Page 21 of This is How I Lied

DISPATCHER: Are your doors locked?

VB: I don’t know. The back door, I need to lock the back door!

DISPATCHER: Go lock it and come right back.

VB: Okay, they’re locked.

DISPATCHER: Good. Now tell me what happened.

VB: Two girls came knocking on my door and one said her sister is dead. Oh my God.

DISPATCHER: I’m sending someone to your home right now. What’s your name?

VB: Shhhh, honey, I can’t hear what they’re saying. It’s going to be okay. What? What did you ask me?

DISPATCHER: What’s your name?

VB: Vivian Benson.

DISPATCHER: Okay, Vivian, did the girls say where the sister is right now?

VB: They say she’s down at Ransom Caves. They came over here when they found her. Where are the police? What’s taking so long?

DISPATCHER: Help is coming. I promise. How old are the girls?

VB: How old are you?

Muffled speech

VB: Thirteen and fifteen.

DISPATCHER: Okay. Can one of them speak to me?

Muffled speech.

VB: Yes, she can talk to you. Here she is.

NK: Hello?

DISPATCHER: Are you in a safe place? Are you okay?

NK: Yeah, I’m okay.

DISPATCHER: Good, good. Can you tell me your name?

NK: Nola Knox. We found my sister.

DISPATCHER: Where did you find her? We’ll send help.

NK: I don’t think you can help her.

DISPATCHER: Do you know what happened? What are her injuries?

NK: She’s dead. Someone killed her.

DISPATCHER: Are you sure? Could she just be hurt very badly?

NK: No, she wasn’t breathing. I checked her pulse. Be quiet, Maggie! I can’t hear!

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