Leslie Harper

**Leslie Harper** is the 911 operator of Gallows Creek and dispatcher for the town's Sheriff's Office. She is voiced by Rachel Handshaw.

## History

Leslie is a civilian employee for Gallows Creek's law enforcement, handling their telephone communications, such as receiving emergency calls and passing information on to officers. She under long-time Sheriff Matthews and his two subordinates, Deputy Martinez and Gunderson. Judging by her familiarity with the Whistling Man tune, she has been living in Gallows Creek for many years.

On the night of September 2nd, 1987, Leslie noticed that she was unable to connect to any officers in the police station. When she arrived at around 12 a.m. she discovered Matthews brutally murdered while Martinez was unconscious and locked in a jail cell. She immediately tried to use the station's line to call another department from nearby Quiet Ridge or Henderson, but found that her calls did not go through.

Thinking fast, Leslie did the next best thing and called the local radio station, KFAM 189.16 - The Scream, knowing that Forrest Nash was hosting an all-night show. Forrest first believes her to be a prank caller, before his producer Peggy Weaver tells him that she recognizes Leslie's voice and is not lying about her credentials. When Forrest asks why she doesn't take whatever problem she has up with the sheriff, Leslie reveals that he's dead and the only other officer in no condition to say what happened. Forrest is shocked to hear that this "hick town" only has two cops before Leslie, somewhat insulted, says that the *third* officer is on vacation. She then gives Forrest the reason why she called: since she needs to head over to Henderson in order to get backup, can't leave Gallows Creek without a 911 line with a killer on the loose during the three-four hour trip, she tasks KFAM with processing all the redirected calls, as they are the only other people in town with the radio equipment to handle it. Leslie then asks Forrest to practice interviewing callers with her, asking him for advice on how to free Martinez from her prison.

Sooner or later, Forrest will suggest looking through Sheriff Matthews' corpse, which Leslie does with much relctuance and disgust when his apparently disfigured face becomes exposed. The keys on him allow her to free Martinez and get her out of the cell, with her planning to load her into the car she came in and take her along to Henderson, but as she talks to Forrest about this, her car erupts into flames. She then hears a distinct whistle, which she recognizes as that used by the presumed dead Edward Marshall Mooney a.k.a. The Whistling Man during his serial killings in the 50's. Since the killer is not inside the sheriff's office, on Forrest's prompt, she decides to look for a police cruiser to escape instead, finding the key to one on Martinez. Leslie insists on finding some means of self-protection, but with the armory locked, Martinez disarmed, and Matthews' gun empty, she settles on using the non-lethal weapons on Martinez's belt: A baton, a can of pepper spray and a taser. She can only hold on in her hand for usage, as she will try to drag along Martinez with the other.

As soon as Leslie takes the weapon suggested by Forrest, Martinez momentarily comes back to her senses, enough so to lean up on Leslie as they walk over to the garage when the whistling stops. She again loses consciousness after reaching the squad car and being seated on the passenger side, at which point the Whistling Man ambushes them and grabs ahold of Martinez, trying to pull her out, causing Leslie to use the weapon at her disposal. The correct choice is the taser, as this will stun the Whistling Man, letting go of the victim unharmed as Leslie drives off to Henderson. Depending on Martinez's survival, Leslie will either be glad that they both escaped, noticing that she is waking up right before hanging up, with Peggy wishing Martinez well, or voice frustration at being unable to save Martinez and hang up, saying that she needs to process what just happened. Since Leslie is out of radio range now, Forrest and Peggy are on their own and must manage the night's calls to the best of their abilities.

Shortly after 3 a.m., Leslie will make up follow-up call, driving back to Gallows Creek with police from Henderson in tow. If Martinez survived, Leslie will say that she and "Sara" are glad to be returning, having evidently got on a first name basis. Peggy will voice confusion over who she means before Leslie corrects herself. If Martinez died, she will instead be driven by Henderson police officer. Either way, Leslie will ask Forrest for help in tracking down the Whistling Man, knowing that Dawn has called up a few times already, suggesting he stalls her the next time she phones in and try to get her location. She says she'll inform the other officers of this and hangs up.

If Forrest saved enough people to an interview with the Whistling Man, at the end of it, Leslie will accompany the other police officers as they storm the Gallows Creek High School gymnasium. If Forrest managed to save Peggy, Leslie says that she's been badly cut, but should survive since Marie was interrupted thanks to him making her hesitate. If Forrest did not save Peggy, Leslie will confirm that Peggy was fatally stabbed and offer her condolences. Either way, she mentions that although Marie managed to escape, police are sure to catch up to her and proclaims that it's finally over before hanging up, presumably to join the chase.