Page 56 of Begin Again
“This is all your fault.” A sniffle. “If you had just—You should’ve called me.”
“I know that, Nina. I never thought…Had I thought it would turn out like this, had I thought he wasactuallymissing, I would have called. The second I realized it. But none of us thought that’s what was happening.”
In my heart, I know Kai didn’t mean any malicious intent by what’s happened. He would never do anything that he thought might potentially harm Nick or me or our family, but it doesn’t make the sting hurt any less. It doesn’t bring Nick back. Finding out the truth sooner may not have changed anything, but the thought still plagues my mind.
TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH DAVINA VILLA
Unnecessary sounds, such as “um” and “uh,” have been omitted from the following statement for the purpose of making the statement easier to read.
Between Sergeant James WARREN (State), Sheriff Beau TURNER (Spruce County), and Davina VILLA
On June 9, 2028, 08:05
Location: Spruce County Sheriff’s Office
WARREN:Just for the record, Mrs. Villa, you are aware this conversation is being recorded?
VILLA:Yes.
WARREN:Great, thank you for meeting me this morning.
VILLA:Mhmm.
WARREN:And thank you, Sheriff Turner, for allowing me to occupy your space for the past few weeks.
TURNER:Of course.
WARREN:Look, I’m going to cut to the chase…I think we all know this case has come pretty much to a halt. We haven’t found anything that could be considered “evidence” since the items Sheriff Turner located at Lake Nayda, and there are no leads.
VILLA:So, we’re giving up?
WARREN:We’re not giving up…We’re just in limbo.
VILLA:a.k.a., giving up. Just call it what it is, James.
TURNER:Nina.
WARREN:No, it’s okay. (sighs) I understand this isn’t what you want to hear, Mrs. Villa, but unfortunately, not even you can play God in these circumstances.
VILLA:(scoffs)
TURNER:Nina.
WARREN:I just mean not everything has a price to be paid. Sometimes things are completely out of control and no amount of money or prayer will make it right.
TURNER:(sighs) You’re not helping your cause, Sarge.
WARREN:(to Turner) I’m not, am I? (to Villa) I am truly sorry. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but without sufficient evidence, I cannot, in good conscience, keep pursuing this case. We have to redirect resources toward higher-priority cases.
(Background noise)
TURNER:Nina—
VILLA:What should I tell my daughter, Sergeant Warren? When she asks me where her father is and why the police aren’t looking for him…what would you like me to tell her?
(Background noise)
WARREN:(clears throat) I—I…
