(continued from this month's coming newsletter, watch your email!)

... He unfurls the last roll of Jasmine Black.

Now let’s see what we got here. She was distracted by the light. Wait where the fuck is she? Not a single capture of her, but I saw her walk in. Just a blank red carpet with the other spectators taking pictures. There’s that alley guy again. Wait what’s going on here. Looks like his head is turning and he’s letting go of the wall. A man’s neck doesn’t snap like that. Oh god!!! He’s dead!!! He’s dead!!! Oh crap!!! What the hell did he just turn into!!! Is that ash!!!

He paces the darkroom for a bit.

This might worth something for the cops on a murder in the alley. But what do I do with them? Think Kevin think. What should you do? Develop them for the boss and then call the cops. Hopefully they aren’t ruined.

He takes his time developing the rest of the rolls grabbing some coffee to keep him awake and less jittery for this lengthy daunting project, but the photos are up on the lines, drying as he turns out the dark room lights exiting there. He fidgets for the phone sitting on the couch terrified about all he has seen tonight. As he starts punching the numbers on the phone, a knock happens on his door.

It’s 6 am. Suns starting to come out. Who could that be? Can I finally get some sleep?

“Kevin Rogers. This is the police. Can we come in and chat with you?”

He stops the call putting the phone down on the counter. He mops over his hair getting up to answer the door.

Wow. They got here quick hopefully think don’t think I had anything to do with the murder. I better let them in and explain this mess.

The door opens and the cops have their badges out, two homicide detectives with better suits than he has. He examines them, making sure they are cops as he lets them in.

He motions them trying to stop the panic from being apparent in front of them.

Kevin: “Want some coffee? Getting ready to make another pot.”

Cop 1: “No that won’t be necessary, Kevin. We just have a couple of questions to ask you and we’ll be on our way. You were seen at the celebrity event last night disturbing the patrons going down the red carpet and they have lodged complaints against you. Is this true, sir?”

Kevin looks panicked. He hadn’t crossed the PRESS line let alone the velvet rope. He finishes making another pot waiting on it to beep.

Kevin: “No. n n no I didn’t cause a ssscene there, officers but I did www w witness a mmurder there over in the back alley.”

The cops look sternly at each other glancing back at him.

“Cop 2: “And you have proof of this so called murder on film? Big D didn’t seem happy with you there at all or so our sources say. Can you verify that for us, sir?”

Kevin seems more panicked now as the coffee pot beeps; it shakes in his hands as he pours a fresh cup to calm him down.

How did they know about that? Big D attacked me. I didn’t provoke him.

Kevin:” Yyy yes I do officers. It’s developed as we speak. I did what my boss told me to do. Take several shots of these 4 people, Mandy Blaine, Big D, Sandy Marks, and Jasmine Black. And that’s all I did, but there was something going on there. I managed to get it all too. Here let me show you.”

He walks back to the darkroom door coffee in hand. The officers stand up looking at each other smiling reaching for black gloves and silencing their weapons. Kevin opens the door turning on the light as several bullets riddle his back as he slump down hard, coffee cup crashing and spilling on the floor trying to gurgle out his last breath. The officers look over his bleeding dead body placing a gun in his hand ready for their homicide investigation in this place later. They step over him gathering all the film, negatives, and everything incriminating to the event, even the manila folder. They exit the apartment post haste making sure everything is wiped down turning off the lights and locking the door behind them. They hop in their patrol car for several blocks finding a near by pay phone dialing a number they were given.

Cop 1: “Yes. Jobs done. Everything went as planned. Target is down and the blackmail gear is with us. Delivering it to you after we inspect the crime scene. Anything else?”

John Irving:”Excellent. Proceed with the plan accordingly. Checks will be ready to pick up at the National Enquirer. Just give all of the stuff to the secretary out front. Good work gentleman. I knew I could count on you. One enemy down at the event. Sorry about poor poor Kevin Rogers. Sometimes one must not get overexposed to us like that. Tsk. Tsk Tsk Such a tragic shame. He will be sorely missed. Good day MY ghouled officers. I look forward to getting the package soon.”

John Irving hangs up the phone on them as the officers get the call over the radio of a homicide in the cop car. The cops start heading back to Roger’s apartment to take care of the scene. Irving, getting ready to sleep the vampric slumber once again, rocks back in his chair looking over the next assignment to send another photographer to.