.800 --> 00:51:21.719



from a bottle wrapped in a damp paper bag, only68000:51:21.800 --> 00:51:26.480



stopping when his boots slipped in the slush. Hub bent68100:51:26.639 --> 00:51:31.519



to offer slurred profanities to the offending sidewalk for its68200:51:31.599 --> 00:51:36.280



lack of traction, Otis slowed down and pulled up to68300:51:36.360 --> 00:51:40.760



the curb beside him. He stretched across the passenger seat68400:51:41.320 --> 00:51:46.519



to roll down the window. Hub He shouted, Hughby, what68500:51:46.599 --> 00:51:52.320



are you doing caroling? Hub belched, I'll sing you something68600:51:52.400 --> 00:51:57.599



for a buck? How about lunch instead? Just because I'm68700:51:57.679 --> 00:52:00.880



shitfaced on a street corner, don't mean i'll suck your cock.68800:52:01.679 --> 00:52:06.559



Hub took another swig. Could use another bottle, though, Tell68900:52:06.559 --> 00:52:10.000



you what, twenty dollars and I'll hum silent night while69000:52:10.039 --> 00:52:14.320



I do it. Call it a Christmas special. It's freezing.69100:52:14.440 --> 00:52:19.199



Huby Otis looked around impatiently. I'm going to heart Ease69200:52:19.199 --> 00:52:21.280



and thought you might like to get something to eat.69300:52:21.840 --> 00:52:26.840



I'll drop you home afterwards. Look, bub blowjobs are one thing,69400:52:26.920 --> 00:52:30.440



but that shit sounds like a date. Hub took another69500:52:30.559 --> 00:52:36.039



drink and eyed Otis suspiciously. You some kind of queer69600:52:36.119 --> 00:52:40.320



or something, of course not, I'm practically a married man.69700:52:41.199 --> 00:52:45.360



Otis moved his hand between the seats. I thought I69800:52:45.400 --> 00:52:47.239



could give you a lift on my way back to69900:52:47.320 --> 00:52:53.079



her place. In fact, so you say, Hub raised an eyebrow.70000:52:54.000 --> 00:52:59.880



There's something mighty peculiar about you, bub Otis giggled. Yeah,70100:53:00.119 --> 00:53:05.000



that's it, Huby said, leaning into the window. I knew70200:53:05.039 --> 00:53:09.039



I recognized you. You're that fella that's always laughing when70300:53:09.079 --> 00:53:14.400



there ain't nothing funny, but something is funny, Huby. ODIs said,70400:53:15.440 --> 00:53:20.519



what's that You're wearing the wrong costume. Otis told him,70500:53:21.400 --> 00:53:27.960



you're not Santa, you are Rudolph, Rudolph bub You really70600:53:28.000 --> 00:53:31.199



are touched in the head. I ain't no damn dear,70700:53:32.400 --> 00:53:35.880



but she got a bright red nose. Otis drew the70800:53:35.960 --> 00:53:42.360



revolver and fired, detonating Hube's snoot. The drunk slumped into70900:53:42.400 --> 00:53:46.519



the car. ODIs quickly pulled him in as best he could,71000:53:47.239 --> 00:53:51.159



leaving the man's fur trimmed boots dangling out the window.71100:53:51.760 --> 00:53:56.239



As he peeled away from the curb. The Pontiac's tires71200:53:56.280 --> 00:54:01.119



slid and the car went sideways and back before ODIs71300:54:01.159 --> 00:54:10.840



finally corrected the course. ODIs tossed the crumpled burger wrapper71400:54:10.880 --> 00:54:14.679



out the window. On the private road he'd left. Hughbe71500:54:14.679 --> 00:54:18.920



behind the dumpster at Hartyse. He smiled as he stepped71600:54:18.920 --> 00:54:23.039



out into the barrage of snowflakes and ran his hands71700:54:23.079 --> 00:54:27.719



along the red vlure. It was exactly the thing he'd71800:54:27.760 --> 00:54:31.079



been missing. It was going to be the most perfect71900:54:31.239 --> 00:54:35.960



Christmas ever. ODIs went to the trunk to retrieve the shotgun.72000:54:37.000 --> 00:54:40.360



Chuck Pittman's house must have looked like a five alarm72100:54:40.480 --> 00:54:44.360



fire at night, with the tens of thousands of twinkling72200:54:44.480 --> 00:54:48.599



bulbs lining its eaves and windows and twisting up its72300:54:48.960 --> 00:54:54.440



romanesque columns. Carols played through speakers mounted on the porch.72400:54:55.239 --> 00:54:58.679



ODIs slung a Duffel bag over his shoulder and made72500:54:58.719 --> 00:55:02.519



his way to the front door. He couldn't stop giggling72600:55:02.639 --> 00:55:06.679



while he awaited anyone to answer. After ringing the doorbell,72700:55:08.159 --> 00:55:12.519



the door finally opened, and Chuck's wife answered in her72800:55:12.559 --> 00:55:18.000



peppermint striped stockings and green sweater dress with jingling bells72900:55:18.400 --> 00:55:23.159



stitched on. Oh, I didn't know Chucky hired a Santa.73000:55:23.719 --> 00:55:28.079



She scrunched her nose and shook her head. But you're73100:55:28.119 --> 00:55:32.599



a bit early, aren't you. I don't think so Otis73200:55:32.679 --> 00:55:36.639



shook his satchel. Got a whole bag full of gifts73300:55:36.760 --> 00:55:40.800



right here. The guests don't arrive for another two hours.73400:55:41.719 --> 00:55:46.079



Missus Pittman pinched Odis's cheeks, and you don't even have73500:55:46.199 --> 00:55:52.320



your beard on. Hey, Sweetie, who's that, Chuck asked, coming73600:55:52.360 --> 00:55:57.679



into the foyer. Billy Lyle, right, that rascal's always early.73700:55:58.159 --> 00:56:03.000



Just ask his old lady. No, Chucky, it's Santa, she73800:56:03.199 --> 00:56:09.360



corrected him. Santa, who the hell invited him? Chuck asked heartily.73900:56:10.360 --> 00:56:14.199



He doesn't have a beard either, She whined. He can74000:56:14.239 --> 00:56:20.159



borrow your mother's. Chuck squinted at him. Hey, you're not Santa,74100:56:20.880 --> 00:56:24.760



You're the purvo freak from a visceration. What the fuck74200:56:24.800 --> 00:56:28.480



are you doing at my house? Just came to deliver74300:56:28.599 --> 00:56:33.719



my presence. ODIs unzipped the bag and slipped his gloved74400:56:33.800 --> 00:56:38.199



hand inside. On what I pay you? They can't be74500:56:38.320 --> 00:56:42.360



that good, his boss huffed. How about you keep them74600:56:42.400 --> 00:56:47.840



and just get off my porch. These gifts are to74700:56:48.000 --> 00:56:51.960



die for. ODIs raised the shotgun from behind his back74800:56:52.320 --> 00:56:56.440



and fired it into Chuck's guts. He pulled the machete74900:56:56.480 --> 00:57:02.400



from the bag and started to sing, i'me dreaming of75000:57:02.639 --> 00:57:13.679



a red Christmas sh Otis beat a fist against the75100:57:13.719 --> 00:57:18.880



steering wheel. He sobbed as much from disappointment as from pain.75200:57:19.800 --> 00:57:24.199



In his defense, he didn't know much about guns. In75300:57:24.239 --> 00:57:28.360



the service, he'd been required to shoot targets during basic training,75400:57:28.400 --> 00:57:31.559



and that was about it. How was he to know75500:57:31.719 --> 00:57:35.480



the twenty two caliber revolver wouldn't be enough to stop75600:57:35.599 --> 00:57:39.039



Chuck's father in law. The Internet had lied to him75700:57:39.079 --> 00:57:44.239



as well. The match head bombed he'd painstakingly constructed, hadn't75800:57:44.239 --> 00:57:48.159



done anything other than scorch an expensive rug and leave75900:57:48.239 --> 00:57:53.199



his ears ringing. He'd shot five people in the Pittman mansion,76000:57:53.840 --> 00:57:57.760



but only killed one for certain. The machete had gotten76100:57:57.840 --> 00:58:03.079



Missus Pittman and perhaps another. Chuck was dead, so at76200:58:03.159 --> 00:58:07.400



least he had that going for him. Unfortunately, the others76300:58:07.440 --> 00:58:12.239



were still alive and had all seen his face. The76400:58:12.320 --> 00:58:16.280



fierro slid in the slush. The snowfall was turning into76500:58:16.280 --> 00:58:20.320



an outright blizzard. The cops would be looking for him.76600:58:21.039 --> 00:58:23.440



He'd been shot in the shoulder and one of the76700:58:23.440 --> 00:58:26.920



Pittman brats had stuck a fondue fork in his thigh.76800:58:27.639 --> 00:58:30.800



C J must have woken up too, because the radio76900:58:30.960 --> 00:58:34.599



was carrying on about the scene at his house. He77000:58:34.719 --> 00:58:39.400



scanned through the stations trying to find music. Everything was77100:58:39.480 --> 00:58:44.119



going to shit in short order. Roadblocks were probably already77200:58:44.119 --> 00:58:48.559



in place, but they were looking for ODIs Kilgore, not77300:58:49.400 --> 00:58:54.559



mister and missus claws. He checked the time he could77400:58:54.599 --> 00:58:57.840



grab a beard at kmart. When he picked up Diane77500:58:57.880 --> 00:59:02.039



to disguise himself, they would just be another couple heading77600:59:02.079 --> 00:59:05.880



to a Christmas Eve party. He hadn't even had time77700:59:05.920 --> 00:59:08.840



to register the Fierro in his name. With the holiday77800:59:08.920 --> 00:59:12.119



hubbub and his work schedule, they were going to be77900:59:12.400 --> 00:59:17.599



just fine and far away from Ittawa. Just as soon78000:59:17.679 --> 00:59:20.679



as the idiot in front of him learned to drive.78100:59:22.000 --> 00:59:25.559



The Ford probe started to fishtail for the third time78200:59:25.679 --> 00:59:29.679



since Otis had turned in behind it. Each time it happened,78300:59:30.119 --> 00:59:34.559



the driver slowed down more. They were barely crawling along.78400:59:35.440 --> 00:59:39.199



Otis watched the brake lights flare again through the accumulating78500:59:39.320 --> 00:59:43.920



snow on his windshield. The Fierro's wipers were swishing as78600:59:44.000 --> 00:59:48.360



fast as they could, but weren't keeping up. He laid78700:59:48.360 --> 00:59:52.199



on the horn. The probe accelerated, only to lose traction78800:59:52.760 --> 00:59:57.280



yet again. The driver spiked the brakes and Otis narrowly78900:59:57.320 --> 01:00:02.199



avoided rear ending them. Pulled alongside the probe, giving the79001:00:02.320 --> 01:00:05.480



driver the finger, and the man sped up to prevent79101:00:05.559 --> 01:00:10.800



him from passing. In retaliation, ODIs beated the horn, waving79201:00:10.840 --> 01:00:15.199



for him to fall back. It didn't work. The driver's79301:00:15.199 --> 01:00:18.239



manhood was at stake, and no blizzard was going to79401:00:18.280 --> 01:00:23.000



stop him from defending it. The two cars raced along79501:00:23.079 --> 01:00:27.360



the main drag through town, their tires spun and slung79601:00:27.719 --> 01:00:32.239



black gray snow as both drivers wrestled to keep themselves straight.79701:00:33.159 --> 01:00:35.719



ODIs let go of the steering wheel with one hand79801:00:36.199 --> 01:00:40.519



to wrestle the shotgun from behind the seat. The Probe79901:00:40.639 --> 01:00:45.599



careened left. ODIs screeched as his passenger window shattered and80001:00:45.719 --> 01:00:49.119



the door buckled inward. He dropped the gun on to80101:00:49.239 --> 01:00:52.920



the floor and gripped the wheel with both hands, scraping80201:00:53.000 --> 01:00:56.079



down the side of a parked van and taking out80301:00:56.079 --> 01:00:59.239



a phone booth before he got back on the road.80401:01:00.400 --> 01:01:04.679



The Probe's driver, convinced of his victory and male dominance,80501:01:05.119 --> 01:01:10.480



coasted back to his previous slow crawl. ODIs retrieved the80601:01:10.519 --> 01:01:14.440



shotgun from the floorboard and bashed out the spider webbed80701:01:14.480 --> 01:01:19.159



window before giving chase. Even at thirty five, he was80801:01:19.199 --> 01:01:23.079



able to overtake the other vehicle he held before ten80901:01:23.239 --> 01:01:28.159



one handed, and took his foot off the accelerator through81001:01:28.199 --> 01:01:32.119



the frosted glass ODIs could see the man screaming right81101:01:32.199 --> 01:01:37.239



before his face exploded. The probe veered to the right,81201:01:37.719 --> 01:01:43.000



crashing through a store front and bursting into flames. ODIs81301:01:43.079 --> 01:01:47.639



dropped the shotgun and hit seek on the radio. He81401:01:47.760 --> 01:01:52.440



started giggling as he made the turn for Kmart and81501:01:52.599 --> 01:01:57.440



sang along with Dolly knowing You're in love with me81601:01:58.840 --> 01:02:07.760



is the greatest of all. Otis held the breakdown and81701:02:07.880 --> 01:02:11.599



stared at the glass front of the store. They were81801:02:11.599 --> 01:02:15.559



closing early for Christmas Eve, but there were still a81901:02:15.599 --> 01:02:20.440



few shoppers that hadn't taken the hint. He could see82001:02:20.480 --> 01:02:25.760



that manager inside waving for them to get the hell out,82101:02:26.880 --> 01:02:31.800



and he could see Diane. She had a line of customers,82201:02:32.360 --> 01:02:36.840



but the one she was helping didn't seem to notice.82301:02:36.840 --> 01:02:41.239



ODIs watched the prissy fat man waving his hands around82401:02:41.320 --> 01:02:47.000



and obviously shouting at Diane. If the customers didn't understand82501:02:47.320 --> 01:02:51.119



we're closed, then Otis would have to give them something82601:02:51.519 --> 01:02:56.400



they could understand. He stomped the gas pedal to the floorboard.82701:02:56.920 --> 01:03:00.440



The Pontiac slid and swerved, but stayed straight ate enough82801:03:00.440 --> 01:03:04.000



to get the job done. The automatic doors didn't part82901:03:04.119 --> 01:03:08.159



fast enough and Otis's bumpers sheared them from their tracks.83001:03:09.039 --> 01:03:13.400



Customers bounced off the hood, sending presents flying into the air.83101:03:14.320 --> 01:03:19.079



One of them crashed face first through the windshield. Santa83201:03:19.199 --> 01:03:24.199



doesn't pick up hitchhikers. Otis pulled the handbrake. The tires83301:03:24.239 --> 01:03:27.800



squelched on the tile until he finally wrecked into a83401:03:27.880 --> 01:03:32.719



checkout lane. He stepped out of the car. Blood poured83501:03:32.800 --> 01:03:36.280



down his sleeve from the bullet in his shoulder. He83601:03:36.400 --> 01:03:42.159



rubbed his fingers together, giggling at the sticky, wet, peeling sensation.83701:03:43.639 --> 01:03:47.159



He laid the shotgun on his other shoulder and clamored83801:03:47.199 --> 01:03:51.039



over the hood to pick up the phone. He jabbed83901:03:51.039 --> 01:03:53.880



a bloody finger into the innercom button.84001:03:54.639 --> 01:03:59.760



Attention Kmart shoppers, the store has been closed for ten minutes,84101:04:00.440 --> 01:04:04.480



he giggled. I've been waiting months to slide down a84201:04:04.519 --> 01:04:09.719



special someone's chimney, and you ungrateful buffoons are keeping that84301:04:10.119 --> 01:04:15.960



from happening. You're all being very, very naughty, and since84401:04:16.000 --> 01:04:19.559



I'm fresh out of coal, I guess I'll just have84501:04:19.719 --> 01:04:25.079



to give you all lead. ODIs fired a slug into84601:04:25.079 --> 01:04:28.800



the bitchy customer's chest, pumped the slide and hit him84701:04:28.840 --> 01:04:32.880



between the chins. Before he could fall, ODIs racked the84801:04:32.960 --> 01:04:37.480



slide and the gun clicked. That sounded louder than the gunshots.84901:04:38.440 --> 01:04:42.679



Everyone else heard it too, and scattered like cockroaches fleeing85001:04:42.719 --> 01:04:47.199



a kitchen light. We're not finished yet, you el fuckers.85101:04:47.920 --> 01:04:51.920



ODIs scrambled over the car, popping open the trunk to85201:04:52.079 --> 01:04:57.400



access his other supplies. There are still presents to deliver.85301:04:58.239 --> 01:05:02.840



ODIs hoisted the homemade crossbow and fired indiscriminately into a85401:05:02.840 --> 01:05:08.920



group of shoppers. He'd found schematics online, and surprisingly, the85501:05:09.000 --> 01:05:12.440



damn thing worked. He was laughing at the old timer85601:05:12.519 --> 01:05:15.840



limping along with the arrow in his back when he85701:05:15.920 --> 01:05:21.559



spied the manager tugging Diane along behind him. ODIs dropped85801:05:21.559 --> 01:05:26.480



the crossbow, swapping it out for a spiked bat. He'd85901:05:26.519 --> 01:05:30.360



been saving that one for the loan officer in Oklahoma City,86001:05:30.800 --> 01:05:34.280



who he planned on visiting on their way to Mexico.86101:05:34.559 --> 01:05:37.320



He would have to send that asshole a late Christmas86201:05:37.320 --> 01:05:41.880



card instead. He had some ideas on that. Thanks to86301:05:42.000 --> 01:05:47.159



Teddy Kaczinski, Otis turned his ear up to the overhead speaker.86401:05:47.880 --> 01:05:51.400



His hip started to sway. If there was a better86501:05:51.519 --> 01:05:54.360



song to chase down the dirty, rotten son of a86601:05:54.400 --> 01:05:58.559



bitch who was kidnapping your girlfriend than Christmas in Hollis,86701:05:59.119 --> 01:06:03.559



ODIs didn't know what it could be. He swatted down86801:06:03.639 --> 01:06:07.679



the bystanders and danced with the bat as he pursued86901:06:07.760 --> 01:06:13.159



the so called store manager. The nine inch nails weren't fatal,87001:06:13.760 --> 01:06:18.159



but certainly made sure everyone got his point. Maybe next87101:06:18.239 --> 01:06:23.559



year they'd be more considerate of retail workers. As he87201:06:23.639 --> 01:06:27.559



got further into the store, the screams faded to background noise,87301:06:27.920 --> 01:06:31.400



and he could hear the squeaking of Diane's rebox as87401:06:31.440 --> 01:06:35.679



she was dragged away from him against her will. ODIs87501:06:35.719 --> 01:06:38.880



cut through sporting Goods, smashing out the glass on a87601:06:38.920 --> 01:06:43.920



display case. Since he'd gifted CJ his knife, he decided87701:06:43.920 --> 01:06:47.239



to get himself a new one. He held up the87801:06:47.280 --> 01:06:51.960



gerber tack too, so he could inspect the serrations before87901:06:52.039 --> 01:06:55.880



tucking it into his belt. Just what I need to88001:06:55.960 --> 01:07:01.039



string the garland, he giggled. ODIs kicked open the stock88101:07:01.119 --> 01:07:06.519



room's double doors to stone delinquents in effectually shoved carts88201:07:06.519 --> 01:07:12.280



in his direction before running away. Otis dug Hube's bottle88301:07:12.360 --> 01:07:16.000



from a fur lined pocket. He took a slug from it.88401:07:16.719 --> 01:07:19.840



The cinnamon schnapps was as good a painkiller as any.88501:07:20.679 --> 01:07:24.760



I came here to kick ass and jingle bells, he shouted,88601:07:25.480 --> 01:07:36.519



and I'm all out of bells. Nobody else was lingering.88701:07:36.840 --> 01:07:41.400



It appeared not that he expected them to. They would88801:07:41.480 --> 01:07:44.599



run for the office so that bastard agent could call88901:07:44.679 --> 01:07:49.199



for backup. It sent Otis into a giggle fit. He'd89001:07:49.239 --> 01:07:52.920



known things would go sideways when he came to get Diane,89101:07:53.679 --> 01:07:56.639



just like he'd known the manager would make a run89201:07:56.719 --> 01:08:02.000



for the office. So Otis had made preppers. He'd unplugged89301:08:02.000 --> 01:08:05.480



the phone and twisted a paper clip around its prongs.89401:08:06.159 --> 01:08:09.199



As soon as it was plugged back in, it would89501:08:11.119 --> 01:08:16.319



the lights turned off, sending everything into blackness until the89601:08:16.399 --> 01:08:21.680



emergency units kicked on. Otis smiled at his own genius.89701:08:22.479 --> 01:08:26.119



It had shorted the system just like he'd planned, and89801:08:26.239 --> 01:08:30.880



told him exactly where they were. He started down the89901:08:30.960 --> 01:08:35.479



long corridor to the office when from the breakroom there90001:08:35.520 --> 01:08:40.359



arose such a clatter. ODIs peeked through the little window90101:08:40.920 --> 01:08:46.399



and found two employees not being very good. For goodness sake,90201:08:47.520 --> 01:08:52.680



the bimbo cashier Shelby, was wrestling her tangled shirt back90301:08:52.760 --> 01:08:56.640



over her head. A toned stock boy that looked like90401:08:56.680 --> 01:09:00.760



a Baywatch extra was having similar luck with the chinos90501:09:01.159 --> 01:09:06.479



wrapped around his ankles. ODIs eased the door open, letting90601:09:06.479 --> 01:09:10.680



a blade of light cut across the dark room. Shit90701:09:11.760 --> 01:09:16.840



jewels shall be squinted at Otis's silhouetted figure while she90801:09:17.039 --> 01:09:22.720



tugged down the inside out garments. I was coming out there,90901:09:22.760 --> 01:09:24.840



I mean I was going to come out there to91001:09:24.880 --> 01:09:29.960



help close up Arnold's His belt broke right, and I91101:09:30.119 --> 01:09:34.960



was helping him fix it. Nothing like stuffing the Christmas goose.91201:09:35.760 --> 01:09:39.439



ODIs stepped into the room and posed with the bat91301:09:39.720 --> 01:09:43.760



like he was Mark Maguire. But it's so much easier91401:09:43.840 --> 01:09:48.640



if you kill it first. Arnold screamed and stumbled backwards,91501:09:48.840 --> 01:09:52.319



tripping over his pants and cracking his head on a counter.91601:09:53.319 --> 01:09:58.640



ODIs charged forward, but so did Shelby. She dropped her shoulders,91701:09:58.880 --> 01:10:03.119



burying it into Odis's sternum. They hit the ground together,91801:10:03.279 --> 01:10:06.960



and she immediately and repeatedly kneed him in the groin.91901:10:07.800 --> 01:10:11.479



Otis could hear the door slamming shut between his own92001:10:11.680 --> 01:10:17.479



heaving breaths. He sat up shakily. He definitely underestimated her.92101:10:18.079 --> 01:10:21.479



She wasn't just as stooly. She had to be a92201:10:21.520 --> 01:10:25.560



full agent with moves like that. He pulled himself up92301:10:25.600 --> 01:10:28.640



to his feet and gave Arnold a swift kick to92401:10:28.720 --> 01:10:32.479



the mouth as he tried to do the same. You92501:10:32.640 --> 01:10:37.000



haven't been a good little boy, have you, ODIs rubbed92601:10:37.039 --> 01:10:41.439



his sore nuts. No toys for you, but how about92701:10:41.439 --> 01:10:46.439



a nice new microwave. Otis pulled the appliance from the92801:10:46.479 --> 01:10:49.840



counter and let it drop onto the stock boy's head92901:10:50.399 --> 01:10:54.520



with a wet crunch. He shook the brain matter off93001:10:54.560 --> 01:10:58.640



his boot, giggling all the way to the office door.93101:10:59.479 --> 01:11:04.359



Like spected. It was closed up tight, at least they93201:11:04.399 --> 01:11:07.960



thought it was. He gave it a shove and the93301:11:08.079 --> 01:11:12.520



door swung open. ODIs pulled the wadding from the hole93401:11:12.680 --> 01:11:18.159



that kept the bolt from engaging completely. Diane cowered against93501:11:18.239 --> 01:11:21.560



the desk with the manager in front of her. All93601:11:21.600 --> 01:11:27.039



ODIs could see was her face. She looked absolutely terrified93701:11:27.439 --> 01:11:32.199



as her supposed boss held her captive. He pointed the93801:11:32.279 --> 01:11:38.720



bat at Jewels. Santa Claus is coming to pound, he growled.93901:11:39.319 --> 01:11:43.359



Jewels held up a letter opener. You stay back, nutcase.94001:11:44.279 --> 01:11:48.680



Oh is that what the naughty little boy wants for Christmas?94101:11:49.359 --> 01:11:53.479



ODIs slammed the bat into the wall, leaving it embedded94201:11:53.560 --> 01:11:58.039



there by its spikes. If you're asking Santa for a94301:11:58.119 --> 01:12:02.279



knife fight, then you're in life luck. ODIs pulled the94401:12:02.319 --> 01:12:07.319



gerber from his belt. Unlike Jewles, his hand wasn't shaking94501:12:07.600 --> 01:12:11.000



when he pressed it out in front of him. What94601:12:11.039 --> 01:12:16.760



the fuck is wrong with you, Diane shouted, leave us alone.94701:12:17.079 --> 01:12:21.399



It's too late now, but she's right. You should have94801:12:21.479 --> 01:12:26.760



left us alone, ODIs said, don't worry, honey. As soon94901:12:26.800 --> 01:12:31.199



as he's dead, no one will ever bother us again.95001:12:37.359 --> 01:12:42.359



Not him, You fucking sicko, Diane screamed, He's not the95101:12:42.439 --> 01:12:48.520



deranged prick in a goddamn Santa suit. The revelation left95201:12:48.520 --> 01:12:55.800



ODIs unable to speak, move, or even giggle. They had95301:12:55.840 --> 01:13:01.439



done it, The conniving bastards had set him up. Diane95401:13:01.600 --> 01:13:05.239



was a plant, sent to lead him on and make95501:13:05.319 --> 01:13:08.680



him do something drastic so they could lock him away.95601:13:09.920 --> 01:13:13.840



His eyes swelled with tears. He'd have broken down into95701:13:13.920 --> 01:13:18.199



hysterics if Jewels hadn't suddenly lunged at him with the opener.95801:13:19.119 --> 01:13:23.800



ODIs leaned away from the attack. The retailer thrust it again,95901:13:24.840 --> 01:13:27.960



but ODIs parried and returned a stab of his own,96001:13:28.880 --> 01:13:34.800



just above Jewel's right hip. Never too deep, he whispered.96101:13:35.840 --> 01:13:39.560



You want to spill the guts, not cut them to pieces.96201:13:40.640 --> 01:13:44.760



ODIs jerked the blade to the man's navel, then twisted96301:13:44.760 --> 01:13:48.399



it and sliced its way up until the knife hid96401:13:48.439 --> 01:13:54.520



his breastbone. A waterfall of blood and viscera crashed over96501:13:54.680 --> 01:14:01.359



Odis's boots. This Christmas, you'll give me your heart. ODIs96601:14:01.399 --> 01:14:06.000



punched his fist into the gash and wriggled around elbow96701:14:06.159 --> 01:14:09.880



deep in the man's rib cage. He tugged twice, and96801:14:10.039 --> 01:14:14.840



then harder the third time to rip the organ free.96901:14:14.880 --> 01:14:19.399



He held it up, watching it sputter its remaining contents.97001:14:19.920 --> 01:14:25.279



With a few final beats. He turned to Diane and97101:14:25.439 --> 01:14:29.560



shook the heart. It's more of a Valentine's kind of gift,97201:14:29.680 --> 01:14:34.319



but it's the thought that counts. Am I right? He97301:14:34.399 --> 01:14:39.800



giggled nervously. I really do love you, Diane. Even though97401:14:39.840 --> 01:14:44.000



this was just another assignment for you, it was real97501:14:44.079 --> 01:14:49.479



for me. But oh well, what the hell are you97601:14:49.600 --> 01:14:54.560



talking about? I don't even know who you are. You're97701:14:54.680 --> 01:15:01.239



still coming with me, Diane? ODIs stalked closer to the desk,97801:15:01.880 --> 01:15:05.359



He slammed the heart down, letting it squish in his97901:15:05.520 --> 01:15:09.520



gloved fist. He tapped the tip of the knife on98001:15:09.600 --> 01:15:14.880



her candy cane shaped name tag, then slid the edge98101:15:14.920 --> 01:15:19.479



delicately down her torso until it clicked on the brass98201:15:19.520 --> 01:15:25.720



button of her jeans. ODIs leaned in, taking a deep98301:15:25.800 --> 01:15:32.000



sniff of her exclamation perfume. Do you like Christmas movies?98401:15:33.079 --> 01:15:41.000



Diane asked softly. Everybody likes Christmas movies, he replied, moving98501:15:41.039 --> 01:15:48.640



the knife back up her body. What's your favorite Santa Claus? Obviously,98601:15:49.439 --> 01:15:55.960



ODIs said, the one with Dudley Moore. It's timeless. What's yours?98701:15:56.640 --> 01:16:01.279



One of those rankin bass films? Probably you couldn't be98801:16:01.399 --> 01:16:09.520



further off, Diane smiled. Its silent night, deadly night, naughty98901:16:10.680 --> 01:16:15.560



a woman growled. ODIs whirled to see Shelby swinging the99001:16:15.640 --> 01:16:20.359



emergency fire axe at him. The blade landed opposite the99101:16:20.479 --> 01:16:25.439



part in his greasy hair. The cashier ripped it out.99201:16:26.560 --> 01:16:32.199



ODIs staggered towards her, swinging the knife with failing coordination.99301:16:33.600 --> 01:16:37.960



He turned to Diane, with his face obscured by a99401:16:38.000 --> 01:16:43.960



curtain of blood pumping from the head wound. Diane dodged99501:16:44.000 --> 01:16:47.920



the knife, twisted her fists into his red coat, and99601:16:48.039 --> 01:16:52.960



shoved him backwards towards the spiked bat he'd left stuck99701:16:53.520 --> 01:16:58.319



in the wall. ODIs screamed as he was impaled through99801:16:58.399 --> 01:17:04.279



the back. Diane took a step away and watched him squirm.99901:17:05.720 --> 01:17:13.640



I love you, Otis coughed blood and sagged weakly on100001:17:13.680 --> 01:17:20.720



the nails. You were just another customer. Diane shoved him hard,100101:17:20.880 --> 01:17:25.159



pushing the spikes in deeper. I guess you'll be sticking100201:17:25.199 --> 01:17:31.520



around for New Years. Diane and Shelby walked out into100301:17:31.560 --> 01:17:37.359



the hallway. They could hear the Etawa police shouting. Flashlights100401:17:37.399 --> 01:17:42.319



shined around the stock room. Took them long enough, shall100501:17:42.359 --> 01:17:48.720



be bitched. We didn't need them anyways, Diane said. That's100601:17:48.760 --> 01:17:53.119



because we're a Blue Light special on kicking Ass. Yes100701:17:53.239 --> 01:17:59.000



we are. Diane agreed. Want to come over and watch Rudolph.100801:18:00.119 --> 01:18:06.520



Don't you have any real Christmas movies? Yeah, Diane smirked.100901:18:07.840 --> 01:18:21.199



Let's watch Diehard? All right, my spookys, that was Otis101001:18:21.239 --> 01:18:25.439



slays Christmas. And if you're listening to this on Christmas Eve,101101:18:25.520 --> 01:18:30.000



then congratulations you made it to the end of the line.101201:18:31.319 --> 01:18:35.840



The last Blue Light Special has finally died, and I101301:18:35.960 --> 01:18:39.520



just want to say thank you all so much. Seriously,101401:18:40.079 --> 01:18:43.760



this has been an absolute whirlwind. More than twenty five101501:18:43.880 --> 01:18:47.840



Christmas releases on the Weekly Spooky Feed, and you showed101601:18:47.920 --> 01:18:53.840



up for every snowstorm, every demon, every Killer Santa, and101701:18:53.920 --> 01:18:58.279



every one more episode at two in the morning. You101801:18:58.359 --> 01:19:02.079



made this whole holiday marathon feel like a messed up101901:19:02.199 --> 01:19:06.520



little tradition and I'm grateful as hell for it. So102001:19:06.760 --> 01:19:11.479



wherever you're listening, whether you're preparing gifts, driving through a blizzard,102101:19:11.600 --> 01:19:14.920



hiding from your relatives in the bathroom, or working the102201:19:15.039 --> 01:19:18.159



kind of shift that makes you hate jingle bells forever,102301:19:18.960 --> 01:19:22.520



thank you for spending your season with me. And I102401:19:22.560 --> 01:19:24.640



want to say an extra special thank you to our102501:19:24.680 --> 01:19:28.720



Patreon podcast boosters, folks who go to Weeklyspooky dot com102601:19:28.720 --> 01:19:32.039



slash join support us every month and pay a little102701:19:32.039 --> 01:19:34.279



extra to hear their names at the end of the show.102801:19:34.960 --> 01:19:38.239



Thank you, Johnny Nix, Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller, Mike102901:19:38.279 --> 01:19:42.319



is Schuey, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford, Karen we Met, Jack Kerr,103001:19:42.479 --> 01:19:44.560



and Craig Cohen. And if you guys want to join them,103101:19:44.840 --> 01:19:49.199



Headweklyspooky dot com, slash join. I do appreciate the support,103201:19:49.239 --> 01:19:52.560



but now it's about time I take a small break.103301:19:53.119 --> 01:19:56.199



But there may be just a little extra Christmas present103401:19:56.880 --> 01:19:59.600



on the twenty sixth, so keep an eye out for103501:19:59.640 --> 01:20:02.680



that in make sure you're subscribed, and of course on Saturday,103601:20:02.960 --> 01:20:06.119



we'll be dropping a marathon from the weekly Spooky Vault103701:20:06.439 --> 01:20:08.920



of New Year's Terror, and we'll have a brand new103801:20:08.920 --> 01:20:12.239



New Year's Horror story on New Year's Eve. So for myself,103901:20:12.239 --> 01:20:15.399



for my executive producers Rob Fields and Bubbletopia dot Com,104001:20:15.439 --> 01:20:19.479



my producer Dan Wilder, and my composer Ray Maddis, Merry104101:20:19.560 --> 01:20:25.079



Christmas and happy holidays. Thank you for listenings. Make sure104201:20:25.159 --> 01:20:28.439



to find your way back next week week. But for104301:20:28.560 --> 01:20:33.319



now you are safe, trust me.