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EVEN IN THE DARK

Bonus excerp t

PROLOGUE

10 YEARS AGO (Dylan, age 7)

911 CALL TRANSCRIPT, RECORDED AT 11:32pm (San Francisco, CA)

Child: I think my dad – I think he just killed two ladies! Operator: Are you— Child: Oh my God! I think he killed them! Operator: Is your dad still there? Is he with you right now? Child: I have to go. [crying] Operator: I need you to stay on the line. Don't hang up, okay? Child: [erratic breathing] Operator: Start by telling me your name, alright? Child: I can't. I just… I don't want to tell you that. Can you just send someone to help the ladies? Operator: Someone's going to be there soon, but I need you to stay on the line. Is your dad still there? Child: [crying hard] I think he killed them… They're all cut up. Operator: The ladies are cut up? Child: Yeah. Operator: And are you hurt anywhere? Child: No. Uh, I guess my neck kind of. From the knife. Before. Operator: Are you— Child: I'm scared… I'm scared he's going to get in trouble! Operator: Is your dad still there? Child: Yeah. He's cleaning [muffled]… the washing machine. I'm really scared. I think he killed them! Operator: I need you to listen to me, okay? You need to find somewhere to hide until— Child: It's not my house. We're not… I don't know where we are! Can you just send someone to help them? I have to go! [rustling noises, faint thumping] Operator: Someone is on their way. But you need to— Child: [barely audible] I have to go! Operator: Can you—

[phone call disconnected] Call ended 11:34pm