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Chapter no 50

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

โ€œWhat do you think happened to Charlie, and Je๏ฌ€, and Sherry?โ€

Ramsey waited for the answer, sitting in the Royalty Inn conference room, haloed by the bright softbox light behind.

Bel was on the couch, cushions arranged neatly around her.

She wasnโ€™t alone this time. Mom was on one side, Carter the other.

Her knees pressed against the co๏ฌ€ee table. A full bottle of water they werenโ€™t allowed to drink, three glasses this time. And the marble chessboard, still missing its queen. Bel had it in her pocket, was going to put it back when they wereย ๏ฌnished. She didnโ€™t need it anymore.

โ€œI donโ€™t know,โ€ย Mom said, taking this one.

It was theirย Exit Interview.ย At least, that was what the clapper board said. The last scene ofย The Reappearance of Rachel Price,ย with what was left of the Prices.

Ash was here somewhere, hiding behind the glare of the lights, wearing that ugly purple sweater again, the one with the dinosaurs. James was behind the big camera, Saba with the microphone tripod, its grayย ๏ฌ‚u๏ฌ€y head hanging over them.

โ€œItโ€™s been two weeks since Je๏ฌ€ย and Sherry were last seen.โ€ย Ramsey steepled hisย ๏ฌngers.ย โ€œAlmost a month since your husband, Charlie, went missing. Do you have any idea where they are, why they left?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t know where they are,โ€ย Mom said, holding his gaze, blinking just enough to make it believable.ย โ€œThe police are convinced Charlie left the country, ran away to Canada. That Je๏ฌ€ย and Sherry did too, they found evidence to support that, like it was planned somehow, the three of them. As toย whyโ€ฆI can only guess.โ€

โ€œAnd what is your guess, Rachel?โ€ย Ramsey pushed.

She took a breath, like she needed time to think.ย โ€œMy reappearance put a lot of strain on the family. A lot of stress, a lot of adjusting, and it also came with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of questions, and a lot of attention from the media.โ€ย She paused, holding it for e๏ฌ€ect, like Bel had told her to.ย โ€œI think me coming back stirred something up. I donโ€™t know if they were involved in something illegal, but I think my return was the catalyst, part of their decision to leave, why they felt they needed to. Bel, you heard your dad and your uncle Je๏ฌ€ย arguing a lot, even before I returned, didnโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œYeah,โ€ย Bel said, picking up the thread.ย โ€œA lot ofย ๏ฌghts. Always about money. Thatโ€™s why Dad actually agreed to this documentary in theย ๏ฌrst place; he was desperate for the money. I donโ€™t know if that had anything to do with it.โ€

Her mom nodded, taking theย ๏ฌ‚oor again.ย โ€œWe donโ€™t have the answers. Iโ€™ve tried, wondering what secret they shared, what made them want to leave. Maybe they thought I knew something, from back before I disappeared, maybe that would explain it, butโ€ฆI donโ€™t. I guess we just have to hope theyโ€™ll all come home someday and we can work through it.โ€

โ€œWhat about you, Carter?โ€ย Ramsey turned to her.ย โ€œHave you heard from your parents at all, since they took o๏ฌ€?โ€

Carter sat up straighter.ย โ€œNot since the night of Grandpaโ€™s eighty-๏ฌfth birthday.โ€

โ€œAnd how does it make you feel, that theyโ€™ve gone? That they left you behind?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s sad,โ€ย Carter sni๏ฌ€ed.ย โ€œWhatever the reason is, must be pretty bad for them to leave theirย ๏ฌfteen-year-old daughter behind, no contact. I miss them, and I hope theyโ€™re OK. But they chose to leave, and I like to think

they left me behind to protect me somehow. Iโ€™m still dealing with all this. Only been two weeks.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™ve been staying with your aunt and your cousin?โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ย Mom said, answering this one.ย โ€œCarter is family too, and she will always be welcome to stay with us, for as long as she needs. Weโ€™re happy to have her, arenโ€™t we, Bel?โ€

โ€œAsk me in front of the camera, why donโ€™t you, so I have to be nice.โ€ย Bel smirked.

Carter punched her in the arm.

Ramsey smiled, watching the two of them, giving the moment space.ย โ€œSo itโ€™s another mystery, what happened to Charlie, and Je๏ฌ€ย and

Sherry?โ€ย he followed up.

Mom nodded.ย โ€œAnother mystery.โ€

โ€œCircling back.โ€ย Ramsey leaned forward, which meant a di๏ฌƒcult question was coming.ย โ€œWe still donโ€™t have answers to the main mystery of your disappearance, the man who took you, Rachel. You identi๏ฌed Phillip Alves after the incident at your home a couple weeks ago, when he broke in. But police have since discovered that Phillip Alves was in Mexico the day you were released, when you reappeared, so it canโ€™t be him. Any comments on that?โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ย Mom said, like sheโ€™d expected it, because she had. Theyโ€™d prepared answers for any question Ramsey might ask.ย โ€œIn that moment, I was sure it was him. It was dark, and I only ever saw my captor in the dark, he never got close. Maybe it was just the fear, when I saw him attacking Bel, and instinct took over. I was wrong. It wasnโ€™t Phillip Alves. The man is still out there, somewhere, and now Iโ€™m not sure Iโ€™d even recognize him, if I do see him.โ€

Ramsey nodded,ย ๏ฌngers cupping his chin.ย โ€œAre you concerned, at all, that youโ€™ll never have the answer? That the police will neverย ๏ฌnd him?โ€

They hadnโ€™t prepared for this one. Bel slid her hand along the couch, nudging her littleย ๏ฌnger against her momโ€™s leg, letting her know she was right here. It didnโ€™t matter if the camera saw.

Mom looked at her, half a second, and that was enough.ย โ€œIf youโ€™d asked me a few weeks ago, I might have said yes. I thought I needed that answer, that I couldnโ€™t live without it. But now, I think Iโ€™m OK with the not- knowing. Iโ€™ve been a mystery myself for a very long time, the past sixteen years, so I think Iโ€™m OK, living in mystery.โ€ย Her voice cracked and it was real, Bel could tell the di๏ฌ€erence.ย โ€œBut I wonโ€™t live in fear anymore. I did that for a long time, and I fought my way home, back to my family. Itโ€™s time to move on, answers or not. And I have these two here, to help meย ๏ฌnd my way.โ€

Ramsey sat back, a smile that was all eyes and no teeth, holding the three of them in his gaze.

โ€œAnd thatโ€™s a wrap!โ€ย he said, bringing his hands together, clapping, holding it out to them.

James joined in, behind the camera. Saba too.

And Ash, emerging in front of one of the lights, glowing, winking when he caught Belโ€™s eye.

Bel clapped too, sent it his way. Then Carter. Then her mom.

The room came alive with the sound of their scattered applause, and no one wanted to be theย ๏ฌrst to stop.

They clapped, not just because it was ending, but because it mattered. Because it had changed them, all of them.

โ€”

โ€œYouโ€™re leaving today?โ€ย Mom asked Ramsey, out in the parking lot.

James and Saba were loading their equipment into the van behind. Ash was struggling to carry one of those large metal trunks, knocking into the hotel door with a crash.

โ€œYeah,โ€ย Ramsey said.ย โ€œOurย ๏ฌ‚ight is this evening.โ€

Bel and Carter hung back, leaning against their momโ€™s car.

โ€œWell.โ€ย Mom held out her hand.ย โ€œGoodbye. Thank you, for everything, Ramsey.โ€

his.

Ramsey took her hand, but he didnโ€™t shake it, held it between both of

โ€œNo. Thank you, Rachel. Weโ€™ll be in touch. About theย ๏ฌlm.โ€ย Ash dropped something else.

โ€œDo you need a hand?โ€ย Carter asked him.ย โ€œYours clearly donโ€™t work very

well.โ€

Ash smirked.ย โ€œStarting to sound like your cousin.โ€

Ramseyโ€™s eyesย ๏ฌ‚icked over to Bel.ย โ€œI know you donโ€™t think youโ€™re slinking o๏ฌ€ย without saying goodbye to me, Bel Price.โ€

โ€œCaught me,ย mate.โ€ย She sidled over, replacing her mom, who went to help Carter.ย โ€œSoโ€ฆthe documentary is done.โ€

โ€œIt is. Not going to be the plotty, twisty story I thought I had a few weeks ago,โ€ย he said pointedly.

Bel dropped her eyes.

Ramsey knew. Of course he knew. He didnโ€™t know everything, the whole truth, but he knew as much as Ash. Heโ€™d seen their footage, before she destroyed it. He knew Rachel was lying, that a stranger hadnโ€™t kept her in a basement for sixteen years, that the answer was closer to home and the Price family had secrets, he just didnโ€™t know what.

Theย ๏ฌlm that could have been.

Ramsey was watching her.ย โ€œNo,โ€ย he continued,ย โ€œit wonโ€™t be the plotty, twisty story I thought I wanted. It will be something better, something with aย human element.ย A quieter story, about a mother and daughterย ๏ฌnding each other again, overcoming their di๏ฌ€erences and doubts. A journey that changes both of them. Not as shocking as theย ๏ฌlm I once had, no, it probably wonโ€™t make as much moneyโ€”it de๏ฌnitely wonโ€™tโ€”but itโ€™s a story worth telling.โ€

Bel nodded, unsure what to say.

โ€œGot something for you.โ€ย He lowered his voice, pulling something out of his pocket, a memory stick.ย โ€œIโ€™ve been aย ๏ฌlmmaker a long time,โ€ย he said, almost a whisper.ย โ€œI always make sure the footage is backed up to the cloud.โ€

Belโ€™s heart staled in her chest, dropping to her gut.

Lips open around a phantom word. Oh no, oh fuck, the footage.

But Ramseyโ€™s eyes were kind. Not a threat, but a gift. He held the memory stick out toward her.ย โ€œItโ€™s gone now. I deleted it all, permanently, everything you and Ash shot together. This is the last remaining copy. Thought you might want it.โ€

He handed it over.

Bel took it, herย ๏ฌngers brushing his. Ramsey had the footage; he could have had thatย ๏ฌlm he wanted, the one that exposed Rachel, the one that pitted her and Bel against each other, plotty, twisty, shocking. But heโ€™d chosen not to. Heโ€™d made his choice.

โ€œThank you,โ€ย she said, pushing the memory stick into her pocket. Ramsey smiled.ย โ€œItโ€™s your story, not mine.โ€

He held out his hand.ย โ€œWell, I guess this is goodbye, then.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t think so,ย mate.โ€ย Bel batted his hand away. She leaned up with both arms and hugged him.

Ramsey returned the hug, holding tight but not as tight as her.ย โ€œIf you ever need anything, sweetheart, just call me, yeah?โ€ย he said.ย โ€œI know Iโ€™m halfway around the world, but Iโ€™m always here, OK?โ€

โ€œOK,โ€ย Bel said, mu๏ฌ„ed against his jacket.

Ramsey pressed a kiss to the top of her head, buried in her hair.

โ€œRight, go on.โ€ย He pulled away, eyes glistening.ย โ€œGet out of here, before I start bawling.โ€ย He wiped his eyes and waved his hand.ย โ€œGo on, Iโ€™m serious, get out of here, mate. Canโ€™t be crying out on the street.โ€

Bel laughed, stepping away from him, but she couldnโ€™t get out of here, not quite yet.

โ€œAsh!โ€

He was standing right there, not helping, like heโ€™d been waiting for his turn.

โ€œWhat?โ€ย He walked over,ย ๏ฌ‚ares swishing against the concrete.ย โ€œIโ€™m very busy.โ€

โ€œToo busy for this?โ€ย Bel dropped her backpack to the crook of her elbow, reached inside for the yellow fabric. She handed it over.ย โ€œI went back

to get this for you.โ€

Ash unfolded the cropped T-shirt and his face lit up.ย โ€œPugs Not Drugs,โ€ย he said, turning it around to show her the sad, chubby pug.ย โ€œI love this little guy. Gonna wear it all the time.โ€

โ€œOf course you will,โ€ย she said.ย โ€œYou know, youโ€™re ridiculous, and strange, and pretty annoying, actually.โ€ย She took a breath, unlocked her jaw.ย โ€œBut Iโ€™m glad I met you.โ€

Ash pointed the pug at her.ย โ€œFlattery will get you nowhere, Bel.โ€ โ€œThat was the last one.โ€

โ€œYeah.โ€ย Ash balled up the T-shirt, holding it to his chest, in front of his heart.ย โ€œIโ€™ll miss you,โ€ย he said quietly.

โ€œReally?โ€ย She sneered.ย โ€œBut Iโ€™m unpleasant?โ€

Ash laughed, pressed the T-shirt to his mouth.ย โ€œThoroughly unpleasant.โ€ย Bel stepped forward. She prodded him in the shoulder with twoย ๏ฌngers.

โ€œI guess Iโ€™ll see you,โ€ย she said.

โ€œI mean, we probably wonโ€™t. I live in a di๏ฌ€erent country, butโ€ฆโ€ย He stopped himself, eyes shining as they found hers, glazing over. They would both cry about it, tears that felt happy but tasted sad, just not here, not now. He reached out, pushed twoย ๏ฌngers against her shoulder.ย โ€œI guess Iโ€™ll see you too.โ€

โ€œBel!โ€ย Carter called.ย โ€œYou ready to go?โ€ โ€œIโ€™m ready,โ€ย she said, keeping it to herself.

Mom blipped the car, opening the driverโ€™s-side door.

Carter hesitated.ย โ€œWhere do you want to sit?โ€ย she asked Bel.

Bel paused, eyesย ๏ฌ‚oating from the front passenger door to the back.ย โ€œIโ€™ll take the backseat.โ€

She climbed in, sitting here because she could. The backseat wasnโ€™t the thing that hurt her, it was the men who had chosen to. Her mom never abandoned her, so it couldnโ€™t hold that over her anymore. And really, it was just a seat, same as the front.

Mom started the engine, pulling out onto Main Street. Bel turned to watch theย ๏ฌlm crew standing there, waving, shrinking behind them, until they were just specks and stick people, then nothing.

Ramsey said it was her story, but it was his too. And that made her think of something, a memory that turned over, became something new.

โ€œRamseyย ๏ฌlmed a documentary last year, it didnโ€™t get picked up, they said it lacked aย human element.ย He shot it in Millinocket, Maine. But thatโ€™s the same place youโ€ฆโ€

Mom blinked; Bel watched her in the rearview mirror.

โ€œIt was you!โ€ย she said.ย โ€œYou were Lucas Ayer on Twitter. Left a comment telling Ramsey to look into the Rachel Price case. Youโ€™re the reason this documentary happened.โ€

Mom shrugged.ย โ€œI saw theย ๏ฌlm crew around town, got scared that someone might spot me, recognize me in the background. So I laid low. But it got me thinking, that a documentary could be useful. I wanted to see Charlie have to lie on camera, pretend he had no idea what happened to me. But also, you know, money. That if I came back, theyโ€™d o๏ฌ€er me more for my side of the story, that it would keep us going for a few years. So I tweeted him. Didnโ€™t think it would work. I guess I was too good of a mystery to miss.โ€

โ€œYou told me you donโ€™t understand Twitter,โ€ย Carter said, feet up on the dashboard, legs too long.

โ€œNo, thatโ€™s still true. TikTok is the most confusing, though. Why is everyone so loud?โ€

Carter laughed.ย โ€œYou just need to turn your volume down. I showed you already, the buttons at the side.โ€

โ€œToo many buttons,โ€ย Mom muttered.ย โ€œThereโ€™s literally just three.โ€

A squad car was parked ahead, Police Chief Dave Winter outside, writing up a ticket for someone. Dave spotted them as the tra๏ฌƒc slowed. He waved, badge glinting. Mom nodded and Bel pressed her lips into a smile. Sheโ€™d let Dave out of his promise. He had been right, he owed Bel nothing, and Charlie even less. As long as he stayed far away from the truth.

Carter sti๏ฌ€ened as they drove past.

Mom noticed.ย โ€œAnyway,โ€ย she said,ย โ€œI thought that interview went really well.โ€

Carter shrugged.ย โ€œI donโ€™t know. I think I took too long with my answers, that my face gave it away whenever Ramsey said Je๏ฌ€ย or Charlieโ€™s names. What if they can tell Iโ€™m lying? What if people watch it andย ๏ฌgure out that I killed them both?โ€

โ€œCarter.โ€ย Mom stopped at a red light, turned to her.ย โ€œI donโ€™t want to hear you say that, even think that. You didnโ€™t kill anybody, trust me.โ€

Carter pulled her legs back, tucked her hands between her knees.ย โ€œI did, though.โ€

โ€œListen to me, you did not kill anyone. Charlie pulled Je๏ฌ€ย over the edge.

He killed him.โ€

โ€œBut I pushed Charlie. I killed Charlie.โ€

Mom breathed in, held on to it for a long moment, the turn signal ticking, counting it down before she let it go.ย โ€œNo, Carter. You didnโ€™t kill Charlie. I did.โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€ย Bel said, mind reeling, doubling back, going for her heart.ย โ€œWhat are you saying?โ€

Momโ€™s eyes were on the road, not on them.ย โ€œJe๏ฌ€ย was dead. I thought Charlie was too, but he survived the fall, woke up when I was dragging him through the mine. He was in a bad way, couldnโ€™t move, couldnโ€™t really speak, but his eyes were open. He begged me not to do it.โ€ย She coughed, sliding her hands down the steering wheel.ย โ€œHe didnโ€™t survive the second fall.โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€ย Carterโ€™s hands went to her mouth.

โ€œYou said you wouldnโ€™t lie to us anymore.โ€ย Bel stared through the back of her momโ€™s head. If she was telling the truth, why was she only saying this now, two weeks later?

โ€œIโ€™m not lying,โ€ย Mom said, keeping her eyes to herself.ย โ€œThatโ€™s what happened. Carter didnโ€™t kill anybody. Charlie killed Je๏ฌ€, and I killed Charlie.โ€

There was a shift in Carter as she said it, almost instant; Bel watched it happen from the backseat. A lightening in her shoulders, a brightening in her eyes, a new ease in the way she held her mouth, the way the air passed through, not quite so heavy anymore.

And Bel understood.

Maybe Mom was lying to them, oneย ๏ฌnal lie, but if she was, then that was why she did it. To keep Carter safe, not from the police, but from her guilt. And if that was what she was doing, then it was a lie Bel could live with, could forgive. A truth she didnโ€™t have to know, one last mystery of the great, disappearing Rachel Price. The kind of thing a good mom would do.

Mom pulled into the parking lot, backing into a spot.ย โ€œSo donโ€™t say that again, Carter, because itโ€™s not true. You didnโ€™t do anything wrong.โ€ย She turned o๏ฌ€ย the engine and reached across, losing herย ๏ฌngers in Carterโ€™s copper hair.ย โ€œOK?โ€ย she said, tugging at a strand.

โ€œOK.โ€ย Carter pressed the word into a smile, wrestling her hair back. Maybe sheโ€™d even be able to sleep in her own room tonight. Not that Bel minded, except her little sister did kick in her sleep. Legs way too fucking long.

The spare room was now Carterโ€™s, and Mom had moved back into her old bedroom, new bed, new mattress, throwing out anything Charlie had touched.

โ€œRight, come on.โ€ย Mom unclipped her seat belt.ย โ€œWe have paint to buy.โ€ โ€œNot more paint,โ€ย Bel growled, climbing out.ย โ€œDo you like eggshell, or

oatmeal, or dove?ย Itโ€™s all white, Mom, just pick one.โ€

โ€œHave you seen the swatches sheโ€™s put up on my wall?โ€ย Carter emerged from the car.ย โ€œSays I can choose, but at least three of them are the color of vomit.โ€

โ€œGirls, stop bullying me or youโ€™re both grounded.โ€ย She grinned.

โ€œIf you ground one of us for anything,โ€ย Bel said,ย โ€œit should be the number of times Carter saysย fuck.โ€

โ€œFuck o๏ฌ€.โ€ย Carter tried to trip her, standing on her heels.

They laughed. Carterโ€™s laugh sounded like Belโ€™s, and Belโ€™s sounded like Momโ€™s,ย ๏ฌtting together, like they belonged.

โ€œCarter!โ€ย a voice yelled across the parking lot.

They all turned to see where it had come from, Bel sti๏ฌ€ening, her bones locking. But it was just Carterโ€™s friends from school, standing outside Rosaโ€™s Pizza, next to the hardware store.

Carter waved.

โ€œCan I go?โ€ย she asked Mom, but her eyesย ๏ฌ‚icked to Bel, waited there instead.

Bel dipped her head, tilted her chin.ย โ€œOf course you can,โ€ย she said, saying more than that with her eyes.ย โ€œGo on.โ€

โ€œThanks,โ€ย Carter hissed.ย โ€œIโ€™ll see you in there, Moโ€”Aunt Rachel,โ€ย she corrected herself, people passing on the way to their cars.

Carter ran away from them, disappearing as her friends re-formed around her.

She left. And that was OK, because Bel knew she would come back. Carter would always come back, whether she was just going over there to say hello to her friends, or if she went all the way to New York for dancing school. The people who loved you, the ones who really cared, they would always come back.

Sometimes, they even came back from the dead.

โ€œGuess itโ€™s just you and me, kid.โ€ย Mom hooked her arm through Belโ€™s, heading toward the entrance.ย โ€œYou OK? What are you thinking?โ€

โ€œNothing, sorry,โ€ย Bel said. Actually, it was something.ย โ€œI was thinking I would message this girl. Sam. The one who gave me the bracelet with the skulls. She used to be my friend.โ€

The last friend Bel ever had, before she pushed everyone away. But she was ready to be somebodyโ€™s friend again, now she knew how it worked. That it didnโ€™t matter if they drifted, or someone got hurt, or it didnโ€™t last forever. It still mattered.

โ€œYeah.โ€ย Mom looked at her with a knowing smile.ย โ€œYou should. Maybe invite her over sometime?โ€

Bel nodded. She just might do that.

Mom picked out a shopping cart, wheeled it toward the doors.ย โ€œWe should get some bookshelves too. For the living room.โ€

โ€œIโ€™d like that.โ€

โ€œAnything else you want?โ€ย Mom said, glancing down at the list in her hand.

There wasnโ€™t.

Bel just wanted to be here, with her mom, looking at a thousand shades of white and pretending to see a di๏ฌ€erence, because it wasnโ€™t about the paint at all. It was about them, a daughter and a mom, learning all the ways they couldย ๏ฌnd each other again,ย ๏ฌt back together, trying, until it was like it never happened, like no time had been taken from them at all.

Theyโ€™d get there. They were already well on their way.

The automatic doors sprang open for them, and Bel helped her mom push the cart through, righting one of the wheels.

They crossed the threshold, walked inside.

The doors slid shut behind them, taking them away with a midnight shush.

They disappeared.

But this time, they did it together.

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