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episode 6: darcy’s last words
Welcome back, Truth Seekers. I’m your host, Alexis Summers, and today, we’ll read an excerpt from Darcy Cantrell’s diary, which sheds some light on her relationship with Donovan and her plans for the future.
Oct 26, 2007
Van’s leaving. He signed up to join the Marines. He’s going to boot camp right after graduation.
I HATE HIM!
This wasn’t the plan! We’re supposed to escape together! But the fucker is leaving me here in this shitty little town to rot. He said it’s only for a little while. He said he’d come back for me after boot camp, and we can get married and then I can go wherever he gets stationed. He’ll get me a ring tonight to prove he’s serious.
But then what?
That doesn’t sound like an escape to me. That sounds like the same trap both of our moms fell into. Marry young. Pop out a kid we don’t really want. Struggle for money our whole lives until he starts drinking every night (he already drinks too much) and we end up in some shitty trailer park in the middle of fucking nowhere, working back-breaking, minimum-wage jobs to barely pay the bills. I don’t think Van would ever hit me, but I bet both of our moms thought the same thing when they got married.
Whatever.
I don’t need him.
I have $1500 saved and made another $80 in tips tonight. Winter will be slow at the diner, but I can make up for it at the truck stop, and if I stay here and work full-time through tourist season, I’ll have enough money to go anywhere by the end of summer.
Goodbye, Cali-fucking-fornia!
I’m thinking New York City. I could get lost there, and nobody will ever find me. I’ll become someone else. Someone happy. I really just don’t want to be me anymore.
Okay, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to break up with Van tonight at the bonfire. I don’t want to go, but it will be worth it to shoot him down in front of all those stupid kids from school he thinks are his friends.
I’ll hurt him before he can hurt me.
PS - Van just called. He’s on his way to get me. He said he got a family ring from his mom. It was his grandma’s or some shit. And now I’m having second thoughts. I hate him for ruining all of our plans, but he’s going to give me his grandma’s ring! How could I not still love him, too?
PPS- He’s here. I might rip out this page and burn it when I get back. Or maybe I’ll just leave tonight and never return. We’ll see what happens.
Could this prove that Darcy ran away? Or could it be a clue to something more sinister? We know that Donovan Scott was the last person seen with her before she disappeared. And now, with this diary entry, we have reason to believe that Darcy may have been planning to break up with him and leave town on her own. We also know from the interrogation recording that Darcy really did go through with the breakup at the bonfire, and Donovan admitted he was angry at her. Could Donovan have been jealous of Darcy’s plans to leave without him? Could his motive have been to prevent her from leaving?
Furthermore, Donovan was uncooperative during his initial questioning with Sheriff Jerry during the search of his home. He lied about his whereabouts on the night of her disappearance and seemed evasive when asked about his relationship with her. While this all points to him as a suspect, some could argue that he was just a scared teenager who had a history of bad encounters with the sheriff. We must remember that to this day, he has not been charged with a crime and is innocent until proven guilty.
It’s all speculation at this point, but one thing is for sure: Darcy’s last words, as recorded in her diary, paint a picture of a young woman who was unhappy with her life and desperate for a change. Did she finally make that change on the night she disappeared? Or did something more sinister happen to her?
And that’s it for today’s episode of Cold Truth. We explored the last words of Darcy Cantrell, and while we can’t say for certain what happened to her, it’s clear that her relationship with Donovan and her desire to escape played a big role in her final moments. But the question remains: is Donovan Scott guilty or not? Some believe that Sheriff Jerry may have focused too much on Donovan and missed other potential leads. We’ll explore that and more in our final episode.
Stay curious, Truth Seekers, and stay safe. See you next time!
chapter nineteen
The lawyer was already waiting in the parking lot beside the sheriff’s department. He walked over as Donovan parked and stretched out a hand. “Donovan Scott? I’m Callum Holden. I believe you spoke with my secretary about needing representation.”
“Yeah.” He climbed out of his Jeep and accepted the strong handshake. “I know it’s short notice. Thanks for coming.” When Sasha climbed out of her car moments later and joined them, he placed a possessive hand on her back. “This is Sasha. We can talk freely in front of her.”
“Good to know. Hi, Sasha.” Holden smiled warmly at her, but it wasn’t warm enough to spark off the possessive beast living in Donovan’s chest. He didn’t feel the need to mark his territory because Holden didn’t come off as a threat.
The lawyer had sandy blond hair swept back from an open face that inspired honesty. His suit was nice but a little rumpled, like he’d worn it for one too many days in a row. He kind of reminded Donovan of Winston, Zak and Anna’s goofy Golden Retriever, but his reputation as a defense lawyer was more like that of a pit bull. He was mean and persistent and exactly the kind of man Donovan wanted in his corner.
Holden looked over at the blocky building that served as the main office of the Lost County Sheriff’s Department and gave a little wince. “I would’ve liked more time to prep beforehand, but I reviewed the basics before coming over. We got this. I’m good at winging it.” He pulled a notebook from the bag on his shoulder and grabbed the pen tucked behind his ear. “So, let me get some things straight before we walk in there. I understand that you’re being questioned about the disappearance of your ex-girlfriend.”
“Yeah. I’ve been their only suspect since it happened.”
“So why are they dragging you in now? It’s been… what? Fifteen years?”
