Page 99 of Begin Again
Between Nicholas DAVIS, Sheriff Beau TURNER (Spruce County), Sheriff Rhett WILSON (Puck County), Sergeant James WARREN (State), Deputy Max JOHNSON (Spruce County), and Davina VILLA
On April 11, 2029, 09:10
Location: Spruce County Sheriff’s Office
TURNER:Whenever you’re ready, Nick.
DAVIS:(clears throat) Where should I start?
TURNER:Let’s start with something simple. What day did you go missing?
DAVIS:April 8, 2028.
TURNER:And what were you doing on April 8, 2028?
DAVIS:I was in Haven for my brother’s bachelor party.
TURNER:How did you end up at Achor Hiking Trail?
DAVIS:I didn’t feel like going out with everyone, so I stayed home while the others went out. I had a lot going on and needed some space. A hike seemed like a good way to clear my head.
WILSON:So, you went to Achor—two hours away?
DAVIS:Yes.
WILSON:Even though there are a million other trails aroundhere?
DAVIS:Yes.
WILSON:(scoffs)
WARREN:What made you decide to go to Achor that day, Mr. Davis?
DAVIS:It’s my wife’s favorite trail. I thought it might make me feel closer to her. We’d gotten into a fight before I left home and there was this stupid no-phones rule for the party—
WILSON:Which you broke because we found your phone with a text to your wife on the trail.
DAVIS:I wasn’t going out there blind.
WILSON:Your wife said you didn’t normally hike that trail. Said it would be unfamiliar to you. Why would you go to an unfamiliar trail alone?
TURNER:I think we already covered that.
(Background noise)
TURNER:Go ahead, Nick…So, you went out to Achor to clear your head. You get out there and then what happens?
DAVIS:Everything was normal. I hiked out with no issues. I don’t remember seeing anyone else on the trail. Seemed unusually quiet…I didn’t think anything of it because Nina has always said she liked how it wasn’t a very populated trail. On myway back, I got just past the lakes area, around the bend, and heard a commotion.
WARREN:What kind of commotion?
DAVIS:Three guys were talking on the edge of the trail.
TURNER:What did these guys look like?
DAVIS:One was a smaller guy, a bit scrawny, but I don’t remember much else about him, to be honest. The other two were bigger guys, one a bit heftier than the other. They give off “thug” vibes.
WARREN:What does that mean?
