Who Killed Amber-Lynne?

Peyton flipped through the channels until she saw a news story about someone she knew, Amber-Lynne Moore. The reporter said someone shot Amber-Lynne in the head last night between 2 am and 4 am. Peyton reflected on the past she and Amber-Lynne shared. Back in high school, they were rivals.
Recently, Amber-Lynne moved back into back into their hometown; broke, lonely and desperate to put her life back together she got a job at the same gas station Peyton worked. It seemed like past was behind them as Amber-Lynne tried to be friendly with Peyton.
The phone rang; Peyton didn’t want to be bothered so she let the machine pick it up. “Hello, Miss Appleton this is Detective Jeff Smith. I’d like to speak with you about Amber-Lynne Moore. Please call me back the Riverdale Police. Thank you.”
Peyton wondered why he would want to talk to her. She didn’t see Amber since the other day when they worked together. Amber acted like the old Amber and brought up something that happened long ago.
Before puberty hit, Amber-Lynne and Peyton were inseparable. As they grew up and entered high school, Amber became different, the boys liked her and she had power. Peyton’s biggest mistake was she told Amber she was molested by a family friend.
All through school, Amber constantly made fun of Peyton. Peyton had enough and one day during their senior year, after one of Amber’s put down sessions, Peyton told everyone Amber was a klepto. To get back at Peyton, Amber told everyone Peyton’s secret.
People shrugged off Amber’s klepto problem but with Peyton, they laughed and ridiculed her. Peyton couldn’t take the gawks, stares and laughs and dropped out of school. After awhile, people’s memory faded and Peyton resumed a somewhat normal life.
For some unknown reason Amber brought it up, not to apologize but to say Peyton deserved what happened because she told Amber’s secret. A yelling fight ensued where Peyton claimed Amber’s stealing was nothing like her secret. Thinking about the last time she saw Amber-Lynne, Peyton became angry. She felt dizzy and closed her eyes.
***
Amber-Lynne deserved what she got. Rachael didn’t want Peyton in trouble. Peyton was always the victim, every one hurt her. Peyton would try to keep smiling and pushing forward but inside demons tortured her.
Rachael knew she had to protect Peyton because someone had to. Things were going good for Peyton too, until that bitch Amber-Lynne came back into town.
Rachael went to Amber’s rinky dink apartment and Amber was surprised to see her.
“Why? Why did you do it, Amber?” Rachael asked.
“I don’t know. Look, I’m sorry. I was just having a bad day and …” Amber-Lynne said but Rachael cut her off by brandishing a shiny 9 millimeter.
“A little too late for sorries, don’t you think?” Rachael asked and cocked the gun.
“Wh-what are you going to do? Please I’m so sorry. I felt bad. I was going to call.”
“Whatever,” Rachael said as she pressed the trigger. The bullet whirled through the air and lodged itself in Amber-Lynne’s head. Rachael kept the gun with her as she left. While driving home, she tossed the gun out the window.
She realized she should’ve buried the gun somewhere. If the cops discovered Rachael, they’d think Peyton was behind it. And Peyton didn’t need anymore trouble.
***
Peyton awoke to the sound of someone knocking at the door. A man with a moustache stood before her.
“Miss Appleton, I’m Jeff Smith,” he said, “I’ll like to ask some questions. Can I come in?”
“Okay, I don’t know what I can tell you,” Peyton replied but let him in.
“Thank you. Have you heard about what happened to Amber-Lynne?”
“Yes.”
“Where were you last night?” he asked.
“Home in bed,” she answered. She did remember turning on the television and watching CSI but she couldn’t remember after. She blacked out. For as long as she remembered, she blacked out a lot.
“Is there anyone to confirm that?”
“No.”
His cell phone rang, he excused himself and answered. He looked over at Peyton making her feel uncomfortable. He hung up.
“Miss Appleton, you’re under arrest for the murder of Amber-Lynne Moore. You have the right to remain silent…” his words faded as Peyton passed out.
***
Damn. Damn. Peyton was in trouble and Rachael didn’t know what to do. She should’ve held onto the gun and buried it somewhere. What now? Rachael wondered. Poor Peyton.
***
At the police station, Peyton sat at the table. Detective Smith and a woman entered in.
“Hello,” he said as set up a tape recorder, “can you state your name?”
“Rachael Turnover.”
“Excuse me?” he asked surprised.
“You heard me, Rachael Turnover.”
The cops whispered to one another.
“Look Peyton is innocent,” continued Rachael,” she didn’t kill Amber-Lynne, I did. You should let her go.”
“You are Peyton Appleton?” the woman cop asked.
“No, I’m Rachael Turnover. Peyton didn’t kill her I did.”
“We’ll be back,” he said.
Later on, a slim, 30 something woman entered.
“Hello Miss Turnover, I’m Dr. Rabby, can we talk?” she asked.
“Okay.”
“And you are Rachael Turnover not Peyton Appleton, correct?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Where is Peyton,” asked the doctor.
“Sleeping right now. I don’t think anyone should talk to her. She’s been stressed out lately,” Rachael answered.
“I’ll talk to you. Do you protect Peyton?”
“Someone has to,” she said.
“Okay,” she jotted some notes and left.
Another woman cop came in and processed Peyton then put her in cuffs and took her to the state mental hospital. Rachael felt this was much better than jail. Peyton needed help and now she could get it all because of Amber-Lynne.