Page 221 of The Silent Appeal

11:20 a.m. Celia wrote:

I know what you did.

Message exchange between Karen and Marianne Payne on June 4, 2025:

11:31 a.m. Karen wrote:

I’m crying in the toilet at work. It’s Mark. He’s not who I thought he was, Mum.

11:32 a.m. Marianne wrote:

At last! Pack him in and get back on the apps. Not the end of the world, love. What happened?

11:32 a.m. Karen wrote:

Last night we were backstage watching Amelia’s big scene. Mark said, “Sorry, babe, shoulda been you.”

11:33 a.m. Marianne wrote:

So?

11:35 a.m. Karen wrote:

Then he whispered in my ear: “If I’d made sure it dropped right on her, she wouldn’t be acting again this side of Christmas.”

11:35 a.m. Marianne wrote:

What did he mean by that?

11:41 a.m. Karen wrote:

He loosened the light and was going to rig the pulley so he could drop it on Amelia when she was onstage at rehearsal. Only he noticed she put her sleeping bag in that exact spot at the sleep out, so he unwrapped the pulley rope when Father Josh was telling his ghost story—all to get me a part in the play!

11:42 a.m. Marianne wrote:

That fucker sneaked backstage and dropped the light on a sleeping woman?!

11:43 a.m. Karen wrote:

No, it fell down on its own somehow, but it was all set up deliberately and I don’t know what to do!

11:44 a.m. Marianne wrote:

We know what to do, but we’ll do it after the play. Don’t let on to him that you’ve told us. Act natural. Your dad and I will sort it out.

Messages posted to Fran’s Hollow Play WhatsApp group on June 4, 2025:

4:11 p.m. Amelia wrote:

What time you picking us up?

4:14 p.m. Fran wrote:

5:45 p.m.

4:15 p.m. Georgia wrote:

Too early!