Page 56 of Missing White Woman

“Morning, Billie Bunch. I know it’s not even 8 a.m. yet, but I had to go Live. When I woke up this morning, I had a DM from one of my longtime followers. Her name is Katherine and she lives in Jersey City. She found out about our poor Janelle from my account and has been following every video. Says I’m more up-to-date than CNN.”

Billie tries not to smile even bigger at this.

“She messaged me to tell me there are cops combing some beach. I immediately messaged her back for more details. And asked her if she’d be willing to go Live with us.”

There’s a pause, then the screen splits in half. Katherine Powers appears in a square at the bottom. You can make out blue sky behind her with a few clouds.

She looks about seventeen with long red hair and green eyes. Freckles spread out over the bridge of her nose. She wears a purple tank top. Her facial expression is neutral until she realizes she’s finally on camera. Then she smiles, as excited as Billie. She just isn’t hiding it as well. “Billie! So good to meet you… I mean considering the circumstances. But I’m a huge fan. Your contour hack single-handedly saved my prom.”

Billie smiles now, delighted. “Isn’t it a lifesaver?” She remembers she’s supposed to be breaking news. “So what’s going on? Where are you?”

“Liberty State Park. My dad dragged me here this morning.”

Katherine turns in a circle so we now see her dad behind her. He’s the epitome of White Soccer Dad. They have the same hair and slim build. You can’t see his eyes because he’s got binoculars pressed to them.

“He likes to watch birds,” Katherine says. “His name is Ernie.”

Ernie speaks but doesn’t turn around. “I saw a king eider here last week. Haven’t seen him since.”

Katherine rolls her eyes. “Anyway, when we got out here, my dad noticed the cops.”

Billie perks up. “Where?”

“Over there.” Katherine flips the camera.

There’s an expanse of water, sweeps of marsh grasses, and in the distance what looks like a small beach. Billie cranes forward, her eyes becoming slits so she can focus better.

“You see them?” Katherine says. “There’s two of them in uniform.”

Billie nods, though it’s impossible to see anything at that distance. “What area of the park is that?”

“Coven Point,” Katherine says.

Ernie interrupts. “Caven. It’s a bird sanctuary. One of the few left in this area.”

Katherine ignores him, too intent on what she’s about to reveal. “And get this. It’s closed in the spring and summer.”

Ernie speaks again. “It has to be. Migratory bird nesting.”

Katherine keeps on, used to ignoring her father. “No one’s supposed to be there.”

Billie speaks. “So the cops have been searching the bird sanctuary? They find anything?”

Katherine shakes her head. “Not that I can tell, but it’s a big place.”

Ernie again. “Twenty-two acres.”

Billie takes this in as we faintly make out the two cops padding along the patch of beach. One bends down to examine something in the grasses, but it’s impossible to tell what from this distance.

“So someone could hide there for days if they wanted to,” Billie says. “No one would find them.”

“Nope,” Katherine says. “Because no one’s supposed to be there.”

“How long could someone live in there?”

Katherine turns the camera back to her father. “Dad? Could someone live there?”

Ernie shrugs. “If they wanted to. It wouldn’t exactly be the Four Seasons. It’s all marshland, but there’s a couple of paths. Mostly stretches of boardwalk over the marsh. The water in there is salt water. You couldn’t drink it. So you—”

---