Contents (85)
- Contents
- Part I
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Part II
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Part III
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- One
- Two
- Reading Group Guide
- A Conversation with the Author
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
LY: (unintelligible) a question.
MP: I understand. Cora, can you tell me where you were Friday night?
CY: I was at Ron Finch’s house.
MP: Why were you there?
CY: He was having some kids over.
MP: How many kids?
CY: I don’t know, maybe fifteen of us. Twenty.
MP: What time did you arrive?
CY: Maybe seven. A little after.
MP: How did you get there?
CY: I walked. It’s just a couple blocks away.
MP: Did you arrive with anyone?
CY: No. I was going to meet my friend Debbie there. She didn’t show up.
MP: Why not?
CY: (four seconds of silence) I think her parents didn’t let her. Not really sure.
MP: Was Caleb Benner at the house when you arrived?
CY: Yeah, I think so. Yeah, he was. For sure.
MP: You think so, or he was for sure?
CY: For sure.
MP: What was he doing?
CY: (six seconds of silence) I don’t know. Hanging out. Talking with people.
MP: Drinking?
CY: Yeah. Everyone was.
LY: Detective, they’re just kids. It was just a regular party.
MP: Please, Mr. Yates. Cora, did you notice anything unusual about Caleb? Was he in a weird mood? Did he seem angry? Scared? Drunk?
CY: (eight seconds of silence) No.
MP: Okay, I see. That’s good, thank you. Now, a few other kids said they saw you and Caleb talking. What were you talking about?
CY: I don’t know. Just stuff.
MP: What kind of stuff?
LY: She said she didn’t know.
MP: Mr. Yates, I’m going to ask you again to not interrupt, please. I know this interview is only happening at your discretion, and I appreciate that. But the focus here is finding Caleb. Your daughter isn’t in any kind of trouble. Cora, anything you can remember about your conversation would be helpful.
CY: I need some water. (unintelligible) I’m going to go get some and I’ll be back, okay?
MP: Of course. We can take a little break.
(eleven seconds of silence)
LY: Detective, this just feels wrong. It’s like she’s being interrogated.
MP: I know what you’re feeling, Mr. Yates. I don’t know how else to assure you she’s not. Look at it this way: If she were the one missing, wouldn’t you want us talking to every person she interacted with the night she disappeared?
LY: Yes. Yes, of course. It’s just that—
MP: It’s fine, Mr. Yates. I don’t have too many more questions. We’ll wrap up soon. (seven seconds of silence) You mind if we move this somewhere else? Maybe the kitchen? The fumes are getting to me a little. What is that, paint?
LY: (four seconds of silence) Wood stain.
MP: House projects?
LY: We had some contractors touching up some of the worn parts of the flooring yesterday. Some of the stairs. Sorry about the smell. I guess I’ve gotten used to it.
MP: No need to apologize. I’ve always had a sensitive nose.
End of transcript
Thirty-Four
Milwaukee, Wisconsin