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Chapter no 16

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Ash was just leaving the hotel when Bel got to the door, almost slamming into him and his handheld camera, blinded by her own re๏ฌ‚ection.

โ€œWhoa, hey.โ€ย He cradled the camera.ย โ€œRamsey will kill me if I break this.โ€

โ€œWould spice up the documentary,โ€ย Bel said, stepping back, clearing the way for him.ย โ€œA bit vanilla if no one dies.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re in a good mood.โ€ย He looked her up and down and she did the same. Backward cap and burgundy overalls with a striped top.ย โ€œWhat are you doing?โ€

โ€œNothing,โ€ย she said.ย โ€œI justย ๏ฌnished school. Schoolโ€™s right there. I was walking past. What are you doing?โ€ย she accused him instead.

โ€œRamseyโ€™s had meetings all day, so he asked me toย ๏ฌlm some reaction stu๏ฌ€ย in town. How locals feel about Rachelโ€™s reappearance and all that. Just heading out again.โ€

โ€œHowย doย the locals feel?โ€ย Bel asked, using Rachelโ€™s trick, starting to walk so Ash had to too.

โ€œShocked mostly.โ€ย He shifted the camera to keep up.ย โ€œBut pleased that the story has a happy ending.โ€

โ€œHappy ending,โ€ย Bel muttered to herself. The police chief said it wasnโ€™t a true happy ending until the man who took Rachel was caught. So if he

didnโ€™t really exist, they had no chance.

โ€œY-you donโ€™t think it does?โ€ย Ash asked tentatively.

โ€œReally?โ€ย she laughed.ย โ€œYou want to dig into myย mommy issues?โ€

โ€œThey seem like the most pressing of your issues.โ€ย He cleared his throat.ย โ€œItโ€™s just, I noticed you maybe werenโ€™t OK yesterday, at the mall. If everyone thinks you should be happy and youโ€™re not, thought you might want someone to talk to about it. Like, an outsider.โ€

Ash was more than an outsider here, di๏ฌ€erent worlds. Three older sisters and a mom he loved enough to ink on his arm.

Should she try him? He could only be repulsed by her, and that would work in her favor too,ย ๏ฌnally pushing him away before he got too close and Bel started to think she cared.

Nothing to lose either way.

And no family land mines to tiptoe around, no one who thought they knew Bel better than she knew herself.

โ€œI think Rachel is lying,โ€ย she said bluntly, watching for a reaction on his face.

โ€œRight.โ€ย He bit his lip, but Bel wasnโ€™t sure what that meant.ย โ€œLying about what?โ€

โ€œAbout her disappearance. Her reappearance too. Where sheโ€™s really been the last sixteen years.โ€

Ashโ€™s eyesย ๏ฌ‚ickered, screwed against the breeze of a passing truck.ย โ€œAnd why do you think that?โ€

Was he giving her a chance? Bel took it, speaking quickly before he took the chance back.

โ€œSheโ€™s messed up a couple of times, got details in her story wrong. She told me that the man left the engine running when he let her go, on that road, but she told my dad that the engine was switched o๏ฌ€ ๏ฌrst. She accidentally said she was locked up forย ๏ฌfteen years, not sixteen. You would remember that number, right, if it were true? And yesterday, at the mall, she knew about a bracelet I used to have. I threw it in the river, years ago, after my friendโ€ฆAnyway, the only proof that that bracelet ever existed was an old photo on my Instagram. Rachel hasnโ€™t been on the internet since sheโ€™s

been back, thereโ€™s no way she could have seen my Instagram in those forty- eight hours. She shouldnโ€™t even know what Instagram is. She must have seen that photo another time. Which means she canโ€™t have been locked in a basement until Saturday morning. And the other thing: The man kept her all that time, then just let her go without explanation, and she canโ€™t provide a detailed description of him? Andโ€ฆโ€ย She paused, testing out his eyes.ย โ€œI guess, I can just feel it. That thereโ€™s something wrong, that sheโ€™s not telling the truth.โ€

Ash cupped hisย ๏ฌngers around his chin, pulling his head into a nod.ย โ€œOK,โ€ย he said.

โ€œOK?โ€ย Bel asked him, uncrossing her arms.ย โ€œYouโ€™re not going to tell me Iโ€™m wrong, that Iโ€™m overreacting, that things are supposed to feel strange, or Iโ€™m pushing her away because I have latent abandonment issues?โ€

Ash pressed his lips together, not quite a smile.ย โ€œWhy would I do that?

You are absolutely terrifying.โ€

โ€œThank you.โ€ย Bel bowed her head.ย โ€œSo youโ€ฆdo you believe me?โ€ย The knot clenched; she waited.

โ€œYeah,โ€ย he said.

So simple. Not even a full word. But God, sheโ€™d needed to hear that, a featherlight feeling in her gut, raising her onto her toes. He believed her, or at least he said he did, and that was good enough for now. Someone on her side, as unlikely and ridiculous as he was.

A family of four passed them on the sidewalk, all staring, not trying to disguise their curiosity, harmonized nosiness. That bright boy who dressed like a clown and the daughter of Rachel Price. Outsiders, but outsiders on the same side.

โ€œIf she is lying,โ€ย Ash said, when the coast was clear,ย โ€œsheโ€™d have to have a motive, right? For disappearing in theย ๏ฌrst place, and then reappearing after sixteen years. If they were both orchestrated.โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t know,โ€ย Bel said, theย ๏ฌrst time she could reason it to herself, out loud, using Ash as a brick wall for her thoughts.ย โ€œIf you managed to disappear, so successfully that everyone thought you were dead, what could be your motive for coming back and risk being exposed?โ€

โ€œI guess the reason behind most things: money,โ€ย Ash said, holding his camera in the crook of his elbow.

โ€œBut what money?โ€ย Bel gestured with her empty hands.

โ€œI donโ€™t know,โ€ย Ash replied, the words trailing up at the end, like they were leading somewhere, not a shutdown like Belโ€™s usually were.ย โ€œRachel had a meeting with Ramsey today, contracts, for her to participate in interviews andย ๏ฌlming. She wouldnโ€™t agree to sell her life rights until Ramsey o๏ฌ€ered up a lot of money. She negotiated some back-end stu๏ฌ€ย too, thatโ€™s smart.โ€

Bel stalled, thinking.ย โ€œHow much money?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t know the exactย ๏ฌgure, but a lot more than your dadโ€™s contract. I guess thatโ€™s becauseย sheโ€™sย the subject and, with her return, Ramsey knows the documentary will de๏ฌnitely get picked up by a broadcaster. In fact, heโ€™s having Zoom meetings with all the big ones today.โ€

A knot in Belโ€™s head, to match the one in her gut, writhing as it spewed out questions and scenarios.

โ€œSeems convenient,โ€ย she said,ย โ€œthat aย ๏ฌlm crew just happened to be making a documentary about her when she returned from the dead. What impeccable timing for both parties. Whereโ€™s Ramsey?โ€ย She turned on Ash.

โ€œIn the conference room, still in meetings. Why?โ€ย Bel pointed to his camera.ย โ€œCan I borrow this?โ€

โ€œYeah, sure.โ€ย He handed it over, heavier than she expected, noย ๏ฌ‚inch when theirย ๏ฌngers touched.

Bel took o๏ฌ€, back toward the hotel.

Ash padded after her, confused.ย โ€œActually, wait.โ€ย Panic rising in his voice.ย โ€œWhy did I just do that? Give it back. Mate, itโ€™s expensive.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, I wonโ€™t drop it or smash it in a rage.โ€ย She approached the main door.

โ€œWhy would you say that? That sounds exactly like the kind of thing you would do.โ€ย Ash followed her inside the hotel lobby, anxiously chewing his thumb.

โ€œHow do I record?โ€ย she asked, heading toward the conference room.ย โ€œGive it back, where are you going?โ€ย Ash hissed.

โ€œDonโ€™t be a buzzkill,ย mate.ย Iโ€™m guessing itโ€™s this big red button here.

Unless thatโ€™s self-destruct.โ€

She pressed it, and the image came up in the view๏ฌnder on the side, recording. She made an explosion noise, pushing air around her cheeks, pretending to drop the camera to enjoy the raw look of alarm on Ashโ€™s face.

โ€œToo easy,โ€ย she told him; he was supposed to be able to match her. She pushed the door open with one arm.

โ€œWhaโ€”โ€ย Ramseyโ€™s face emerged from behind a MacBook on the table.ย โ€œAsh, I told you I was in meetings. Youโ€™re lucky I literally justย ๏ฌnished one.โ€

โ€œAll her,โ€ย Ash said, a double point in Belโ€™s direction.

โ€œ โ€™Ello, Ramsey,โ€ย Bel said brightly, watching his face in the view๏ฌnder, moving from surprise through confusion.

โ€œRemember how I told you to take care of that camera, Ash?โ€ย he said.ย โ€œYeah.โ€ย Ash scratched his hair under the cap, raising it up, elongating

his head.ย โ€œAccidentally gave it to Bel.โ€ โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œBecause she asked.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re always sticking cameras in my face,โ€ย Bel said.ย โ€œMy turn. How was your day?โ€ย She smiled, stretching it beyond a grin.

Ramsey widened his eyes.ย โ€œGood, actually. Had some exciting conversations with broadcasters. Everyone is desperate for the doc, now Rachel has returned. Weโ€™ve o๏ฌƒcially changed the name too:ย The Reappearance of Rachel Price.โ€ย He outlined the title with hisย ๏ฌngers, drawing it in the air.

โ€œImaginative,โ€ย Bel said.ย โ€œNice alliteration.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s what I thought, all the execs too. Just got o๏ฌ€ย a meeting with the big red N, if you know what Iโ€™m saying.โ€

Bel did, but she rearranged her face like she didnโ€™t.

โ€œStarts withย N,โ€ย Ramsey said, getting to his feet.ย โ€œEnds inย -et๏ฌ‚ix.โ€ โ€œSorry, never heard of it,โ€ย Bel replied with a frown, disarming him

before she jumped in.

Her trick worked; Ramsey shook his head and smiled at his feet. God, she was lovably infuriating, wasnโ€™t she? A girl like that couldnโ€™t possibly be

smart too, right?

โ€œWhat do you want, Bel?โ€ย He stared down the camera, sensing something.

โ€œJust thought it was your turn to answer some questions. A reverse interview.โ€

โ€œOK, Iโ€™ll bite.โ€ย Ramsey leaned against the table, crossing his legs. Heโ€™d put on a crisp blue shirt for the big red N.ย โ€œWhat do you want to ask me?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s more of a comment than a question,โ€ย Bel replied.ย โ€œJust thinking about the incredible coincidence that you were making a documentary about Rachelโ€™s disappearance, then she miraculously comes back from the dead midway through your shoot. Great before-and-after material. And all the broadcasters want it, probably throwing money at you. Which is fantastic, because both you and Rachel pro๏ฌt from that. What convenient timing. Suspicious, a more cynical person might say.โ€

Ramsey pressed his lips together; he knew Bel was that more cynical person.

โ€œGo on,โ€ย he said, pushing her, almost like he was enjoying it.

โ€œDid you and Rachel work together to orchestrate her reappearance, so you could both cash in on the media storm? You were probably desperate, right, after your last documentary didnโ€™t sell and no one will ever see it?โ€

Ramsey winced; that last point had stung him a little.

โ€œNo, Bel. We did not,โ€ย he said softly, a look on his face that was both scolding and impressed, in real life and the miniature version in the view๏ฌnder.ย โ€œI did not orchestrate anything. Theย ๏ฌrst time I met Rachel Price was when I knocked on your door Sunday morning. I had no prior contact with her; I didnโ€™t even know that was a possibility. Honestly, Bel, I thought she was dead, like you did. One hundred percent, no doubt in my mind, Rachel Price was dead. Iโ€™m as shocked as the rest of the world that sheโ€™s back. Itโ€™s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, to be here to witness it. And Rachel: she was locked in a basement until three days ago, she couldnโ€™t have had contact with anyone to orchestrate anything.โ€

โ€œRight,โ€ย Bel said.ย โ€œSo itโ€™s just a coincidence.โ€

Ramsey shrugged.ย โ€œThey happen.โ€ย He studied her with interest, so di๏ฌ€erent from the shallow way theย localsย stared. Reading, not just seeing, prying with hisย ๏ฌlmmaker eyes.ย โ€œWhy, do you think your mumย wasnโ€™tย locked in a basement for sixteen years?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m asking the questions here, Iโ€™m the one with the camera.โ€ย It shook in her hands.

โ€œInteresting,โ€ย Ramsey said, running his hand over his jaw.ย โ€œWhy do you think your gut reaction is to think your mum is lying, Bel?โ€

โ€œIt isnโ€™t,โ€ย she said.

โ€œIs it less painful for you to think she had control, that she left on purpose? Came back for a reason?โ€

โ€œStop asking questions,ย Iโ€™mย asking questions.โ€ย Bel breathed in.ย โ€œWhy did you choose Rachel, then, why did you choose us to be your next subject?โ€

โ€œHonestly?โ€ย Ramsey said, crossing his legs the other way, glancing at Ash.ย โ€œI hadnโ€™t really heard of the Rachel Price case before. I know itโ€™s a big dealย here,ย but you know, America has a lot of murders and missing people. I only started looking into it last year when I was in Maine; I tweeted something miserable about having to abandon the shoot on my last doc. Someone replied that the Rachel Price case would make an interesting documentary, if I was looking for my next idea. I Googled it out of spite, really, and the rest is history. So itโ€™s all down to that random person in my comments. No conspiracy here, yeah? We cool? But letโ€™s get back into why you wanted there to be one.โ€

โ€œNo, letโ€™s not,โ€ย Bel said sharply, dancing with him now.ย โ€œAnd in all of your research, have you found anything that contradicts what Rachel says happened to her?โ€

Ramsey studied her again, and she wished he would stop doing that. He could psychoanalyze her, but she could do it right back. Go for the jugular; make another comment about his failed documentary.

โ€œI mean,โ€ย he said,ย โ€œweโ€™re interviewing her tomorrow and Thursday, so I donโ€™t have her whole story yet, or the story as far as law enforcement will allow. But no, as far as I can tell. There are no contradictions, no reasons to not believe every word. Well, unless you count all those imaginary sightings

across the years. Brazil. Paris.โ€ย Ramsey laughed, a breathy, dismissing sound.

โ€œWait.โ€ย Bel stopped him, searching her memory.ย โ€œYou said there was a recent sighting, one in New Hampshire. Where was that? Who was it?โ€

โ€œReally?โ€ย Ramsey asked.ย โ€œReally,โ€ย she replied.

โ€œOK.โ€ย He gave in, slapping his thighs. Bel followed him with the camera as he returned to his laptop, clicking and typing.

โ€œIt was in North Conway,โ€ย he said.ย โ€œLet me just search my documents for that. Aha. Yep. North Conway. A woman called Alice Moore. She posted on Facebook, in January, that there was someone in her store who she swore was Rachel Price.โ€

โ€œWhere can Iย ๏ฌnd her?โ€ย Bel asked.ย โ€œWhatโ€™s the store called?โ€

โ€œSheโ€™s the owner of a small independent clothing shop,โ€ย he said, checking his notes.ย โ€œCalledย Baa-Baa Boutique.ย Butโ€”โ€

โ€œCool.โ€ย Bel stepped forward to place the cameraโ€”still recordingโ€”on the table, trapping Ramsey inside it.ย โ€œText the address to Ash.โ€

โ€œEh?โ€ย Ash said, at the sound of his own name.ย โ€œBel,โ€ย Ramsey began,ย โ€œIโ€™m not sure you shโ€”โ€

โ€œCome on, Ash,โ€ย Bel said, slapping him on the back.ย โ€œLetโ€™s go. Youโ€™re driving.โ€

โ€œIโ€™mโ€”what?โ€ย He looked aghast.ย โ€œBut I donโ€™t have aโ€”โ€

โ€œHere,โ€ย Ramsey said, changing his tune suddenly, a new light in his eyes. He dug in his back pocket and threw a set of keys across the room. Ash caught them clumsily, gaze darting between the two of them, deer in their headlights.ย โ€œDrive on the right-hand side, remember?โ€

โ€œButโ€”โ€

โ€œAsh!โ€ย they both said, Bel waiting by the door, clapping her hands impatiently.

โ€œTake the camera,โ€ย Ramsey hissed, bundling it up and pressing it into Ashโ€™s chest, with a wink he thought Bel couldnโ€™t see. A whispered:ย โ€œSteady hand, make sure you frame the shot.โ€

โ€œOh, O-OK,โ€ย Ash stammered, catching on.

โ€œWait!โ€ย Ramsey darted back to the table.ย โ€œRelease forms. People have to sign these,โ€ย he said, shoving a few into Ashโ€™s hands.ย โ€œHave you got a pen?โ€

โ€œIโ€™ve got a fucking pen,โ€ย Bel said.ย โ€œNow, letโ€™s go before I change my mind. Fucking thank you.โ€

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