Red John's Secret Brother...

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Hello people. I am looking for feedback on a project (if that's the right word to describe it) I recently started. Here is the first "chapter":

The man grabbed his can of black spray paint and drew an X on the underside of the old, square-shaped piece of plywood leaning against the wall in the back of the apartment. The the large quilt flung over the large, formally dressed body. The man grabbed the knife, quickly exited the bedroom, and jogged down the hallway towards the front door. He closed his pocket knife, then quickly shoved it and his paint can into his right jacket pocket. He gripped the knob of the door, then opened it with force.

“Hello!” said a man in an apartment a few yards away. He was in a black suit with a yellow tie and was wearing an expensive pair of dress shoes.

“Hi.” The slightly messy looking man hurriedly replied.

“You look frazzled, can I help?”

“No, I’m fine. Don’t mind me, I’m just going to the bar.”

“Oh? Which bar is that?”

“It’s just the bar down the street.” The man spoke rapidly.

“There is no bar down the street. The closest bar is 14 miles away, down in Lewiston. I haven’t seen you before.”

“Oh, then my friend must’ve lied to me. He told me there was a bar nearby.” The man mumbled.

“I don’t know if your friend is a liar but you certainly are. You’re lying to me right now.” The man said calmly.

“No sir, I’m not. Why would I do that?”

“Hmm, let me think. What are some reasons a person might lie? Oh! I’ve got a good one! Murder!”

“Ha ha ha! That’s funny! You’re funny!” The man said nervously.

“I’m not joking. I’ll be reporting you to the police momentarily.” The man said in a calm but serious tone.

“Wait, hang on a second.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m not saying you’re correct, but let’s just pretend you are. How’d you know?”

“Oh please, it’s obvious. Your whole demeanor screams you’re new to serial killing.”

“What do you mean? Serial Killing?”

“Come on, I’m not playing this game with you. I’m reporting you to the police now.”

“You ever heard of Red John?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Guess what? I’m his brother!”

“Hah, sure you are.”

*The man in the suit dials 911

“They’ll have better odds of winning the lottery than catching me!”

*The man sprints into the nearby woods.

“Interesting. Could it be? No, can’t be. Better not be.”

*The man in the suit calls the police.

“Portland County Police Department, what’s the emergency?” The woman asks.

“Hi there. A man has just murdered somebody in an apartment. The address is 194 Woodlands Avenue.”

“Okay. And what’s your name sir?”

“Dean, Dean Richards.”

“Alright. Is the person that’s been murdered someone you know, or who is it?”

“Oh, no. I just happened to live in the apartment next door to the apartment of the person who’s just been killed. I literally just moved in, so I’m not sure the name of the victim, but I just bumped into the murderer as he was leaving.”

“Ummm, okay. So, I’m a little confused. You said you just happened to run into the murderer?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, and how do you know he was the murderer?”

“I’m a detective. His demeanor gave him away.”

“I see.”

“Oh no.”

“What is it?”

“You’re probably going to have trouble catching him.”

“Why is that?”

“I just realized something.”

“And what’s that?”

“He was wearing a mask. The kind that looks like a human face. The kind that’s done by a professional.”

“Oh. I see. Is there anything else…”

*the phone call abruptly ends.

“Hello?” Dean says quietly.

Dean slowly puts his phone in his left pocket.

“Oh, he’s better than I thought. This should be fun!”

Posted Aug 10, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC

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