Easier to Lie

Chapter 10

The news reporters wanted to talk to us, but I absolutely hated being on camera. Leah was usually first in line to be on tv, however, she wasn't herself this time. So, we told the police what happened then waited in the car until the traffic died down.

"I wonder who she is? Or who she was." Leah questioned.

"I don't know. She was wearing a high school ring."

"What if Eric knew her? Or Adam. He's here every summer. He knows people."

I looked out the window to see the body bag being lifted into the coroner van. That was somebody's daughter. A daughter was missing her head and had decomposing fish bodies attached to her clothing. I hoped nobody remembered her that way.

While we sat there I created a persona in my head of the girl. She lived in a rough neighborhood with two hardworking parents. Her dad worked during the day and her mom at night. Maybe she had a dog, a Dachshund named Mudd, that followed her everywhere.

She had been taking Mudd for an afternoon walk to pass the time while her boyfriend was at work. Her head phones were on, Rise Against screaming in her ears. She dreamed of being a singer, but she only played shows for family and friends. She was cute, but not pop star cute, so she knew she had no career in singing. She and her boyfriend were planning on eloping before college started. He came from money, so he could take care of her. I think her name was something classic like Scarlett or Francine. Everybody called her Frannie.

Once the medical report was released I learned that I hadn't been completely wrong. Her name had been Dylan Brown. She was nineteen years old and a college sophomore. Her fiancé had taken her to the beach for a picnic date. He had forgotten drinks, so he ran across the street to the gas station. When he came back, she was gone. She had been six weeks pregnant.

There were no witnesses and due to the pink tie, the fiancé wasn't a suspect. This whole thing was too strange. It felt like the murders were following us. Following me. Detectives from Sedona were coming down to gather evidence. I didn't feel safe anywhere. I wanted to be with my parents now more than ever.

"It started at home. Why do you want to go back there?" Leah asked during dinner.

"My parents are there. My dog and cat. I'd feel better being with my family."

"You're a recluse there, just be one here, too. I don't want to leave," she began pouting and begging me to stay. "Reggie, c'mon, we'll be fine."

"Leah, I'm scared, okay? I'm really scared."

"I think you're being paranoid," Adam finally spoke. "Neither one of you girls look anything like the girls being killed. See, look," he pointed to the tv where photos of all the girls filled the screen. Pearly white teeth, tan skin, long honey brown hair. Even the bone structure was similar.

Paranoid. Finally, someone had said it out loud for me to hear. I couldn't sleep that night so, I grabbed my tablet from my suitcase and sat on the bed. Avoiding WebMD at all costs, I looked up symptoms that I had, or feelings I had been having. The results were a lot to take in but not too surprising. I had talked to the school counselor a few times and she said the same thing. Depression, anxiety, paranoid schizophrenia. I needed help. I wanted help.