Last One Out

by Steph Nelson

This novel contains violence, coarse language, off-page child trafficking, and non-explicit references to pedophilia. Please read with care.

He

Everything goes black.

But it’s not a text. It’s a Reddit message, and it says: I know what happened to Chloe Webster.

But that handle, Punkass99, is tugging at me. The year Chloe went missing was 1999.

“Pepperoni and pineapple, your favorite,” he says.

Then I see her. Long, straight hair, perky nose, and just as short as ever. It’s Chloe Webster.

Bill is selling the girls for sex. That’s why he hasn’t killed me. I’m going to be in the rotation too.

A sex trafficking operation.

I won’t let anyone touch you.” Then he leaves.

“It’s just so strange, her returning out of the blue.”

over the years? I’m assuming if you had another kid, you would have told me.” She laughs. “For sure. No,

Bill knows I’m pregnant.

And no matter what I’ve told myself about him in order to win him over, the bottom line is Bill is batshit crazy. He shot my friends. He’s offering up girls for men to abuse and hurt in unthinkable ways. And a few days ago, he almost strangled me.

Don’t trust Chloe Webster.

She knows more than she’s letting on.

Nope, you’ll still be a murdering motherfucker. Nothing can change that.

Then I notice a picture of Jensen. And next to it, is one of me.

Natalie.

Reddit to send a message Punkass99: Let’s talk.

And where is Dad?

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I didn’t recognize his name, so I asked around, and our cook, who has been here the longest, said Mr. Oliver hasn’t been up to the camp in at least a decade.”

I’m about to turn to go back inside when there’s a painful burst at my head, and everything goes dark.

And Natalie’s song is all there is, reminding me of warmth. Of hope. Of love. Then nothing.

How to Pass as Your Dead Mother and Hunt the Motherfucker Who Murdered Her by Natalie Smith

Step One: Discover that your entire life has been a lie.

Rachel,

“Nat, I’m not your biological mom. But your mom saved my life and so I saved yours.”

He couldn’t get hard unless I was in pain. And he would threaten me saying things like, ‘You’re mine and you’ll never leave this place. If you do, I’ll hunt you down and kill you.’

Step Two: Research, research, research

I fucking hate the world for the way it treats anyone who isn’t a man.

I’m going to find the man who killed my mom, who terrorized Rachel, who left me for dead, and I’m going to fucking murder him.

Step Three: Walk a mile in your mom’s shoes

Step Four: Get mistaken for your mom

Step Five: Become your mom

Step Six: Return to the world as Chloe Webster

replay that word. No man is safe. Even if he

seems like a nice guy, push him too hard and you’ll find out what he’s made of. Men hate being questioned by a woman. They think they’re better than us.

“Round one goes like this: Jeff, you come clean about everything from your past and Frankie gets to live.”

tight. “So, for starters,” the man says, “tell the story of how you and I met.”

“Brian likes little girls. He came to me when he was in high school looking for help.”

“Are you still with us, Frankie?” Brian asks, bending down as if to look me in the eye. “You should know I wasn’t always like this. In fact, your dad shaped me. Little by little, he broke down my conscience.”

“What was the secret? The second biggest one?”

“Tell her why you cared that Chloe was pregnant,” Brian prods. “Because the baby was mine, okay? And I couldn’t have that come to light.”

“Afraid I can’t do that. There’s one more big secret your dad has to tell you. It’s secret number one.”

Brian. Oh my god. Realization wraps around my mind and I suddenly think I know who he is. “You’re the lifeguard from Paradise Point,” I say. “I remember you from summer camp.” “Yeah, Jeff made sure I was available for him in

“Your mom’s accident wasn’t an accident,” Dad pushes out fast.

He murdered Mom.