>>5140553Right, you muse after recovering from the joke, their dad was one of those CULT MEMBERS in town, wasn't he? You found a list of names when you visited the DEAN'S VILLA at the college, and-
"And let me guess--he wasn't in good health." Interrupts your host with a grave look on their face. "I won't pretend that I was fond of the bigwigs my father pranced around in robes and sacrificed chickens with, but their recent and systemic deaths have left a bad taste in my mouth--one that I'd sleep MUCH better with if I knew who was responsible..."
Scrunching your face up in thought, a word slowly emerges from the fog clouding your mind--TRAITOR!
"Good, I was worried you had forgotten." Sonny confirms with a sagely nod. "As you're no doubt aware, the list of remaining ex-cultists is growing smaller by the minute... and if the news you've provided me is true, the remainder might as well be dead already."
Hold on, you interject, who exactly are you talking about, here? You know the Dean and Principal Teach were part of the club, but-
"There were a few prominent doctors at the local hospital," begins your host, "the commander of the local National Guard outpost, most of the City Council AND the Mayor, and, of course, the Chief of Police." Counting what they can on their remaining fingers, Sunny turns to you with a frown on their face. "Along with some executives here at GOOD BOY: one of which was MR. PONDEROSA."
If you had a drink you'd spit it out. Riiiight, you sputter, Boris' dad was part of that crew too!
"And his mother--don't forget." Your boss adds with a shrug. "She died much earlier, however--that's a whole different story. In any case, Stanley," Sonny continues, leaning closer, "All that seems to be left are the next of kin--myself, Boris, and a few other family members scattered across the city."
Running through the list of people in your head, a light starts to blink inside your brain--what about th-
"Me? Boris? Please, Stan..." Groans your boss. "Even if I WAS that stupid, what would I gain from killing my customers and employees?"
Well, you shrug, pretty much all of the town's government positions are empty, so-
"And they'll be filled again once this all blows over--by the GOVERNMENT." Sonny explains in a teacher's voice. "Even if I wanted to be mayor of this podunk town, how would that look?" Spreading their arm wide, they recite a slogan in a campy announcer's voice: "SONNY BRUCKMANN JR: THE ONLY ONE WHO SURVIVED!" Lowering their arm once more, they give you a disapproving look. "Doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it?"
Well YOU wouldn't vote for them...
>CONTD. 