Violet was holding the knife. Officer Grady pauses the video and I stare at the two of us frozen in time: Violet’s eyes are black holes, my mouth opens in a silent scream. This is it, I think. This is the exact moment that our lives were changed forever.

“I was hoping that you might be able to recognize a fourth person in the video,” Officer Grady says. He hits Play. “Look. There. Do you see it?” At the upper edge of the video I do think I see someone. It’s blurry and shows someone walking quickly, but not running, through the camera’s frame.

I nod. “Yeah, I see it.”

“It’s not one of the girls,” Grady says. “They ran in different directions. It’s like they were running from him.” He taps Pause again.

Relief floods through me. “There was someone else there. I knew it.”

“Can I take a closer look?” Max asks and Officer Grady hands him the phone and he watches the video several times, stopping and starting it over and over.

“Max, what is it?” I ask, getting impatient. This does not look good for Violet and I’m sure that Officer Grady is just minutes away from arresting her.

“I know who that is,” Max says, looking up from the screen. “It’s Gabe Shannon, he’s in Violet’s class. I can tell by his hat.”

Text Message Exchange Between Jordyn Petit And Gabe Shannon

Text Message Exchange
Between Jordyn Petit and Gabe Shannon

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Jordyn: Be there at midnight. This is going to be awesome

Gabe: Yeah, I’ll be there. I’ll hide in the grass until you give me the signal

Jordyn: Remember Violet doesn’t know you’re coming, either. I’ll start screaming and give you the knife. Then you go after Cora. She’ll shit her pants

Case #92-10945

Case #92-10945

Excerpt from the journal of Cora E. Landry

Mar. 20, 2018

I can’t get out of bed. My mom thinks I’ve got the flu or something. I’ve missed a bunch of school and haven’t showered in like four days. I don’t understand why Joseph doesn’t send me a message.

I called Mr. Dover late last night and he tried to make me feel better. He said everyone missed me but I know that’s not true. I could disappear and no one would care.

Dr. Madeline Gideon September 14, 2018

Dr. Madeline Gideon

September 14, 2018

My mind kept returning to the sound of utter disbelief in Cora’s voice when she told me that Joseph Wither didn’t stay. I had wanted to talk with Cora more about it, but Mara and Jim rushed back into the room frantic after her fever spiked.