Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Back at the house, Nigel took the top off an old bankers box, revealing VHS tapes neatly stacked inside. Chris had hooked up the TV and VCR, and was now setting up a tripod to capture them watching the tape.
The first Vanderwall interview was what they were looking for, so he took it out. “Now to see if it will play.”
Nigel pushed the tape into the VCR. It clunked into place, and the machine whirred as it began to play.
For a moment, there was only static—then the picture resolved.
A White couple sat in the bay window of the library, the curtains open behind them showing that it was night.
Both looked to be around thirty, the woman’s brown hair teased into a voluminous bob with bangs, the man’s parted to the side and carefully layered.
Across from the couple sat a young version of Ms. Montague with a Lady Diana hairstyle and a suit jacket whose shoulder pads could’ve doubled as airplane wings.
Beside her perched a young woman with long dark hair, wearing an eyelet-trim blouse and straight skirt, an amethyst crystal hanging from her necklace.
Robin.
Static lines ran across the image as Dr. Lawson’s voice emerged from the TV’s tinny speaker.
“This is an interview with Karen and Larry Vanderwall, conducted by Patricia Montague and Robin Sawyer. Location: The Cottage, Devil’s Den Island, North Carolina.
Recording starting at 22:05, June 16, 1983.
Camera woman: Dr. Ruth Lawson.” She paused, then said, “Start whenever you’re ready. ”
And the dead woman spoke.