Before She Was Found - Heather Gudenkauf Page 0,42

do have to talk to her soon. Tonight if possible, tomorrow morning at the latest. Got it?” I nod as I stroke Violet’s hair and she cries noiselessly into my chest. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

The last thing I want to do is get back into a police car, but my car is back at the house so we don’t have another choice. “Thanks,” I say. Officer Grady opens the conference room door and we slowly file out. Officer Wilson has given up her spot by the door and is back at the front desk.

“I’m taking Ms. Crow and the kids back to their place. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes,” Officer Grady says and Wilson gives a casual wave of her hand to let him know she’s heard him but keeps her eyes on the stack of paperwork in front of her.

Once outside, Officer Grady turns to Max. “Stay away from that Phelps boy, understand? He’s nothing but trouble.”

“I will, no problem,” Max agrees. I hope that Officer Grady’s warning is enough. I’ve tried telling Max that for months. Maybe the way Clint was teasing Violet in the conference room has finally revealed his true colors to Max.

To me, Officer Grady says, “Listen, I understand we’re dealing with kids here and I’m trying to be sensitive to what Violet has been through, but I’m running an investigation. You understand that, don’t you?”

“I’m trying,” I say, trying to keep the irritation I feel from creeping into my words. “But I have to take care of my children. They’re my top priority.”

Grady opens the back door of the police car and Cora and Max climb inside. I’m about to join them when he stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, and Cora Landry and the safety of everyone in this community is my priority. I’m going to have to ask the hard questions and the sooner I can do that, the faster we’ll catch this guy,” he says. “And I can’t ask Violet these questions unless I have your permission and support.”

I nod. I know he’s just doing his job. Maybe it’s the small size of the department or that they don’t have a lot of violent crimes to investigate, but so far I’m not impressed.

“I’ll talk to Violet,” I say wearily. “I know she wants to help Cora, too. She just needs some rest.”

“Thank you,” Grady says and I get inside the vehicle. Violet and Max are sitting low in their seats, keeping their heads down—Violet, trying to hide her tears, and Max, trying to make himself invisible to anyone passing by who might know him. I close my eyes and lift my face to the sun’s weak warmth—so different from the persistent, unrelenting sunshine back in New Mexico—and for the first time since our car broke down leaving us stranded outside of town, I regret coming to Pitch.

Case #92-10945

Conversation dated November 17, 2017,

via DarkestDoor

JW44:

I JUST FOUND YOUR POST, CORAREEF12. I KNOW ALL ABOUT

JOSEPH WITHER. PEOPLE WILL SAY HE’S JUST A LEGEND BUT HE’S REAL. HE’S NOT WHAT THEY SAY, THOUGH. HE’S JUST LONELY. HE’S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE HIS FRIEND, TO TRAVEL WITH HIM.

4leafclover:

Don’t listen to him, Corareef12. He’s full of shit.

JW44:

4LEAFCLOVER, I WASN’T TALKING TO YOU.

Corareef12:

It’s okay, 4leafclover. I want to know.

4leafclover:

This is NOT okay!

JW44:

YEAH, 4LEAFCLOVER, SHE WANTS TO KNOW. SMALL MINDS CAN MOVE ALONG NOW...

4leafclover:

Fine, it’s your funeral. I’m out of here.

JW44:

GOOD! CORAREEF12, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

Corareef12:

I don’t get it...why would he kill them if he wants them to be his friend?

JW44:

HE KILLS THE ONES HE DOESN’T WANT, TAKES THE OTHERS WITH HIM. THEY DON’T DIE—THEY LIVE FOREVER. THEY BECOME HIS SHADOWS.

Corareef12:

But that’s impossible.

JW44:

IS IT?

Corareef12:

Yes! How would you know, anyway?

JW44:

BECAUSE I’M WITHER.

Text Message Exchange

Between Clint Phelps, Abby Ridgewood and Ryan Maren

Monday, April 16, 2018

Clint: Wither Lives! Just ask Max

Abby: ?????

Ryan: What happened?

Clint: Kid got stabbed at the train yard. Wither Lives!

Abby: UR full of it

Clint: His sister was there. Said it was Wither. Ha ha

Ryan: No way! Who was the girl?

Abby: Is she okay? Did she die?

Clint: Not yet

Dr. Madeline Gideon

September 14, 2018

I interviewed Mara Landry in one of the family rooms located on the third floor of the children’s hospital. I wanted to talk with Mara privately before I met with Cora but understandably she didn’t want to be too far away from her daughter.

She settled onto a love seat covered in a striped, industrial-strength fabric made to stand up to the wear and tear of