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Take This to Your Grave

Page 46

by Genna Black

[CALLER BREATHING HEAVILY. WIND/FAST-MOVING WATER AUDIBLE.]

My eyes catch on the second observation.

Water.

DISPATCH: Is someone there with you?

CALLER: No. I mean⁠—

[PAUSE.]

CALLER: Not right now.

A cold sensation spreads along my scalp.

DISPATCH: Casey, I need you to tell me where you are.

CALLER: I’m by the old launch. The tube place. I came down by the river.

DISPATCH: Are you alone?

CALLER: Can you just send somebody? Please?

There’s another notation.

[CALLER APPEARS TO MOVE. AUDIO DISTORTION. APPROX. 11 SECONDS INAUDIBLE.]

Then:

CALLER: Oh, fuck.

DISPATCH: Casey?

CALLER: He’s here.

The skin along my arms prickles.

DISPATCH: Who is there?

CALLER: Just send somebody.

DISPATCH: Police are being notified. Casey, I need you to stay on the line with me.

CALLER: Just⁠—

[LOUD IMPACT. DEVICE MOVED OR DROPPED. CALL REMAINS CONNECTED.]

I stop.

Read it again.

Device moved or dropped.

“What?” Baryn asks.

I don't answer.

There are four seconds of nothing documented beneath it. The dispatcher repeatedly calls Casey’s name.