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Was to press play.

25

JUDY

The cassette player clicked.

Nobody moved.

Will carefully lowered the tape into the old machine Sheriff Tate had borrowed from the county museum.

"I cleaned the heads."

Carson looked at him.

"You know how to do that?"

"I collect old recordings."

"Of course you do."

Will pressed PLAY.

Static.

Rain.

Then...

Emily laughed.

Not nervous.

Not frightened.

Just...

Happy.

The sound filled the tavern.

Rylie immediately covered her mouth.

"I haven't heard her laugh in eighteen years."

The room became still.

Emily's voice came again.

"If anybody ever hears this..."

The tape crackled.

"...then something happened."

Mace slowly folded his arms.

Emily had known.