Page 73 of Everyone Is Lying to You
Katie pulls out her phone.
“When did you get that back?”
“Veronica dropped it off after you left. Listen to this.” Katie puts it on speaker, then plays me a voicemail.
It’s static at first and then there’s a creaking sound, maybe a car door opening, and a woman’s scream.
“Where the hell are we going? Are you taking me home to the ranch? Marsden, answer me.”
It’s Bex.
“Get the hell off of me, Marsden,” she yells so clearly that it feels like it’s meant for us. A primitive male grunt and then a yelp. He’s hurting her. Wherever they are, he’s definitely hurting her. I picture it in my head.
A crack of flesh hitting flesh. A whimper.
More rustling, more movement.
And then nothing but static. A car engine revs up. I feel useless.
Katie turns off the message. “That’s it. Static and then it cuts off. Phone might have gone out of service. He might have found it.” Her focus is contagious, but so is her fear. It itches and claws at my skin.
“That was Marsden.”
“What tipped you off? Was it the fact that she screamed ‘Marsden’?”
“Do you really think now is the time for sarcasm?”
“We need to find Rebecca,” Katie practically shouts.
“How? She could be anywhere.”
“They’re going to the ranch. She said it for a reason. She wanted us to know. We have to get out there.”
“Okay, let’s call the police.” I pick up my phone, but Katie stops me.
“Absolutely not. They’re all in bed with Marsden the same way they were with Gray. Even more so because he gets everyone season tickets and passes to the World Series. The things he gets away with in this county are unreal. At least five DUIs that I know about. If they go to that ranch and Marsden has Rebecca there, they’ll probably help him finish her off.”
“What about your husband? Is he close?”
“Not close enough. He’s at his mama’s and they have the kids. He shouldn’t leave them alone with her. His mother isn’t very mobile and she can’t pick up the little one. I can’t leave Alice and I certainly can’t bring her with me.”
“So it’s me. I have to go.”
Katie is wringing her hands. “I don’t know who else.”
“What about Olivia? How close does she live to the ranch?”
“I tried her.”
“Let’s try her again.”
Olivia answers on the second ring and doesn’t sound like she’s been sleeping at all.
“How can I help you, Lizzie?”
“It’s Bex. Marsden kidnapped her. We think they’re heading to the ranch. Can you get out there?” I hear movement, maybe a woman’s whisper behind her. A door shuts.
“How do you know?”
