Who: Kitty + Bea Where: Unknown + Austin What: a phone call When: May 9th, 9:10 am
Kitty: [feels like her heart might pound out of her chest as she waits and then finally hears the line being picked up.] Bea? It’s Kitty. Oh my god, thank god you picked up. [the relief is clear in her voice.]
Bea: Kitty? What the hell? Where are you? We’ve all been freaking out and we’ve called you a million times. Are you okay? Because Maizie said her mom got kidnapped the same day you went missing so it freaked us out even more.
Kitty: God, I’m so sorry, Bea. I didn’t mean to scare any of you, and I would have answered if they hadn’t taken my phone. [she glances towards a man seated in the corner, but her words received no reaction from him.] These three men approached me in a hallway at the Capitol and asked me to come with them, they didn’t really give me much of an option. I still don’t know why I’m here, but I know I’m at least a day’s drive from Austin now. And I’m okay, I swear. They’re treating me surprisingly well for being kidnapped. [short pause] Savannah got kidnapped the same day? I...I didn’t know that.
Bea: At least a day away? [the words are repeated with a mix of confusion and awe] What the hell. This is seriously shady. I mean, I’m glad they’re not hurting you or anything but this is so messed up. Especially if Savannah got taken by the same people. How did they even get inside the Capitol? You need an ID to get in and--God--what if they’re like undercover spies or something?
Kitty: I think, we drove for what felt like forever and very few of the people I've interacted with have any semblance of a Texas accent. [can’t help but smile at Bea’s outrage] It’s extremely weird and worrisome. I mean why would they take me and Savannah? I mean I get her, she’s a leader in a shelter. But me? I’m an errand girl at best. [pauses] I have no idea, but literally nobody stopped them, they weren't very covert spies though and I hadn’t ever seen any of them before. God Bea, I just want to be home.
Bea: [her frown is practically audible] I don’t know. None of this makes any sense. Like, isn’t the first rule of being a responsible citizen to fucking say something if you see something? Oh my God I can’t believe they just took you. [let’s out a frustrated sigh] I’m sorry, I know I’m not helping. I just miss you and I want you home, too.
Kitty: I think so, I mean they don’t have the rules posted up in the Capitol. But if I saw something I’d alert the appropriate people. [pauses for a moment and let's out another sigh.] They didn’t look threatening though and I went with them without a hassle, so I don’t know, maybe that’s why nobody said anything. God, I hate this. All I know is they want to talk, but nobody will tell me why. [voice becomes unsteady and it’s obvious she’s fighting to keep from crying.] No, don’t be sorry. I knew you couldn’t help, I just wanted to hear someone’s voice from back home and find out if everyone’s okay. [pauses] You are okay right? And Zach and the kids too? I miss you, God, I miss everyone. When I get home we’re throwing a massive party with Olivia and Maizie, okay?
Bea: [feels her own throat going tight at hearing Kitty’s emotions] Yeah, Zach and the kids are good. Obviously worried about you but I’ll let them know you called. I think he was planning on bringing the kids to the library to-- [pauses and swallows hard] You know, give them something else to think about.
Kitty: [voice is shaky and thick with emotion.] God, Bea, I miss them. But good, I..I’m glad they're doing alright. And you didn’t answer how are you doing? [she falters as she fights down a sob that threatens to bubble up] Th...the library will be good, they’ll get a chance to run around with Liv and familiar faces will help distract them from missing me. [pauses to take a calming breath and notices the man in the corner motion for her to wrap it up.] Bea. God, how is this even our lives now. Maybe we were better off at Fox Grove. I don’t have much longer, so can you tell Gigi and Miah I love and miss them? The same goes for you, too.
Bea: I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me, okay? [squeezes her eyes shut as she tries not to cry] I’m glad you called and I’m glad that I know you’re okay and that you should be coming home soon. I’ll tell everyone you love them and make sure they know you’re okay, so don’t worry. We’ll be okay and we’ll just be excited for you to come home. Miss you, Kitty. But-- [pauses to take a shaky breath] This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a “I’ll see you soon” end to the conversation, okay?
Kitty: [her tone is lighter than it has been as she replies, though the strain of trying to keep the tears from falling can be heard still. ] You know I worry about everyone, right? It’s my default. They’re in good hands with you though, so thank you. I miss you something awful, Bea. [gives up on trying to hold back the tears.] You’re right, this isn’t a goodbye, it’s a “I’ll see you soon”, which I will, I promise. Take care of everyone, Bea, love you.
Who: Kitty + Nina Where: Unknown + Austin What: a phone call When: May 9th, 9:25 am
Kitty: [anxiously taps her fingers against the arm of the chair, sighing in relief when the call is answered. ] Nina, it’s Kitty. [pauses.] I don’t have a lot of time to talk, but I wanted to let you know that I’m okay.
Nina: Oh, my God. Hi. Where are you? We've all been worried sick -- have you spoken to Zach?
Kitty: Hi, and I don’t know exactly. They brought me somewhere that’s at least a day's drive outside of Austin. [she can be heard pausing to take a deep calming breath.] God, I’m sorry you’ve all been worried, three men just showed up and insisted I go with them. And no I haven’t, Zach didn’t answer his phone when I tried him and they’re only allowing two phone calls.
Nina: I'll let him know you called. But my God -- that's -- [She falls silent then, wondering.] It doesn't make any sense. What do they want with you?
Kitty: Thank you, Nina. I...this is all so confusing. [the line falls silent while Kitty ponders Nina’s question.] I don’t know yet. I think they just want to talk, or I hope that’s all. They...they haven’t made any kind of threatening remarks and when they kidnapped me they assured me they meant me no harm.
Nina: Do you think that maybe… They're from elsewhere? Outside Austin, I mean. Did they sound like it?
Kitty: Possibly, none of the men who grabbed me sounded as if they were Austin natives. Why would people from somewhere else have any interest in Austin, though? [ her voice gets quieter.] Nina, none of this makes any sense and I’m...I’m afraid I won’t see my children, my family, my friends, or you, ever again.
Nina: I know. I'm worried, too. [takes a deep breath before she speaks again.] Have you asked if they intend to return you? I mean, they must, right? If they really mean what they've said -- and so far they've kept their word?
Kitty: I haven’t, I mean I’ve thought about it, but they aren’t necessarily the question answering type. [sighs] Everything seems like it’s on a need to know basis. But they have kept their word so far, so my hope is they will bring me home eventually. Maybe after they talk with me...
Nina: I hope so, too. [another deep breath.] I don't know if this is reassuring, but someone who went missing was eventually returned. So at least the precedent's good?
Kitty: [voice gets quieter as she fights back tears that are threatening to fall.] That does help, I mean, it gives me a little bit of hope. I miss everyone, I miss home. [pauses] And my kidnapping kind of ruined our dinner, which I’m sorry about that by the way. You must have been so concerned when I didn’t show up…
Nina: [hurriedly:] Please, you don't have to apologize for that. It's not as though it's your fault this happened. I'll just see you when you come back, all right? We all will. [her tone is a little too bright.] Just hang on a little longer.
Kitty: [laughs, though it sounds rather humorously.] No, I definitely would have given a heads up if I knew I was going to be abducted. Can I make you promise a rain check on that dinner? And seeing everyone? [a muffled voice can be heard.] They’re telling me my time is almost up. It was so good to hear your voice, Nina. I’ll try to hang on, I promise.
Nina: Yes, of course -- you can count on it. [a deep breath, then:] I'm so glad you called. I'll see you soon, all right?
Kitty: And I'm so glad you picked up. [takes a deep, steadying breath.] I hope that’s true. Goodbye, Nina.