Okay, Randy-fans: We’re all very pissed off at the recent death of our movie-loving buddy. That’s why I’ve stepped in to give my account of what could have happened if Randy had lived. Now, I know that some of the lines and situations are taken directly from the movie, but that is because they work. So sit back, rewind to that fateful news van scene, and see what could have happened…

"Manson? Bundy? OJ? Aaaaaaagh!!" Randy screamed as he was yanked into the news van by the masked killer. The killer pulled the door shut and drew the knife. Randy looked up and quickly rolled over to miss the blade. He headed for the door, but the killer pulled him back and slammed him against the wall of the van. It rocked back and forth as they struggled. Randy heard a loud stereo outside playing rap music.

"Help! Help! He’s gonna kill me!" he shouted. The music was too loud. They didn’t hear him. Randy looked out the window and didn’t see the knife come down on him. It hit him in the right side of the stomach.

Everything slowed down. Randy felt for the source of this new intense pain and found that his hand was covered in blood. His blood. He looked back up at the killer who tauntingly slid the knife across his neck, then raised it again.

Randy mustered up some remaining energy and whacked the arm of the killer, knocking the knife out of his hand. Realizing that the killer didn’t expect this to happen, Randy caught him off-guard and punched him in the face. He reached for the knife and grasped it, trembling because of what he had to do.

He drove the knife into the killer, then again, then again. The killer’s blood got all over the van and filled up the floor like a shallow kiddie pool. When the killer stopped moving, Randy just sat in the puddle of blood, shaking uncontrollably. He’d just killed someone, someone that could have killed him. He couldn’t move. He felt hot and cold at the same time. He was afraid to even blink. His heart was nearly coming out of his chest.

But who was it?

Randy reached for the mask.

Suddenly, the killer grabbed his arm. He screamed and repeatedly stabbed the killer again, even after he stopped moving, just in case.

"Son of a bitch, never fails to follow the rules."

Randy dropped the knife and looked at the dead killer. There was no way he could be alive now. He reached for the mask again and in one quick motion, snatched it off.

He didn’t look right away, except at the bloodstained mask he was holding. He closed his eyes, turned his head, and then opened them slowly. When he saw who the killer was, he almost threw up.

It was Billy Loomis’ mother.

Randy backed away and hit the back of the van. He turned around, holding his stomach, remembering he’d been stabbed, and opened the doors. Painfully, he got out of the van, closed the doors, and leaned against it. He looked at his watch.

3:30. Sidney was in the theatre at rehearsal. He had to get over there somehow, no matter how bad it hurt. She had to know. Randy started making his way over.

Meanwhile, Gale and Dewey realized that Randy had not yet reported back to them.

"Where’s Randy?" Dewey asked.

Gale took his arm and brought him over to the news van so they could drive around. Joel came running up to them.

"Gale, what’s going on?" he asked.

"Wait, what’s that?" Gale stopped Dewey when she saw blood dripping onto the ground from the inside of the van.

Dewey opened the back doors. He drew back in disgust and fear. Gale looked in and screamed. Joel looked in and fainted. Dewey saw the mask and black costume, both covered in blood, but didn’t recognize the dead person wearing it. He looked at Gale.

"Gale, who is that?"

"Debbie Salt. It’s Debbie Salt."

"She was the killer. Look."

"I don’t wanna look!"

"Gale, she’s wearing the costume!"

Gale looked again and saw that he was right. "Then, where’s Randy?"

"I don’t know. Looks like he killed her." He reached in and picked something out. "This is your phone. He was definitely here."

"Where is he now?"

Randy had gotten as far as the library and was sitting behind a big, leafy tree. There was no way he would get to the theatre without passing out. He knew he was bleeding heavily, but he couldn’t tell how much was his or how much was Mrs. Loomis’. Trying to stay awake, he people-watched. Then he saw a familiar face: Cotton Weary. He was heading into the library. Randy got up again and went over.

Inside the library, Sidney was sitting at her computer when the screen froze.

"Did your screen just freeze?" she asked the guy sitting next to her.

"No, you have an instant message. Press Alt-M."

"But I’m not logged on."

"It’s someone in the library. All the terminals are connected."

Sidney pressed Alt-M and a message popped up on the screen.

"YOU’RE GOING TO DIE TONIGHT."

Sidney shot up in her chair, knocking it backwards. The screen froze again; another message. She pressed Alt-M again.

"THE POLICE CAN’T SAVE YOU."

Her two security guards rushed to her side.

"He’s here."

As one of the guards called for backup, he gestured Sidney aside to the stairwell. She stood there and breathed deeply to calm herself down.

Outside, Randy saw police rushing into the library.

Hmm. Sidney must be in there.

He saw Cotton heading up the stairs of the library’s entrance.

"Hey!" he called as loudly as he could stand.

Cotton stopped in his tracks and looked around.

"Who said that?"

"It’s me, Randy. Sidney’s friend. You’ve gotta help me."

Cotton looked to his left and saw Randy, covered in blood. He rushed over and crouched down.

"My God, kid! What happened? Is that yours?"

"Some of it."

"How long have you been here?"

"Is Sidney in there?"

"Yeah, I was just…I mean…"

"You have to get her."

"What happened?"

"I found the killer."

"Were you attacked?"

"Yeah."

"Where’s the killer now?"

"Uh…" Randy couldn’t tell him that he killed her. He utilized his feeble acting skills. "Oh, no! Losing blood! Fainting! Fainting!"

"I’ll get Sidney and an ambulance. Stay right here." Cotton rushed inside.

"I’m not planning on going anywhere else!"

Inside, Cotton started desperately searching for Sidney. She saw him and backed off.

"Sidney, don’t walk away. This is important."

"Go away, Cotton."

"Sidney, please!" Cotton pleaded.

"Gotta go, Cotton." Sidney left the stairwell to find the library’s exit. A cop was looking around frantically. He recognized her and pulled her over to him, then led her out of the library. Cotton followed her.

"Cotton, stop following me!" she asked.

"Sidney, listen! Randy just stopped me outside."

Sidney stopped walking. "Randy?"

"Yeah, he was attacked by the killer. He says he knows who it is."

A cop was listening to what Cotton was saying.

"He was attacked? Is he okay?"

"No, he’s not okay! He was covered in blood, head to toe."

The cop pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it. "I need an ambulance by the front of the campus library and some backup right away. There’s a stabbing victim here who says he found that killer."

"What’s his condition?"

The cop looked at Cotton for information. He shrugged.

"Bloody," Cotton answered.

"Uh, bloody. Hurry it up."

"Oh, my God! Cotton, where is he?"

"Under that tree." Cotton led her over and the cop went back into the library.

Sidney walked around the tree and looked under it. She gasped when she saw Randy sitting there, as Cotton had described: bloody.

"Oh, God! What happened? Are you okay?"

"No."

"Tell me what happened. Cotton said you found the killer."

Randy was losing strength no matter how hard he tried to look tough in front of Sidney.

"Who’s the killer, Randy?"

Randy shook his head and closed his eyes. Sidney put her hand on his shoulder and Cotton crouched down to his level.

"Please. Who is it?"

He gathered up his last bit of strength. "Billy’s mom."

Sidney felt a lump in her stomach. "Billy’s mom," she repeated.

Randy nodded and took a deep breath, causing him to wince. Sidney rubbed his shoulder. Cotton stood up and nervously ran his hands through his hair.

"God, this is huge."

"She got you, didn’t she?"

"Sure did." He took his hand off his stomach, revealing a deep, red stab wound.

"Is that it?"

He nodded.

"Then, this can’t be all your blood."

Randy shook his head. Sidney looked him right in the eyes, shuddering after realizing what he had actually done. Cotton’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"It’s Mrs. Loomis’."

Randy nodded again.

"You killed her."

He didn’t move, but Sidney knew the truth.

"It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s over now."

A campus ambulance came and took Randy away. Other paramedics were over by Joel, helping him regain consciousness. Sidney met up with Hallie and Derek when the police came. Cotton went off on his own for the moment.

"Is Randy okay?" Hallie asked.

"Well," Sidney started, "the doctors said he would be okay, but he’s really not. He’s in shock. I mean, he killed someone."

"But it was in self-defense," Derek pointed out. "He won’t get in any trouble."

"It’s not that," Sidney said. "When you kill someone with your bare hands, even if it is in self-defense, you realize how scary a human being can be. I mean, if I can kill someone and Randy can kill someone, so can anyone else. Anyone. Right now, Randy is scared to death. It’ll take forever to heal. Come on, you guys. Look how fucked up I turned out. And I’ve been to therapy."

Gale and Dewey walked over to Sidney, Hallie, and Derek. Gale pointed at Sidney.

"Debbie Salt," she said. "Debbie Salt was the killer."

"Who’s Debbie Salt?" Sidney asked. "The killer was Billy Loomis’ mother."

"Who told you that?"

"Randy."

"Randy? Where was he?"

"He was outside the library. He didn’t say much, but he did say that Mrs. Loomis was the killer. He killed her before she could kill him."

Gale became extremely confused and she shook her finger at no one in particular. "But I saw her. In the costume. It was definitely Debbie Salt."

Sidney also became confused. Both she and Gale looked at Dewey.

He shrugged. "I’ve never seen either one of them."

"I want to see Mrs. Loomis. Or Debbie Salt. Or whoever tried to kill Randy today…" Sidney’s patience was reaching its peak.

"What? Someone tried to kill Randy?" Mickey suddenly appeared over Sidney’s shoulder, between her and Derek, who jumped.

"Jesus, Mickey, you scared the shit out of me," Derek said.

"I have that effect on people."

"Sorry, Mickey. Yeah, Randy said it was Billy Loomis’ mother, but Gale says it was someone named Debbie Salt."

Mickey’s face went from eager to alarmed, turning white in the process. "Is…is Randy okay? Where’s…whoever attacked him?"

"Randy’s hanging in there. He killed whoever it was. She’s dead, thank God." Sidney held Derek’s hand.

"Yeah, thank God." Mickey took a deep breath and turned to leave. "Let’s just hope there isn’t another one."

"Amen," Hallie said.

Sidney watched Mickey walk away and pondered the thought of another killer. It was true. It was impossible for one killer to have not only attacked her in the theatre, but also threaten her in the library, and try to kill Randy within such a short interval of time, especially if Randy had killed the killer. There was someone else out there. But how would Mickey know?

"Sidney?" Derek interrupted her thoughts. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

"No, not yet. He won’t be ready to talk for awhile. Give him some time to settle down."

"What about Debbie Salt?" Hallie asked. "Don’t you want to see who it is?"

"I’m sure she’s not going anywhere. I’ll go to the morgue when I visit Randy tonight."

"Sid, if it’s okay, I’d really like to go, too."

"Of course, Hallie. He’d probably want to see you. Derek, you can come, too, if you want."

"Uh, I don’t know if I’m the person Randy would want to see. Maybe I’ll sit this one out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. But why don’t I take the five – or " Derek saw Joel walking towards them. "—six of us to dinner? That way you can get there early."

Gale also spotted Joel. "Thanks, Derek, but I’m going to stick around here. Try and straighten things out with Joel."

"Okay. Dewey?"

"No. I think I’ll take a walk." Dewey looked at Derek suspiciously.

"What about him?" Derek gestured to Joel, who was visibly pissed.

"I don’t think he’d be interested," Gale said.

"Okay, then. Ladies?"

"Lead the way," Hallie said.

Joel walked up to Gale, holding her bloody cell phone with two fingers. Gale took it with two of hers.

"I’ll give you a call when I find something," Sidney said. "What’s your number?"

"555-YUCK." Gale looked at Sidney, then gave her a card with her number on it. Sidney took it and followed Derek and Hallie. Then, she remembered Cotton and turned around.

"Oh, Gale?"

"Yes?"

"You might want to talk to Cotton."

"Why?"

"Because he’s the one who Randy found first."

Gale watched Sidney walk away, then looked around for Cotton. She found him standing by a tree. Joel dropped his camera case.

"Thanks to that cute little stunt, my news van is now an official crime scene. Here’s my camera, my tape, my equipment. See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya." He started walking off.

"Joel, wait!"

"No! I am not gonna stick around for this."

"I need you!"

"No, you need to get your head examined." Joel was gone.

The phone rang. Gale nearly dropped it. Dewey wandered off.

"Oh, God," she moaned. Reluctantly, she answered the call. The phone was sticky. "Hello?"

"One down, one to go. Too bad the last one was just a half-ass job. But don’t worry. I’ll take over."

"Who are you?"

"Don’t you know that the killer always comes back? We never die."

"Listen, I’ll find out who you are. One thing you obviously don’t know is that the good guy always wins."

"No journalist is a good guy."

"Fuck you."

"So vulgar, Miss Weathers. Maybe that’s why Joel left."

Gale felt an eerie shiver in her back. "How did you know that?"

"I can see you."

She shot around, looking for any cameras or people with cell phones. There was nothing. She walked towards Dewey.

"No, you can’t."

"Dewey can’t help you."

She was wrong. He could see her. He’d seen her walking towards Dewey. Gale hung up on the killer.

"Dewey!" she called. "Dewey, wait!"

Dewey turned around. "What?"

"Please, come with me."

"Why should I? So I can answer your phone and nearly get myself killed, too?"

"He called me, Dewey. There’s another one."

"Sure, always concerned with yourself."

"Dewey, I feel bad."

They both stopped, then Dewey started walking again.

"I feel really bad! I know you’re worried about Randy and Sidney, but so am I! Please! Trust me!"

Dewey stopped again and turned around. "How do I know this isn’t just another ‘Gale Weathers’ performance?"

"Do you see any cameras? This is me! I just want to find this fucker!"

Dewey saw that Gale really meant it. He walked back to her, then looked beyond her at the camera case. She looked to where he looked, then they looked at each other.

"Are you thinking what I’m thinking?" Dewey asked.

"Yes. Randy said the killer could see us. Maybe the tape Joel got from the van has some clues on it."

"Unless they were just Debbie Salt’s shots."

"We’ll know that if the shots are from the van. Maybe there’s something she says on the tape."

"Do you think she worked with this other guy?"

"It’s always possible. The only way to find out is if we watch."

"Then let’s go."

Dewey and Gale headed for the media building. Gale saw Cotton again and ignored him. He was the last person she wanted to deal with.

Later on, Hallie and Sidney went to the hospital to see Randy. Sidney decided to visit the morgue first to identify the killer.

"I found a cop. You go on up to see Randy. Tell him I’ll be there in a little while."

"Okay. See you in a few."

Hallie went up to the patient’s wing as Sidney approached the cop.

"Excuse me, officer?"

"Yes?"

"Are you here from the murder this afternoon?"

"Yes."

"I’m Sidney Prescott. I want to see the killer."

"You mean Debbie Salt?"

"If that’s what it says on the toe tag."

"Okay. Let’s find a mortician first."

"Great."

Cotton saw her and the cop and followed them.

Up in Randy’s room, Hallie peeked in the doorway and saw the other patient, who was watching a talk show. She watched the television as she walked past the bed.

"Did you hear what happened to that guy?" the other patient said suddenly. He was a teenage boy, about fourteen, with a broken arm.

"Yeah," Hallie answered. "I did."

"Can you believe he actually stabbed someone to death?"

"No, I can’t. Neither can he." She walked past the curtain and saw Randy, sleeping.

"I mean," the kid continued, "does he think he’s in some scary movie or something? Why would he stab someone to death? What the hell?"

"It was self-defense, little boy."

Hallie sat in the chair next to him and touched his right hand. "Randy?" she whispered. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, he’s awake. That’s why he’s not answering you." The kid on the other side wouldn’t stop.

"Would you shut the fuck up before I break your other arm, you little punk-ass?"

"Jeez, sorry."

Hallie tried again. "Randy, please wake up." She shook his arm gently, then leaned on the bed, head in hands.

Sidney and the cop were led into the morgue by the mortician where the killer’s body was stored, still on a stretcher, covered with a sheet. He folded it back to reveal the face. When Sidney looked at it, she started trembling wildly, then, remembering she was dead, calmed down.

"So, who is it?" the cop asked.

"It’s Mrs. Loomis. She was using another name to get around the campus."

"Who’s Mrs. Loomis?"

"Billy Loomis ring a bell?" Cotton asked from the doorway behind them.

Sidney turned around, along with the doctor and the mortician.

"Yeah. He’s the killer in ‘Stab,’" the cop said.

"He was an actual killer," Sidney said, still surprised that Cotton was there. "He tried to kill me, Randy, my father, everyone. This was his mother." She reached into her pocket and took out Gale’s number. "Do you have a phone I can use?"

"Yeah." The mortician showed her the office phone. "Here. Are you done?"

"Sure am. Thank you."

"And you, sir?" he asked Cotton.

"I’m done."

The mortician and the cop left as Sidney picked up the phone. Cotton pressed the button to hang it up on her.

"Cotton, what are you doing?"

"So, that’s not Debbie Salt?"

"No. It’s Billy’s mother."

"Who are you calling?"

"Gale. Why? What do you want?"

"I was screwed."

"What?"

"That woman promised me all kinds of interviews and money if I got you to go along with it, and she’s nobody."

"Really? Well, it’s a good thing Randy got to her before you could get to me."

"I still have a whole Diane Sawyer thing set up, Sidney."

"What?"

"I’m not letting this thing go. I need to clear my name, with or without Debbie Salt. And obviously, it’s going to be without, because Debbie Salt doesn’t even exist."

"Cotton, what are you trying to do?"

"Do it, Sidney. Do the interview. We’re getting fifteen thousand dollars each and the whole entire hour to do this interview. How can you possibly say no to that?"

"Like this: No." Sidney pushed Cotton’s hand off the phone and dialed Gale’s number. "Listen, Cotton, I know you want your name cleared, but do it without me. I’ve already done my part, made a public statement announcing your innocence. I don’t want anything to do with you anymore. Take my half of the money and go your own way."

Cotton backed off and walked away. "This isn’t the end, Sidney. I will get you on the air. You think everyone’s going to believe me? They need you to tell them."

Gale and Dewey had just finished kissing in the screening room when they noticed a different video pop onto the screen.

"That’s not my footage," Gale said.

The phone rang. Gale answered it.

"If this is you, I swear…"

"Gale?"

"Oh, sorry Sidney."

"It’s Billy’s mom. She was the killer. I saw her. Whoever this Debbie Salt is, she doesn’t exist."

"But I’ve seen pictures of her."

"This was about 60 pounds later and a lot of plastic. But it’s her. Randy did a good job on her."

"How is he?"

"I don’t know. I haven’t been up there yet. All I know is that he’s in a regular room, so he can’t be that bad. So, why did you answer the phone like that?"

"Sidney, there’s another killer."

"What?"

"He called me. Right after you left."

"I knew there must have been someone else. There was no way one person could have attacked Randy then threaten me in the library in such a small amount of time, especially since Randy had killed Mrs. Loomis."

"Do you have any idea who it could be?"

"No." Sidney thought hard for a moment, picturing all the people she knew. Mickey. "Where are you?"

"The media building. Why?"

"Are you alone?"

"No, Dewey’s with me."

"Both of you, get the fuck out of there. Mickey knows that place like the back of his hand."

"Who’s Mickey?"

"He might be the other killer. After he found out about Mrs. Loomis, he turned white and started acting really strangely. He’s a film student. If you’re in that building, he could find you in a second."

"Are you sure?" Gale heard a beep. "Sidney, hold on. I’ve got another call." She pressed a button on the phone. "Hello?"

"She’s sure." It was the killer. Mickey.

"Mickey?" she whispered.

"Bingo." Mickey hung up.

Gale ducked when she heard a gunshot. She dropped the phone and ran. Dewey went after her.

"Gale?" Sidney called into the phone. She hung up. "I lost her. The other killer is there. Shit!"

"You know, Sidney, I could help you. I could go over there, save Gale and Dewey. Get Mickey. Save the day."

She knew Cotton almost as well as herself by now. "For what price?"

"One hour, on the air, with Diane Sawyer. I’ll bet it’s looking pretty good right now."

Sidney dialed the police on the phone. Cotton watched her.

"What are you doing?"

"Hello, police?"

"Hang up, Sid. I wouldn’t do that…"

"There’s a killer at the Windsor School of Film building and two people in danger. Their names are Gale and Dewey and they need help right away."

"And your name?"

"Sidney Prescott."

"We’ll send some cars over."

"Thank you." Sidney hung up and looked at the floor.

"Sidney?"

Sidney was completely against this. The last thing she wanted was to let her story out. But she knew she had no other choice if she wanted Cotton’s help.

"Consider it done."

"Give me Gale’s number. I’ll call you when it’s all over."

"I want a lot more than fifteen grand, Cotton," she said as she gave him the number.

"How much more?"

"Try a hundred."

"A hundred more?"

She paused. Hey, if that’s how he thought… "Yes."

Cotton shook his head and muttered something about her being "money-hungry."

"I heard that."

"Go see Randy. He’s probably waiting for you." Cotton left the building, walking briskly.

"Cotton?" she called.

"What?"

"Run."

He did as he was told and was out of the hospital in seconds. Sidney left the morgue after taking one last look at Mrs. Loomis’ body.

"Bitch."

She went towards the patient wing.

Gale had run into the hallway of the school and slammed the screening room door behind her. Then she realized that she’d just left Dewey behind.

"Shit! Dewey! Dewey! I’m coming back!" She tried opening the door again, but it was locked. Mickey must have arranged for the doors to lock after closing them. Gale ran around the room to find another door.

Dewey ran up to the door Gale had left through and tried to open it, but it was locked.

"Gale! Gale!"

She heard him and ran back.

"Dewey?"

"Gale! Open the door!"

"I can’t! It’s locked! I’ll try to find another one. I’ll be right there!"

"No, don’t leave!"

Gale had already run down to the other end of the hallway and found another door that went up to the projection booth. She took a quick look inside, saw no one else, and went in, closing the door behind her quietly. The door to the rest of the room was at the other end of the booth and she ran to it, but it was also locked. Gale looked down to wear she and Dewey had been and saw the killer looking for them. Dewey was by the door she’d left through.

"Dewey! Up here! I’m in the booth!"

Dewey looked up and saw Gale in the booth, her head sticking out one of the openings. He started running up to her. Gale saw the killer chase him, but he still had quite a distance to go.

"Dewey, behind you!"

"I’m coming, Gale!"

"No, look behind you!"

Dewey looked behind him and saw the black-cloaked killer, walking towards him. Dewey froze. The ominous manner of the killer’s walk filled the room with an evil air. He must have had something planned if he was moving in so slowly. Dewey started running.

Suddenly, they all heard sirens and a voice over a megaphone.

Sidney found Randy’s room easily and rushed in. Hallie was standing by the window. She heard Sidney and looked up.

"What’s wrong? You look a little stressed out."

"Stressed isn’t even the word. I just figured out who the other killer was."

"Who is…another killer?"

"Yeah. They work in twos. I should have known that from the beginning."

"Shit. You’re too good at this. So, who is it?"

"Mickey."

"What?!"

"Yeah. I was just as surprised as you are."

"Where is he now?"

"The media building. They’re sending cops over there right now."

"So, everything is going to be okay, right?"

"As long as Gale and Dewey can get out safely, then, yeah. For now, anyway. These things always come back to haunt me. How’s Randy?"

"Oh, he’s not waking up any time soon. He’s out like a light."

Sidney sat in the chair. "Maybe we should come back tomorrow."

"Maybe, but we could also ask to be sliced and diced like Julian fries."

Sidney smiled, remembering when Randy had said nearly the same thing last year. "Good point. Randy? It’s Sidney. Can you hear me?"

He didn’t stir. She stroked his face, then took his right hand in hers.

"Ooooh, Sidney. Don’t let Derek know you’re doing that," Hallie said jokingly.

Sidney laughed. "Just trying to wake him up. Believe me, if anything is going to wake this guy up, it’s his hormones."

"You know, I haven’t seen you laugh in the longest time."

"Really? I guess I just haven’t felt safe lately."

"But you said it always comes back to haunt you."

"I’ve got another year to feel safe. I might as well live it up."

The phone rang and Sidney answered it quickly.

"Hello?"

"Sidney?"

"Dewey!" Sidney’s face lit up at hearing Dewey’s voice. "You’re okay!"

"Yeah, the cops picked Mickey up just in time. I’m guessing this was all you?"

"Well, mostly. How’s Gale?"

"She’s fine. She’s sitting down right now, answering questions."

Randy heard voices and felt something holding his hand. He opened his eyes slowly and saw exactly what he’d wanted to see: Sidney. He let out a painful groan, the only noise he could muster up for the moment.

Sidney felt Randy’s hand moving and she looked over to him. "Randy, you’re awake!"

He moaned again.

"No, shhh. Don’t try to talk yet. It’s all gonna be okay. It’s over."

"Sid, what’s going on?" Dewey asked on the phone.

"Randy just woke up."

"How is he?"

"He looks fine. Kind of wishy-washy, but he’ll be fine. We all will."

"Do you want to talk to Gale?"

"Why don’t you and Gale come over here?"

"That sounds great. We’ll do that when the confusion lets down."

"So, where’s Mickey now?"

"He’s dead. Cotton shot him. He was holding Gale when the police got here and wasn’t showing any signs of letting her go. The police weren’t doing anything, so Cotton took action. But anyway, he’s out of our lives now. I think we’re home free."

"Great. Where is Cotton?"

"He said he was coming to the hospital. He left right after he shot Mickey."

Sidney felt tears of joy come to her eyes and she looked at the ceiling.

"Sid, it’s finally over."

She laughed. "I’m speechless."

"Then I guess a phone conversation isn’t the most convenient idea, right?"

Sidney laughed again. "I’ll see you in a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay, Sid." He said goodbye, then hung up after Sidney said the same.

"What’s going on?" Randy asked groggily.

"It’s over, Randy."

"Why do I feel like shit?"

"You were stabbed in the stomach," Hallie said.

Randy felt his stomach and noticed a lump of bandages under his shirt. "Oh yeah."

"And you’re probably in a state of some kind of shock."

"Where are Gale and Dewey?"

"They’re on their way over."

"From where? Why didn’t they come over right away?"

"They went to the media building to find some clues and they were attacked."

"By who? I killed Mrs. Loomis."

"Mickey."

"Mickey?"

"He was the other killer."

"Oh, shit."

"He’s dead. Cotton Weary killed him."

"Goddamnit…" He tried sitting up, but ended up hurting himself.

"No, lay back down. You have nothing to worry about anymore. Dewey’s okay, Gale’s okay, I’m here, Hallie’s here, and you’re going to be fine."

"You mean, no one else is gonna be killed?"

"Not for at least a year."

Randy looked at Sidney and laughed a little bit.

"Come on, Randy," Hallie said. "Smile. You’re safe."

"Until next time."