November 25, 2018 • 35 mins
The terrible truth is out. The Lit Killer stands revealed. This is how our story ends.
EINHORN'S EPIC PRODUCTIONS & iHEARTRADIO PRESENT: LETHAL LIT: A TIG TORRES MYSTERY
Created & Executive Produced By: Heather Einhorn & Adam Staffaroni. Written, Created, & Executive Produced By: Alex Segura & Monica Gallagher, Directed By: JB Blanc, Produced By: Aroop Sanakkayala, Chris Peterson, & Sandy Smallens.
With performances by: Rebecca Soler, JB Blanc, Matt Gumley, Paul Guyet, Jennifer Jiles, Rachel Oremland, Alba Ponce de Leon, Shelly Shenoy, Luke Slattery, and Gayle Artino
Post Production Supervisor & Mixer: Michael Sinterniklaas, Recording Engineer & Dialogue Editor: Michael Schneider, Sound Designer: Justin Kohler, Composer: Jared Faber, Art: Rebecca Mock, Creative Direction & Design: Ryan McCann, Script Editor: Greg Lockard, Creative Consultant: Monique Chavez, Studio Manager: Clark Cheng, Production Coordination: Gayle Artino & Laura Martin, Production Assistants: Rachel Slotky & Francesca Calo. Recorded at NYAV Post in New York City
Featuring the songs "Jupiter" performed by Donna Missal - Courtesy of Harvest Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises, and “Guardian Alien” Performed By Dana Williams, Written By Dana Williams (SESAC) and Aaron Pfenning (SESAC) - Courtesy of The Royalty Network, Inc. on behalf of Smiggs Songs (ASCAP), Cactus Palace (SESAC) and Dana Williams
Lethal Lit: A Tig Torres Mystery is a production by Einhorn’s Epic Productions for iHeartRadio. Head to TigTorres.com to share theories, discover new evidence, and follow case updates.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, lethal listeners, tig Torres here stay tuned for the
next episode of Lethal Lit. But first, a quick word
from today's sponsor. Why is Tares? I think it's high
time you and I had words, don't you? What did
(00:26):
my aunt Beth feel like ten years ago when she
was backed into this exact same corner. This is my
last recording, This is how my story. I'm tig Torres
and this is Lethal Lit. The lip killer stands revealed.
(00:52):
Hollow Falls High history teacher and talent newspaper advisor Harry
Levinson is the maniac behind the murders that rock this
town a decade ago, as well as the new wave
that hit just as I arrived. Who killed and framed
my aunt Beth Torres the one person who got close
to cracking the case. Good news, right, Not exactly, Sam Steiner,
(01:17):
my aunt's partner, and I trekked out to this desolate
cabin in the hopes of rescuing the mayor's daughter, Ella
high Smith. Instead, we're trapped with Levinson and his creepy
old bird mausoleum. From what little I can see in
the dark, we're surrounded by stuffed birds and avian skulls.
It's horrible. So this is how it ends for me
(01:37):
and Ella? While Sam, poor Sam is bleeding out on
the floor. It's over, Levinson. Don't you realize that this
is the final act? We are aware we were meant
to be a trres You're better for me as the
(02:00):
original lid killer, and now you frame as the new legier.
Poor young girl so tormented by her aunt's tragic fault
that she's driven to madness. Sam, just stay put, I'll
get us out of this. How sweet Death's old, spineless
(02:23):
partner finally sheds his cowardly skin to be reborn a hero,
dead hero Still, Sam, I thought I've been fairly clear
in my note tig no sidekicks, Sam, I'm so sorry.
(02:46):
Steiner is dead. Ella's fever is ramping up. The convulsion
should start soon, and then well it'll just be the
two of us. So why just the one live bird?
What is that a pigeon? That's clearly a dove. I'm
thinking of naming her tat Over there, that's Anthony the Falcon.
(03:09):
Next to him is Jake the Sparrow. And that porcelain
owl over there that's my favorite of the entire collection.
That's you named your dead birds after your victims. Of
course I did. We're all one big, happy family. Here
a collection of my greatest stories. But alas, it's time
(03:30):
for this sequel to conclude. Just one bird left to go.
You tried your best kick, but there can be only
one Beth, and you, my dear, are not her? How's
your Shakespeare? Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight? It's
(03:53):
a fellow, right, good, good, that's right, my young faces Temona,
What do you, tig? Really? If you got the quote,
you don't need me to explain further. It's time for
the curtain to fall. What did you mean that there
can only be one best? How well did you know her?
Of course I knew her well. I had to put
(04:14):
on the act when we spoke, didn't I the helpful,
kind hearted teacher? But it was all smoking mirrors. You
remember the mirrors, don't you take it? She still figured
it out, she knew it was you. Let's not give
her too much credit. She got as close as I
wanted her to get, even if she disrupted my plan.
I had my own contingencies, hence the romance. Oh, Tig,
(04:41):
didn't you know I wasn't just your aunt Beth's occasional confidante. No, no,
we were much more than that. If things went over differently,
you might even be calling me Uncle Harry right now.
Romance connects us all my day. Why, Vincent? Why kill
(05:01):
all these people who cares about the white tig? You,
of all people should know the world is full of
dark and explicable things. It's time to end this, and
I need to pose you just right. These presentations can
be so time consuming. I thought you'd at least have
some grandiose reason behind all of this. If not, what's
(05:21):
the point? Killing for nothing just puts you on the
same level with all the other aesthetic They were fools,
each and every victim, from Mary Wazni after Sam Steiner,
who's still inching towards Rigamortis right over there. They were
all fools. I've spent years as a thankless teacher at
(05:43):
that god forsaken school. My first few semesters they even
had you teach remedial English. Can you believe it? Me?
I have master's degrees in eighteenth century British literature and
European history. Sure I had blemishes on my record, But
had they bothered to ask I explain the new here
I was forced to perform for kids who were guaranteed
(06:06):
to flunk out anyway. Well, Leanderthals couldn't care less about
the significance of the Count Shell and Lord of the Flies,
or the dramatic differences between Shakespeare's tragedies and histories. No,
they just wanted to have sex, get high, and skip class.
But they were pawns in my own grand story. I
(06:31):
gave their insipid lives meaning purpose. They weren't just zombies
shambling through life anymore. They were people, characters with beginnings,
middles and brutal, memorable endings and mean I was the writer.
So what they didn't care about the work I was
(06:53):
trying to teach them. That's fine. They had no choice
in the matter. And you know what, my dear take
there was a hello story, bloody, gruesome, full of twists
and double crosses. Beggins would have been proud you are thick?
Am I sick? Or am I the cure? I took
(07:16):
out each and every one of those super rats, one
by one, and all the while, no one except Beth
came even close to finding out what I was up to.
But even she was so, so very easy to manipulate
a little Sherlocke and crusade trude quite acic. I could
(07:39):
appreciate her romantic gesture at the very end if she
could change me, But that didn't dampen the wave of pleasure.
I felt well shooting them without her take, really throwing
things around like some irate oddler in here. Sometimes, despite
(08:05):
your best intentions, you turn into the teen scream queen,
especially when you think someone's about to drag you to
the trash. What get away from her? Loving Oliver? How
nice to see you get a knife? No, no, you
(08:26):
caught me, you little ingreat. What were you thinking? This
is one of your comic books, Oliver? You're not there?
Oh no, just your dumb owl statue. Beware, for I
(08:46):
am fearless and therefore powerful. How's that for a literary reference, Harry,
way to come to my rescue? Well, I didn't really
get to save the day. Are you okay? I don't
(09:09):
think I'll ever be okay again, But in that moment,
there was hope, hope that this was all over. Carver
and the cops stormed in a few seconds later, paramedics
right behind. They took Ali and La to get some
much needed medical attention. It was too late for Sam
(09:33):
Ali showing up when he did really made for the
perfect distraction. And now, at last it felt like we
were getting to the end of this whole mess. The
men who killed my aunt Beth was now finally going
to jail. The news of Levinson's capture spread fast. The
(09:55):
lip killer had been revealed and it wasn't Beth Torres.
The haters got quiet, the conspiracy freaks felt validated, and I, well,
I don't know how. I felt tired, unsure, but hopeful.
(10:18):
This is Sarah Parks w h f Z News reporting live.
Police have confirmed that Hollow Falls High teacher Harry Levinson
has been arrested and will be charged in the recent
lit killer murders, including that of former Ledger reporter Sam Steiner.
Local teens tig Dores and Ella high Smith, daughter of
(10:38):
Mayor Highsmith, were found alive at the scene. Authorities the
loss of Sam that was a tough one. I didn't
get to know the guy all that well, but he
risked his life to save me. His death felt like
like another piece of my aunt Beth was now lost
to me. But I did what I set out to do.
(11:03):
I think Aunt Beth would be proud and well, she
can rest easy now you know I did this for her,
for my family. The Tora's name has been cleared. After
(11:24):
all the post arrest insanity and after Ali got out
of the hospital with his knife wound bandaged up, we
all reconvened at a Boila's house. This murder game is
officially over. I still can't believe it was Levinson all along.
How are you guys taking it? You knew him way
(11:46):
better than I did. I am all about that rear
view mirror and putting his toxic acid in it. He
just I mean, I thought we knew the guy. You know.
For now, I'm all about repressing the negative and celebrating
with my awesome. I was so focused on catching the
lick Killer that I didn't think about what we'd do after,
or if there'd even be an after. Skip this moby track,
(12:09):
tig For the love of God, everyone, we beat the
lick Killer. Damn straight, we did, and we'll also you know,
class over that hole me having a crush on to Okay,
here's to Tick, who made it all happy. Yeah, cheers
take Here's to you guys for being there when I
really needed you. We did this together. No, no, no,
(12:33):
of all of us, tig you are allowed to take
the most credit, Drew. We all risked life and limb
some of us more than others. But because of you,
we brought down a mass murderer. Yeah, and you get
to have the biggest I told you so. He rolled
into the talent office and told us what you were
gonna do, and you did it. Proved your aunt's innocence.
(12:54):
That's so sick tick. He's right, TI did it. Thanks guys,
it go ahead and order the pizza. I'll be back
in a few I really wanted to celebrate with them,
but I just couldn't, not yet, not while something was
still missing. That new tape that Sam gave me saved
(13:16):
us in more ways than one. But there are some
things that are still bugging me. I think it's time
we talked about the victim that brought us here in
the first place. Beth torres here. She is on that
final tape, just a few hours before her death. I'm
(13:37):
about to head out to the crossing, but wanted to
record this before I hit the road. I'm not sure
I can handle driving and talking at the same time. Honestly,
the lead killing referenced fahrenheit in that first note, So
if this is his last kill all involved some serious flames.
That dystopian novel features a lot of burning books, and
the Crossing seems ripe for a forest fire. Mr bothered
(14:01):
by that call from Anna Killdean calling for help, afraid
for her wife, I have to go. I have to
save her if I can. That night, Anna kill Dean
had managed to briefly escape Levinson and get word to
my aunt Beth that she was being held somewhere near
a super creepy place called the Crossing. Aunt Beth didn't
(14:24):
hesitate to try and rescue her, and that was what
led to her death that night. That's the last recording
I have of her. So I'm we're done. We've listened
to everything. What are you still recording for? Hey? Come
celebrate with us. I can't yet. I feel like I'm
(14:49):
missing something like this woman who called my aunt on
the night she died. Who was she? She was important
enough for Steiner to mention her, and on this tape,
my aunt Beth said, person, take not your aunt, tag,
I got you the pineapple pizza, Travis. Do you wanted?
How's it going in here? Trying to get her out
of podcast mode. I have to make peace with my
(15:12):
aunt in my own way. Okay, okay, in taken, I'm
supposed to check in with the nurse about my stitches. Anyway,
I'll catch up with you later. Sure, what's still bugging
you about this? Do you remember the name Anna killed Dean?
What my aunt said on Sam's tape? Who was she?
(15:34):
I don't know. What do you want to do? I'm
not sure. I don't want to be a drain on
everyone's fun, but this is really important to me. You know,
I'll know when it's done. After destroying a few pizzas,
we decided to reconvene at the Star Diner for some
caffeine and evidence analysis. Just take an Okay. I didn't
(16:01):
piece all this together until I real listened to my
aunt Beth's final recording for the hundredth time. Just give
us the bad already. I'm having major caffeine withdrawal, all right.
My aunt Beth name dropping Fahrenheit for one stuck with me.
So I compared the evidence from her death to the others.
The sense I got was that Levinson was in a hurry.
(16:24):
He hadn't fully planned for Beth to show the handwritten
note versus a typed one. The evidence of her being
killed at the scene as opposed to being moved the
Shakespeare reference instead of Bradberry. M hmm. The lig Hiler
was usually so meticulous. This felt rushed and random. Then
(16:45):
I pulled up a police report about a burn Jane Doe.
Now I know I was right about what Anna Killed Dean.
I feel like that name should mean something to me?
And yet, yes, can I get an ice soy latte
with two splendors? Sorry to continue? Anna Killdean was the
woman my aunt Beth tried to save the night she died.
(17:07):
Turns out they knew each other. Anna called Aunt Beeth
while she was running from the lid killer from Levinson
to ask her for help. Jesus. Obviously she didn't make
it in time. But unlike all the other victims, Anna
Killdean is still technically missing. But I dug around, and
about six months after my aunt Beth's murder, there are
(17:28):
police records that point to an unidentified woman who was
found dead in the school library of a town about
two miles from here. A tiny bird called gray Malkin. Anyway,
the woman's body was burnt beyond recognition, So she that
body must have been Levinson's Fahrenheit four. Still you think
(17:49):
that's a little bit of a stretch. I did until
I read the report Black Covee. Okay, so what I
really asked for was crema package around the table by
the ketchup if you want to get fancy yolo and
all that. Oh God, this place is the best. So
the report, what did it say? The here? Check out
(18:14):
this part. The victim appears to have died from self immolation,
Forensic evidence around the body suggesting she poured a nearby
canister of gasoline over Did they really think someone would
do that to themselves to keep reading? Also found near
the body, it was a charred paperback book, badly damaged.
A few interior pages remained legible despite the fire damage.
(18:38):
The book was a copy of Rape Bradberry shaheits with one.
In the novel, the old Woman sets herself on fire. Wait? Wait?
What so the cops just thought this woman was having
a little speculative fiction binge before setting herself on fire?
Didn't they watch the news? The detective on the case,
guy named Murray Lambsman, was a few weeks from retire
(19:00):
meant he did the bare minimum and walked away. So
Levinson burned her to death. Horrible. Okay, so it's another
disgusting murder, which apparently is just another day around here.
I mean, it totally sucks. But why should we care
about her? She was debate. The lip killer used to
drain my aunt, just like he used ella debate me.
(19:21):
And after my aunt died the lip killer stopped. He
went underground for a decade. So she's the Kaiser says that,
like we know what that? Yes, exactly, she's the missing link.
But it's not just that she was different. She wasn't
a remedial student. She was a grown woman, divorced, lived
(19:44):
a rough life on the fringes of society. She didn't
grow up in Hollow Falls, meaning she didn't go to
Hollow Falls high not your typical lit killer victim. What
made Levinson veer off course to killer? And why? So?
Not done? Damn it? I knew that celebration pizzas too hasty,
So then what's our plan? Honestly there is no plan,
(20:10):
But I know what I need to do right now
to put this case to bed. I need to go
to the crossing and say goodbye to my aunt. Beth alone.
Uh is this really the best time? How old? She
needs closures? She needs closure? All right, you're right, you're right.
Do what you gotta do for you, and then we'll
reconvene to tackle our next nightmare problem. I left Maximum
(20:33):
Win with a few cleanup tasks, and then it was
off to say my advice. Okay, so when I said
I was going alone to the crossing, that wasn't exactly
the truth. Wow, you were kid. This place is beyond creeping.
I'm not sure how it stacks up next to the
(20:53):
old amusement park, But Hollow Falls that's where the lip
Hler left his mark. He kind of passed through this
tiny town and changed it forever. Hollow Falls is the
big picture. But the Crossing, it's the boiling point. The
(21:15):
cops found my aunt's body on the shore of this brook,
under the branches of that willow tree. Her neck was snapped,
but Levinson had clearly taken a time to dress her
up in some vintage white dress. Staged like the others.
I am incapable of my own distress. There is a
(21:38):
willow grows aslant the brook. That's what the note they
found with her body said. The cops never released it publicly,
but we got to see it. They claimed it was
their suicide. Note, Hey, that's right. Maybe this town is
the problem, she said. He's going on about the birds
(21:58):
above and the hole that runs underneath. Maybe this is
just a pleading ground for killers. I don't know which
which book was a mental look like Hamlet? Levinson saved
one of the Shakespeare classics for my Aunt Beth, and
it a girl named Ophelia goes mad and kills herself,
(22:20):
allegedly by dropping from a willow tree into a waiting
body of water. Jesus, he was planning a similar fate
for me if you hadn't. What did he say to you?
He called me his Desdemona. She was a character and Othello,
she's strong, She pisss off her dad, but she's independent
(22:42):
and fierce and like my aunt, like your aunt. What
she's murdered by her lover. Oh sake, that's horrible. You
sound almost surprised. What do you mean? Is this the
part where you pretend to have no idea? Tig is
that hit Ali? I fall for you and then you
(23:05):
kill me the same way Levinson killed my heart. Levenson
was so right. His literary theatrics are way too on
the nose. I mean, if it were up to me,
I would have killed you in a much more interesting way.
So you were what his serial killer sidekick he wishes
he's the past, I'm the future. My plans for you
(23:26):
are better than anything that old hack could cook up.
I'm still impressed you figured it out. I underestimated you,
tig torres. That doesn't change how the story will play out.
Hapless teen reporter dies in same tragic spot. Is her
aunt hear that? That's your destiny? Calling, tig you've read
Anna Karna right? Yes, she dies jumping in front of
(23:49):
a train, Confused, angry, and betrayed. Sound like anyone we know.
I can't believe Levinson was gonna kill you using a
Shakespeare reference. My version will be so much more poetic. Holly,
you don't mean this. You don't know anything about me.
You breathe into this town thinking you understand us in
our history, but you just bailed when things got too
(24:10):
tough for you and your family. You know what happens
to people like that, take leave when things get told,
like what happened to Anna Kildean? What did you just say?
I know she meant something to you. Know. This is
I still know the fruit Levinson killed her for you,
didn't he even though she wasn't one of his students,
even though he had no reason to. I knew it
(24:32):
was you, aally. It broke my heart over and over
to think so, but I knew it was you. You
didn't suspect anything. If you had, you wouldn't have climbed
into my room that night begging to have sex. Get
over yourself, boy, wonder that doubt was already there. You
left clues all over the place. You just happened to
be around when we discovered Tony's body. In the first clue,
(24:55):
how you found that book so fast in the principal's office.
How you let Ella get hit napps from the hospital.
I wanted to believe it couldn't be you, but mhm,
here we are. The evidence is the evidence. When I
listened to that clip again, that's when I knew your plan,
(25:16):
that you were going to try and recreate how my
aunt died. I told when to tell you I was
going to the crossing to get closure. So when you
showed up here, all wide eyed and eager to be supportive,
that's when I knew for sure you were going to
try to kill me. You know what else is good
(25:37):
about Anna, Karenina take It's simple. All it takes is
a train and you if you broke open my stitches,
m we're the same, you and I. You're still too
busy chasing after order in a world that's just chaos
(25:58):
and death. Life. That's not part of the game, though,
is it? All? The game is what I make of it.
Levinson Want You is disciple to cheat in the final round.
Don't pretend to be in my head. Levinson saved me.
He took me in when your stupid aunt tried to
stop him, tried to save my That and a woman.
(26:19):
She got what she deserved. They both did, and then
I really got to learn from him. I was just
waiting for the perfect moment, and it appeared like a
gift when you came back to town. Tag. It was
my time to shine, and I would have if he
had hadn't kidnapped me. That wasn't his place. It was
my turn, and you were mine. Sure Levinson helped a bit,
(26:41):
but it was my chance to prove myself. But then you,
you and I you and I want it was gonna
be your turn eventually take You know how drama works,
there needs to be a climax in epic conclusion. I
needed to work myself up to it. If I was
just another victim to you, Why did you risk yourself
(27:02):
to save me from Levinston. Maybe it's because of the
way you feel about No. I can do it. I
can go through with it. You can't, though, can you? Allly?
This isn't who you are. You're not Levinson, You're not
a kill. Just shut up. You have no idea, there's
no coming back. From the places I've been to, I
figured you out. You're just a lost little boy, and
(27:26):
you're not as strong or as smart as you thought
you were. That now, what the hell I trust a
love interest when you've got real friends. Paydacks starts now.
You psychopath got you on tay he believe we ever
considered you one of all. I had them record you
while you admitted everything. Sure they were surprised, But like
I told you, Ali, you're so damned lost, you just
(27:48):
don't get it. There are still so many pieces lust
on the board. Sh he's getting on the tracks because
he's that crazy. I lolling. The police found no trace
(28:25):
of Ali Price on the tracks, and there was no
real evidence that he got out of the crossing either.
But I know he's gone for now. That Ali had
not only assisted Levinson and carrying out the second wave
of lit killer murders, but had taken over the role
was the kind of mystery you don't want to unravel.
(28:48):
But now it's over, over right, and only a matter
of time before the cops find him. You should know better.
This is hollow fall, Listeners, Alie hurt me, He hurt
people I cared about. It's only over when I find him,
(29:10):
and when I do, he's gonna hurt. If this game
is just starting, you better believe I'm gonna win that
before I shut this off and stuff it in the
mail too, Sam Babby, Mommy was right. Maybe it's not
just about stopping the lick Killer. Maybe this Ton is
(29:31):
the problem. He was my best student, my brightest, smartest boy.
When the Iron Works closed, the jobs went away, and
the town it got different. Seems you're not a nubie
when it comes to the world of true crime, Tig Torres.
I'm not your aunt, Tig. I'm not made up of
(29:52):
the same stuff as she was. But you people are
already listening to you anyway in case something happened to me.
I love you, thanks for everything. Tell mommy I love
her too, my brother, and oh that's worth so much.
(30:14):
Kiss taking on the forehead and she'll do. Okay, get
a spot sharp, Okay, day find out a week's past,
(30:35):
and Hollow Falls is starting to creak back toward normalcy.
When in Max are back working at the Talent I
work there too. Now the new advisor seems nice enough.
Levinson's heading to trial in a few months, and there's
been no sign of Alley. So mission accomplished. Listeners, my
aunt path was exonerated, so you could say I did
(30:58):
what I set out to do. But too many more
bodies have dropped, too much blood has spilled. The lid
Killer turned into a story of two obsessed murderers, and
only one of them is behind bars. Speaking of which, Hey, Ally,
I know you're out there listening. Sometimes when I lay
(31:21):
in bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling,
I think of that look I saw in your eyes
that night at the crossing, that flicker of humanity. You
might try to deny it, but it was there. It
tells me I wasn't crazy to like you two fall
(31:43):
for you. You were the first person I let get
close that close. You remember the obsessive, manic attention to detail,
the extreme fixation I had on saving Aunt Beth's reputation. Well,
(32:05):
all that energy is pointed at you right now, Buddy.
I'll find you soon, and in the meantime, I know
you will be thinking about me too. I'm ting Taurus
and this is Lethal Lit. Iron Horn's Epic Productions and
(32:50):
I Heart Radio present Legal Lit. A tig Torres Mystery
created and executive produced by Heather Ironhorn and Adam Stafferone written,
created and executive produced by Alex Sigura and Monica Gallagher.
Was directed by J. B. Block, produced via Rupe, Senna, Kayla,
Chris Peterson and Sanny Smallen. Art by Rebecca Mock. Creative
(33:14):
direction and design by Ryan mccam, with performances by Rebecca Silaire,
J B. Block, Matt Gumley, Paul Guide, Jennifer Giles, Rachel
orum Land, Alba ponste Leone, Shelley Shnoy, Luke Slattery and
Keel Artino. Post production supervisor Michael Sinterer, Nicholas recording engineer
(33:36):
and dialog editor Michael Schneider, mixer Michael Sintter Nicholas, sound
designer Justin Hohler, composer Jared Faber, Creative consultant Monique Chavez,
studio manager Clark Chang, Production coordination Gail Artina and Laura Martin,
Production assistant Rachel Slotsky and Francesca Collo. Recorded at ny
(34:01):
V Post in New York City, featuring the song's Jupiter
performed by Donna Missile courtesy of Harvest Records under license
from Universal Music Enterprises. And Guardian Alien performed by Dana Williams,
written by Dana Williams s C. S A C and
Aaron Fenning s E S A C courtesy of The
(34:21):
Royalty Network, Inc. On behalf of smig's songs as Caps
Captus Palace s E S A C and Dana Williams
Letha litt A. Take Torres Mystery is a production by
Ironhorn's Epic Productions for I Heart Radio Had to Take
Torrest dot com to share theories, discover new evidence, and
(34:42):
follow case updates. For more information, visit Einhorn's Epic Productions
dot com
Hey, lethal listeners, tig Torres here stay tuned for the
next episode of Lethal Lit. But first, a quick word
from today's sponsor. Why is Tares? I think it's high
time you and I had words, don't you? What did
(00:26):
my aunt Beth feel like ten years ago when she
was backed into this exact same corner. This is my
last recording, This is how my story. I'm tig Torres
and this is Lethal Lit. The lip killer stands revealed.
(00:52):
Hollow Falls High history teacher and talent newspaper advisor Harry
Levinson is the maniac behind the murders that rock this
town a decade ago, as well as the new wave
that hit just as I arrived. Who killed and framed
my aunt Beth Torres the one person who got close
to cracking the case. Good news, right, Not exactly, Sam Steiner,
(01:17):
my aunt's partner, and I trekked out to this desolate
cabin in the hopes of rescuing the mayor's daughter, Ella
high Smith. Instead, we're trapped with Levinson and his creepy
old bird mausoleum. From what little I can see in
the dark, we're surrounded by stuffed birds and avian skulls.
It's horrible. So this is how it ends for me
(01:37):
and Ella? While Sam, poor Sam is bleeding out on
the floor. It's over, Levinson. Don't you realize that this
is the final act? We are aware we were meant
to be a trres You're better for me as the
(02:00):
original lid killer, and now you frame as the new legier.
Poor young girl so tormented by her aunt's tragic fault
that she's driven to madness. Sam, just stay put, I'll
get us out of this. How sweet Death's old, spineless
(02:23):
partner finally sheds his cowardly skin to be reborn a hero,
dead hero Still, Sam, I thought I've been fairly clear
in my note tig no sidekicks, Sam, I'm so sorry.
(02:46):
Steiner is dead. Ella's fever is ramping up. The convulsion
should start soon, and then well it'll just be the
two of us. So why just the one live bird?
What is that a pigeon? That's clearly a dove. I'm
thinking of naming her tat Over there, that's Anthony the Falcon.
(03:09):
Next to him is Jake the Sparrow. And that porcelain
owl over there that's my favorite of the entire collection.
That's you named your dead birds after your victims. Of
course I did. We're all one big, happy family. Here
a collection of my greatest stories. But alas, it's time
(03:30):
for this sequel to conclude. Just one bird left to go.
You tried your best kick, but there can be only
one Beth, and you, my dear, are not her? How's
your Shakespeare? Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight? It's
(03:53):
a fellow, right, good, good, that's right, my young faces Temona,
What do you, tig? Really? If you got the quote,
you don't need me to explain further. It's time for
the curtain to fall. What did you mean that there
can only be one best? How well did you know her?
Of course I knew her well. I had to put
(04:14):
on the act when we spoke, didn't I the helpful,
kind hearted teacher? But it was all smoking mirrors. You
remember the mirrors, don't you take it? She still figured
it out, she knew it was you. Let's not give
her too much credit. She got as close as I
wanted her to get, even if she disrupted my plan.
I had my own contingencies, hence the romance. Oh, Tig,
(04:41):
didn't you know I wasn't just your aunt Beth's occasional confidante. No, no,
we were much more than that. If things went over differently,
you might even be calling me Uncle Harry right now.
Romance connects us all my day. Why, Vincent? Why kill
(05:01):
all these people who cares about the white tig? You,
of all people should know the world is full of
dark and explicable things. It's time to end this, and
I need to pose you just right. These presentations can
be so time consuming. I thought you'd at least have
some grandiose reason behind all of this. If not, what's
(05:21):
the point? Killing for nothing just puts you on the
same level with all the other aesthetic They were fools,
each and every victim, from Mary Wazni after Sam Steiner,
who's still inching towards Rigamortis right over there. They were
all fools. I've spent years as a thankless teacher at
(05:43):
that god forsaken school. My first few semesters they even
had you teach remedial English. Can you believe it? Me?
I have master's degrees in eighteenth century British literature and
European history. Sure I had blemishes on my record, But
had they bothered to ask I explain the new here
I was forced to perform for kids who were guaranteed
(06:06):
to flunk out anyway. Well, Leanderthals couldn't care less about
the significance of the Count Shell and Lord of the Flies,
or the dramatic differences between Shakespeare's tragedies and histories. No,
they just wanted to have sex, get high, and skip class.
But they were pawns in my own grand story. I
(06:31):
gave their insipid lives meaning purpose. They weren't just zombies
shambling through life anymore. They were people, characters with beginnings,
middles and brutal, memorable endings and mean I was the writer.
So what they didn't care about the work I was
(06:53):
trying to teach them. That's fine. They had no choice
in the matter. And you know what, my dear take
there was a hello story, bloody, gruesome, full of twists
and double crosses. Beggins would have been proud you are thick?
Am I sick? Or am I the cure? I took
(07:16):
out each and every one of those super rats, one
by one, and all the while, no one except Beth
came even close to finding out what I was up to.
But even she was so, so very easy to manipulate
a little Sherlocke and crusade trude quite acic. I could
(07:39):
appreciate her romantic gesture at the very end if she
could change me, But that didn't dampen the wave of pleasure.
I felt well shooting them without her take, really throwing
things around like some irate oddler in here. Sometimes, despite
(08:05):
your best intentions, you turn into the teen scream queen,
especially when you think someone's about to drag you to
the trash. What get away from her? Loving Oliver? How
nice to see you get a knife? No, no, you
(08:26):
caught me, you little ingreat. What were you thinking? This
is one of your comic books, Oliver? You're not there?
Oh no, just your dumb owl statue. Beware, for I
(08:46):
am fearless and therefore powerful. How's that for a literary reference, Harry,
way to come to my rescue? Well, I didn't really
get to save the day. Are you okay? I don't
(09:09):
think I'll ever be okay again, But in that moment,
there was hope, hope that this was all over. Carver
and the cops stormed in a few seconds later, paramedics
right behind. They took Ali and La to get some
much needed medical attention. It was too late for Sam
(09:33):
Ali showing up when he did really made for the
perfect distraction. And now, at last it felt like we
were getting to the end of this whole mess. The
men who killed my aunt Beth was now finally going
to jail. The news of Levinson's capture spread fast. The
(09:55):
lip killer had been revealed and it wasn't Beth Torres.
The haters got quiet, the conspiracy freaks felt validated, and I, well,
I don't know how. I felt tired, unsure, but hopeful.
(10:18):
This is Sarah Parks w h f Z News reporting live.
Police have confirmed that Hollow Falls High teacher Harry Levinson
has been arrested and will be charged in the recent
lit killer murders, including that of former Ledger reporter Sam Steiner.
Local teens tig Dores and Ella high Smith, daughter of
(10:38):
Mayor Highsmith, were found alive at the scene. Authorities the
loss of Sam that was a tough one. I didn't
get to know the guy all that well, but he
risked his life to save me. His death felt like
like another piece of my aunt Beth was now lost
to me. But I did what I set out to do.
(11:03):
I think Aunt Beth would be proud and well, she
can rest easy now you know I did this for her,
for my family. The Tora's name has been cleared. After
(11:24):
all the post arrest insanity and after Ali got out
of the hospital with his knife wound bandaged up, we
all reconvened at a Boila's house. This murder game is
officially over. I still can't believe it was Levinson all along.
How are you guys taking it? You knew him way
(11:46):
better than I did. I am all about that rear
view mirror and putting his toxic acid in it. He
just I mean, I thought we knew the guy. You know.
For now, I'm all about repressing the negative and celebrating
with my awesome. I was so focused on catching the
lick Killer that I didn't think about what we'd do after,
or if there'd even be an after. Skip this moby track,
(12:09):
tig For the love of God, everyone, we beat the
lick Killer. Damn straight, we did, and we'll also you know,
class over that hole me having a crush on to Okay,
here's to Tick, who made it all happy. Yeah, cheers
take Here's to you guys for being there when I
really needed you. We did this together. No, no, no,
(12:33):
of all of us, tig you are allowed to take
the most credit, Drew. We all risked life and limb
some of us more than others. But because of you,
we brought down a mass murderer. Yeah, and you get
to have the biggest I told you so. He rolled
into the talent office and told us what you were
gonna do, and you did it. Proved your aunt's innocence.
(12:54):
That's so sick tick. He's right, TI did it. Thanks guys,
it go ahead and order the pizza. I'll be back
in a few I really wanted to celebrate with them,
but I just couldn't, not yet, not while something was
still missing. That new tape that Sam gave me saved
(13:16):
us in more ways than one. But there are some
things that are still bugging me. I think it's time
we talked about the victim that brought us here in
the first place. Beth torres here. She is on that
final tape, just a few hours before her death. I'm
(13:37):
about to head out to the crossing, but wanted to
record this before I hit the road. I'm not sure
I can handle driving and talking at the same time. Honestly,
the lead killing referenced fahrenheit in that first note, So
if this is his last kill all involved some serious flames.
That dystopian novel features a lot of burning books, and
the Crossing seems ripe for a forest fire. Mr bothered
(14:01):
by that call from Anna Killdean calling for help, afraid
for her wife, I have to go. I have to
save her if I can. That night, Anna kill Dean
had managed to briefly escape Levinson and get word to
my aunt Beth that she was being held somewhere near
a super creepy place called the Crossing. Aunt Beth didn't
(14:24):
hesitate to try and rescue her, and that was what
led to her death that night. That's the last recording
I have of her. So I'm we're done. We've listened
to everything. What are you still recording for? Hey? Come
celebrate with us. I can't yet. I feel like I'm
(14:49):
missing something like this woman who called my aunt on
the night she died. Who was she? She was important
enough for Steiner to mention her, and on this tape,
my aunt Beth said, person, take not your aunt, tag,
I got you the pineapple pizza, Travis. Do you wanted?
How's it going in here? Trying to get her out
of podcast mode. I have to make peace with my
(15:12):
aunt in my own way. Okay, okay, in taken, I'm
supposed to check in with the nurse about my stitches. Anyway,
I'll catch up with you later. Sure, what's still bugging
you about this? Do you remember the name Anna killed Dean?
What my aunt said on Sam's tape? Who was she?
(15:34):
I don't know. What do you want to do? I'm
not sure. I don't want to be a drain on
everyone's fun, but this is really important to me. You know,
I'll know when it's done. After destroying a few pizzas,
we decided to reconvene at the Star Diner for some
caffeine and evidence analysis. Just take an Okay. I didn't
(16:01):
piece all this together until I real listened to my
aunt Beth's final recording for the hundredth time. Just give
us the bad already. I'm having major caffeine withdrawal, all right.
My aunt Beth name dropping Fahrenheit for one stuck with me.
So I compared the evidence from her death to the others.
The sense I got was that Levinson was in a hurry.
(16:24):
He hadn't fully planned for Beth to show the handwritten
note versus a typed one. The evidence of her being
killed at the scene as opposed to being moved the
Shakespeare reference instead of Bradberry. M hmm. The lig Hiler
was usually so meticulous. This felt rushed and random. Then
(16:45):
I pulled up a police report about a burn Jane Doe.
Now I know I was right about what Anna Killed Dean.
I feel like that name should mean something to me?
And yet, yes, can I get an ice soy latte
with two splendors? Sorry to continue? Anna Killdean was the
woman my aunt Beth tried to save the night she died.
(17:07):
Turns out they knew each other. Anna called Aunt Beeth
while she was running from the lid killer from Levinson
to ask her for help. Jesus. Obviously she didn't make
it in time. But unlike all the other victims, Anna
Killdean is still technically missing. But I dug around, and
about six months after my aunt Beth's murder, there are
(17:28):
police records that point to an unidentified woman who was
found dead in the school library of a town about
two miles from here. A tiny bird called gray Malkin. Anyway,
the woman's body was burnt beyond recognition, So she that
body must have been Levinson's Fahrenheit four. Still you think
(17:49):
that's a little bit of a stretch. I did until
I read the report Black Covee. Okay, so what I
really asked for was crema package around the table by
the ketchup if you want to get fancy yolo and
all that. Oh God, this place is the best. So
the report, what did it say? The here? Check out
(18:14):
this part. The victim appears to have died from self immolation,
Forensic evidence around the body suggesting she poured a nearby
canister of gasoline over Did they really think someone would
do that to themselves to keep reading? Also found near
the body, it was a charred paperback book, badly damaged.
A few interior pages remained legible despite the fire damage.
(18:38):
The book was a copy of Rape Bradberry shaheits with one.
In the novel, the old Woman sets herself on fire. Wait? Wait?
What so the cops just thought this woman was having
a little speculative fiction binge before setting herself on fire?
Didn't they watch the news? The detective on the case,
guy named Murray Lambsman, was a few weeks from retire
(19:00):
meant he did the bare minimum and walked away. So
Levinson burned her to death. Horrible. Okay, so it's another
disgusting murder, which apparently is just another day around here.
I mean, it totally sucks. But why should we care
about her? She was debate. The lip killer used to
drain my aunt, just like he used ella debate me.
(19:21):
And after my aunt died the lip killer stopped. He
went underground for a decade. So she's the Kaiser says that,
like we know what that? Yes, exactly, she's the missing link.
But it's not just that she was different. She wasn't
a remedial student. She was a grown woman, divorced, lived
(19:44):
a rough life on the fringes of society. She didn't
grow up in Hollow Falls, meaning she didn't go to
Hollow Falls high not your typical lit killer victim. What
made Levinson veer off course to killer? And why? So?
Not done? Damn it? I knew that celebration pizzas too hasty,
So then what's our plan? Honestly there is no plan,
(20:10):
But I know what I need to do right now
to put this case to bed. I need to go
to the crossing and say goodbye to my aunt. Beth alone.
Uh is this really the best time? How old? She
needs closures? She needs closure? All right, you're right, you're right.
Do what you gotta do for you, and then we'll
reconvene to tackle our next nightmare problem. I left Maximum
(20:33):
Win with a few cleanup tasks, and then it was
off to say my advice. Okay, so when I said
I was going alone to the crossing, that wasn't exactly
the truth. Wow, you were kid. This place is beyond creeping.
I'm not sure how it stacks up next to the
(20:53):
old amusement park, But Hollow Falls that's where the lip
Hler left his mark. He kind of passed through this
tiny town and changed it forever. Hollow Falls is the
big picture. But the Crossing, it's the boiling point. The
(21:15):
cops found my aunt's body on the shore of this brook,
under the branches of that willow tree. Her neck was snapped,
but Levinson had clearly taken a time to dress her
up in some vintage white dress. Staged like the others.
I am incapable of my own distress. There is a
(21:38):
willow grows aslant the brook. That's what the note they
found with her body said. The cops never released it publicly,
but we got to see it. They claimed it was
their suicide. Note, Hey, that's right. Maybe this town is
the problem, she said. He's going on about the birds
(21:58):
above and the hole that runs underneath. Maybe this is
just a pleading ground for killers. I don't know which
which book was a mental look like Hamlet? Levinson saved
one of the Shakespeare classics for my Aunt Beth, and
it a girl named Ophelia goes mad and kills herself,
(22:20):
allegedly by dropping from a willow tree into a waiting
body of water. Jesus, he was planning a similar fate
for me if you hadn't. What did he say to you?
He called me his Desdemona. She was a character and Othello,
she's strong, She pisss off her dad, but she's independent
(22:42):
and fierce and like my aunt, like your aunt. What
she's murdered by her lover. Oh sake, that's horrible. You
sound almost surprised. What do you mean? Is this the
part where you pretend to have no idea? Tig is
that hit Ali? I fall for you and then you
(23:05):
kill me the same way Levinson killed my heart. Levenson
was so right. His literary theatrics are way too on
the nose. I mean, if it were up to me,
I would have killed you in a much more interesting way.
So you were what his serial killer sidekick he wishes
he's the past, I'm the future. My plans for you
(23:26):
are better than anything that old hack could cook up.
I'm still impressed you figured it out. I underestimated you,
tig torres. That doesn't change how the story will play out.
Hapless teen reporter dies in same tragic spot. Is her
aunt hear that? That's your destiny? Calling, tig you've read
Anna Karna right? Yes, she dies jumping in front of
(23:49):
a train, Confused, angry, and betrayed. Sound like anyone we know.
I can't believe Levinson was gonna kill you using a
Shakespeare reference. My version will be so much more poetic. Holly,
you don't mean this. You don't know anything about me.
You breathe into this town thinking you understand us in
our history, but you just bailed when things got too
(24:10):
tough for you and your family. You know what happens
to people like that, take leave when things get told,
like what happened to Anna Kildean? What did you just say?
I know she meant something to you. Know. This is
I still know the fruit Levinson killed her for you,
didn't he even though she wasn't one of his students,
even though he had no reason to. I knew it
(24:32):
was you, aally. It broke my heart over and over
to think so, but I knew it was you. You
didn't suspect anything. If you had, you wouldn't have climbed
into my room that night begging to have sex. Get
over yourself, boy, wonder that doubt was already there. You
left clues all over the place. You just happened to
be around when we discovered Tony's body. In the first clue,
(24:55):
how you found that book so fast in the principal's office.
How you let Ella get hit napps from the hospital.
I wanted to believe it couldn't be you, but mhm,
here we are. The evidence is the evidence. When I
listened to that clip again, that's when I knew your plan,
(25:16):
that you were going to try and recreate how my
aunt died. I told when to tell you I was
going to the crossing to get closure. So when you
showed up here, all wide eyed and eager to be supportive,
that's when I knew for sure you were going to
try to kill me. You know what else is good
(25:37):
about Anna, Karenina take It's simple. All it takes is
a train and you if you broke open my stitches,
m we're the same, you and I. You're still too
busy chasing after order in a world that's just chaos
(25:58):
and death. Life. That's not part of the game, though,
is it? All? The game is what I make of it.
Levinson Want You is disciple to cheat in the final round.
Don't pretend to be in my head. Levinson saved me.
He took me in when your stupid aunt tried to
stop him, tried to save my That and a woman.
(26:19):
She got what she deserved. They both did, and then
I really got to learn from him. I was just
waiting for the perfect moment, and it appeared like a
gift when you came back to town. Tag. It was
my time to shine, and I would have if he
had hadn't kidnapped me. That wasn't his place. It was
my turn, and you were mine. Sure Levinson helped a bit,
(26:41):
but it was my chance to prove myself. But then you,
you and I you and I want it was gonna
be your turn eventually take You know how drama works,
there needs to be a climax in epic conclusion. I
needed to work myself up to it. If I was
just another victim to you, Why did you risk yourself
(27:02):
to save me from Levinston. Maybe it's because of the
way you feel about No. I can do it. I
can go through with it. You can't, though, can you? Allly?
This isn't who you are. You're not Levinson, You're not
a kill. Just shut up. You have no idea, there's
no coming back. From the places I've been to, I
figured you out. You're just a lost little boy, and
(27:26):
you're not as strong or as smart as you thought
you were. That now, what the hell I trust a
love interest when you've got real friends. Paydacks starts now.
You psychopath got you on tay he believe we ever
considered you one of all. I had them record you
while you admitted everything. Sure they were surprised, But like
I told you, Ali, you're so damned lost, you just
(27:48):
don't get it. There are still so many pieces lust
on the board. Sh he's getting on the tracks because
he's that crazy. I lolling. The police found no trace
(28:25):
of Ali Price on the tracks, and there was no
real evidence that he got out of the crossing either.
But I know he's gone for now. That Ali had
not only assisted Levinson and carrying out the second wave
of lit killer murders, but had taken over the role
was the kind of mystery you don't want to unravel.
(28:48):
But now it's over, over right, and only a matter
of time before the cops find him. You should know better.
This is hollow fall, Listeners, Alie hurt me, He hurt
people I cared about. It's only over when I find him,
(29:10):
and when I do, he's gonna hurt. If this game
is just starting, you better believe I'm gonna win that
before I shut this off and stuff it in the
mail too, Sam Babby, Mommy was right. Maybe it's not
just about stopping the lick Killer. Maybe this Ton is
(29:31):
the problem. He was my best student, my brightest, smartest boy.
When the Iron Works closed, the jobs went away, and
the town it got different. Seems you're not a nubie
when it comes to the world of true crime, Tig Torres.
I'm not your aunt, Tig. I'm not made up of
(29:52):
the same stuff as she was. But you people are
already listening to you anyway in case something happened to me.
I love you, thanks for everything. Tell mommy I love
her too, my brother, and oh that's worth so much.
(30:14):
Kiss taking on the forehead and she'll do. Okay, get
a spot sharp, Okay, day find out a week's past,
(30:35):
and Hollow Falls is starting to creak back toward normalcy.
When in Max are back working at the Talent I
work there too. Now the new advisor seems nice enough.
Levinson's heading to trial in a few months, and there's
been no sign of Alley. So mission accomplished. Listeners, my
aunt path was exonerated, so you could say I did
(30:58):
what I set out to do. But too many more
bodies have dropped, too much blood has spilled. The lid
Killer turned into a story of two obsessed murderers, and
only one of them is behind bars. Speaking of which, Hey, Ally,
I know you're out there listening. Sometimes when I lay
(31:21):
in bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling,
I think of that look I saw in your eyes
that night at the crossing, that flicker of humanity. You
might try to deny it, but it was there. It
tells me I wasn't crazy to like you two fall
(31:43):
for you. You were the first person I let get
close that close. You remember the obsessive, manic attention to detail,
the extreme fixation I had on saving Aunt Beth's reputation. Well,
(32:05):
all that energy is pointed at you right now, Buddy.
I'll find you soon, and in the meantime, I know
you will be thinking about me too. I'm ting Taurus
and this is Lethal Lit. Iron Horn's Epic Productions and
(32:50):
I Heart Radio present Legal Lit. A tig Torres Mystery
created and executive produced by Heather Ironhorn and Adam Stafferone written,
created and executive produced by Alex Sigura and Monica Gallagher.
Was directed by J. B. Block, produced via Rupe, Senna, Kayla,
Chris Peterson and Sanny Smallen. Art by Rebecca Mock. Creative
(33:14):
direction and design by Ryan mccam, with performances by Rebecca Silaire,
J B. Block, Matt Gumley, Paul Guide, Jennifer Giles, Rachel
orum Land, Alba ponste Leone, Shelley Shnoy, Luke Slattery and
Keel Artino. Post production supervisor Michael Sinterer, Nicholas recording engineer
(33:36):
and dialog editor Michael Schneider, mixer Michael Sintter Nicholas, sound
designer Justin Hohler, composer Jared Faber, Creative consultant Monique Chavez,
studio manager Clark Chang, Production coordination Gail Artina and Laura Martin,
Production assistant Rachel Slotsky and Francesca Collo. Recorded at ny
(34:01):
V Post in New York City, featuring the song's Jupiter
performed by Donna Missile courtesy of Harvest Records under license
from Universal Music Enterprises. And Guardian Alien performed by Dana Williams,
written by Dana Williams s C. S A C and
Aaron Fenning s E S A C courtesy of The
(34:21):
Royalty Network, Inc. On behalf of smig's songs as Caps
Captus Palace s E S A C and Dana Williams
Letha litt A. Take Torres Mystery is a production by
Ironhorn's Epic Productions for I Heart Radio Had to Take
Torrest dot com to share theories, discover new evidence, and
(34:42):
follow case updates. For more information, visit Einhorn's Epic Productions
dot com
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