Issue #7
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PAPER DOLLS, PT. 2
"YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE"


Issue #7
August 10, 2008



- Page Index -
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ONE MONTH LATER

Kimberly Black reaches into her purse for the keys to her apartment as she steps off the elevator. Approaching the apartment, she realizes she doesn't actually need them...the door is wide open.

"I'll kill you first, do you hear me?! I'll kill you!"

Startled, Kimberly rushes into the apartment to find her brother, Gregory, attacking her new roommate, Duncan. She also sees a young girl she doesn't recognize standing next to Greg, crying out for him to calm down.

"Oh my God, Greg!" Kimberly says. "What are you doing?!"

She grabs her brother by his arm and pulls him back, separating him from Duncan. Then she steps between them to keep Greg from attacking anymore. "Duncan, are you okay?"

Duncan slowly climbs to his feet, gasping for air. Kimberly whirls around and pushes Greg back.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kimberly says. "Did you flip out or something?"

"You're not rooming with him," Greg says, breathing heavily. "He's a rapist."

"What? That's impossible. That's just...impossible. I checked his references!"

"I'm sorry, it's true," the mystery girl says.

"Who are you?"

"Julia, I'm Duncan's niece," the girl says.

"I'm not a rapist," Duncan says. "I swear to you all, I'm not. I was arrested, but the case was thrown out."

"On a technicality," Greg says, correcting him.

"I'm a free man. The court doesn't think I'm a rapist."

"That's not what your brother told me," Greg says.

"My brother?"

"Detective Joel Kincaid? He gave me your case file," Greg says.

"My father sent you after my uncle?" Julia says.

"He told me the truth about him."

"My brother hates me," Duncan says, attempting to explain. "He's angry that I had an affair with his wife years ago...he blames me for her death. But I didn't kill her, and I didn't rape her either."

Kimberly frowns. "I need a moment alone with Duncan."

"Kimberly, no," Greg says. "I want him out of here today."

"Greg, please."

Greg sighs and reluctantly steps out into the hallway. Julia casts a comforting glance in Duncan's direction before she follows Greg, closing the door behind them.

"I want the truth," Kimberly says.

"I'm telling you the truth," Duncan says. "You can check out my records if you want, you can even talk to the judge in Seattle who threw out my case."

"This is...this all sounds so crazy."

"I know it does, but I'm asking you to trust me. Besides...if I was some crazy rapist, I wouldn't move in with someone and pay rent just to force them to have sex with me."

"I guess you're right," Kimberly decides.

"See?"

"Well, no...I'm talking about what you said about contacting the judge in Seattle. That other thing you mentioned is kind of creepy."

"Sorry," Duncan says, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Hands."

"Oh..." Duncan pulls away from Kimberly. "I'll let you check out my story first. Then you can see if you want my hands...I mean, me living here."

"And I'm doing it today," Kimberly says, snapping. "So if it's not true, you're out by midnight. Or earlier, if I find out earlier. It could even be in an hour."

"Fine by me."

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