The Dead House

“Good.”


Scott leans into Naida, and we hear him whisper in her ear, “Isn’t it less effective if they know they’re being filmed?”

Naida shrugs. “Aye, but I have to give them notice, ethically. Otherwise, there could be problems if anything—unwholesome—comes out. This way, I’ve got my warning on camera. By staying, they agree to it. Besides,” she adds, turning her back on the room, and dropping her voice, “soon they’ll be too drunk to remember.”

“Oh, baby,” Scott murmurs. “You’re sneaky as a little fox. My minx of a fox.”

She looks up at him. “There’re cameras in this place you can’t even imagine.”




A similar piece of film from another camera was found in the online archives. The angle of the film suggests it is a camera Naida was wearing somewhere on her costume, most likely in her top hat, given the height.





27


89 days until the incident


Criminal Investigation Department, Portishead Headquarters

Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Portishead, Bristol

Friday, 5 November 2004, 10h00

AUDIO INTERVIEW: Detective Chief Inspector Floyd Homes (FH) and Maggie Myers (MM)

(FH): At what time did you arrive at the Dupré residence?



(MM): Um, my mum dropped me off at about four in the afternoon.



(FH): So early?



(MM): That’s when the party started. Naida said four.



(FH): Did you go alone?



(MM): No, I went with… with—

[Sniffling]



(FH): Take your time.



(MM): [Sniff] W-with Juliet.



(FH): Were you with Juliet the entire evening?



(MM): No. [Sniff] Juliet didn’t want to do the Ouija board, so she went to wait outside.



(FH): Why outside?



(MM): She wanted air.



(FH): Tell me about the Ouija board.



(MM): It was stupid. Mike found it in the drawer in the living room. It had all kinds of weird stuff in there, but he only took out the board. It didn’t look like a normal board, though. My brother bought one last year and it didn’t look like Naida’s at all.



(FH): Can you tell me if Juliet went outside alone?



(MM): Yeah, she did. But, I mean, Carly went out later, so I guess she wasn’t alone for long.



(FH): Do you remember anything else happening that night in relation to Juliet? Did she leave with anyone? Did you see any strangers talking to her? Did you hear any cars stop near the house?



(MM): No. She just stepped outside. If you want to know what happened, ask that Carly girl. She was there, she must know.



(FH): Thank you, Maggie. You can step outside.

[Scraping of chair]

[Footsteps]

[Door]



(FH): [Sigh] Once again it seems that Carly Luanne Johnson is connected to this event. It seems more and more likely that she is somehow directly involved. I recommend continuing the search for Miss Johnson so that she may be questioned before probable sectioning.

[End of tape]





28


Naida Camera Footage

Saturday, 30 October 2004

Halloween Party Clip #3

Time Index Not Noted



Several hours have passed, during which Carly has disappeared upstairs and come back down looking annoyed (presumably, as the sun has since set, she is now Kaitlyn), and during which also, Ari Hait has arrived, dressed as Sherlock’s Dr. John H. Watson.

Music blasts from somewhere in the room, sending slight vibrations and noise distortions through the camera. Mike Bowers sits beside Juliet, eyes half-closed. Languidly, he pulls a plastic bag from his vest and dangles it before her eyes. He murmurs something the camera doesn’t catch.

Juliet blushes and giggles.

“What is that?”

Mike turns his attention to Scott. “What is what? This? It’s weed, man. Where have you been?”

“Get that stuff out of here, Bowers. You think Naida needs her cousin’s place smelling like a bloody stoner’s den?”

Mike’s face turns red, and he gets to his feet. “What kind of a dickhead—”

“All right, my people,” Naida drawls, sauntering into the room. “I leave you for a second, and all hell breaks loose. I knew I was something, but never knew I was everything. It’s Halloween! Chill out.”

Kaitlyn mutters something that is not heard by the others. Increasing playback volume allows us to decipher her words: You know we don’t do this Halloween shit in England.

Ari whispers something in her ear, and she smiles.

“Get this moron out of here,” Scott growls, fists clenched.

“For bringing weed?” Mike says. “That’s a joke, mate!”

“You brought weed to my cousin’s house?”

Mike’s aggression wilts a little under Naida’s regard. “Well, yeah.” He holds it up between two fingers, suddenly a tall yet pathetic figure. “I thought—I mean, I didn’t think…”

Naida stares for a moment, and the room seems to hold its breath. “Well, I’ll have me some of that.”

Both Scott and Mike stare at her openmouthed.

Scott steps closer to her. “What?”