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No Escape Episode Two: The Interrogation of Maya Canton · Slice of Crimes | Serial Crime Story & Audio Drama

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  Slice of Crimes is a fictionalized true crime podcast that delves into complex
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  and sometimes difficult stories.
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  Topics may include discussions and descriptions of violence,
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  abuse, self-harm, sexual assault, suicide, and other sensitive subjects,
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  as well as occasional strong language.
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  Please listen with care and discretion. This podcast may not be suitable for
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  all audiences, especially young listeners.
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  Music.
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  Nothing has ever heard exactly as it seems seems.
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  Slice of crimes.
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  Infinite banks no escape
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  episode two the interrogation of maya canton welcome back to slice of crimes
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  i'm casey your resident slice sleuth and today i'll peel back the layers of
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  what happened in that escape room on January 14th, 2017.
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  We've already learned that Jenner Smith, the golden boy of Riverton High,
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  met a gruesome end, but who among his friends wanted him dead?
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  In this episode, we'll dive deep into the first interrogation,
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  Maya Cantone, Jenner's girlfriend.
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  Was she a victim of his charm, or did she have something darker hidden behind
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  those wide, innocent eyes?
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  Before we get into Maya's interrogation, let's clear up a few things.
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  Eddie, the 16-year-old employee at Escape Haven, wasn't guilty of anything except
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  bending the rules for a quick buck.
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  The teens had pooled together $50 to persuade Eddie to let them play individually
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  instead of in the usual two-team format.
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  That was explicitly against the rules posted at the front desk.
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  But money talks, and Eddie not only let them break the rules,
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  he also extended their playtime, allowing everyone to finish rather than ending
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  when the first person emerged victorious.
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  This decision would later complicate the timeline as Eddie admitted he couldn't
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  say in what order the teens came out, and there were no security cameras back there, only up front.
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  He insisted he had no clue whose idea it was to bribe him. They all chipped
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  in, and that's all he knew.
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  He did mention he had answered a phone call earlier that day,
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  a guy asking how strict the rules are, and does he stick to them?
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  He told the detective he didn't pay attention to the name. Maybe it started with a J.
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  Detective Sarah McAllister took note. That would be one of the many questions
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  she'd ask each of them down at the station.
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  One more detail she asked of Eddie, could he remember ever seeing any of them before?
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  He claimed no, but added that the girl pulled out a punch card,
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  but explained, they don't put names on those cards and people share them all
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  the time to get a discount quicker.
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  As for Eddie, his alibi checked out.
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  Surveillance footage from the front desk, which covered the entire entrance
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  and lobby, showed him glued to his phone, scrolling through Instagram and TikTok
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  in between setting up the smaller escape rooms for other customers.
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  With that, Eddie was cleared.
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  McAllister showed Eddie the roll of duct tape that was discovered when Jenner's
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  body was moved. It had been underneath him all along.
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  Eddie recognized the roll, black with the brand Duck Pro printed on the inside.
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  He showed the detectives the one kept next to the register. He explained there's
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  one inside every escape room too in the toolbox up on the platform.
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  It's for emergency repairs of broken venting or ripped fabric, that type of thing.
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  Ramirez's eyes,
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  He knew McAllister was focused on the knife, but he believed the duct tape was going to crack the case.
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  McAllister was frustrated by Eddie's answer as to why there would be no security
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  cameras in the back areas or inside the escape rooms.
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  He told her the owner said it was too dark back there and there's nothing to
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  steal. All the money is kept up front.
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  Apparently the owner hadn't considered murder.
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  McAllister found it absurd. Cameras should have been back there for many reasons,
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  and being dark made them even more necessary.
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  She shook her head, trying to shake off her irritability. The owner's nonchalant
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  attitude towards security, especially in light of the murder,
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  brought to her mind a chilling realization.
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  The killer knew exactly what they were doing, exploiting every gap in the security.
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  Detective McAllister was certain this murder was no spontaneous crime of passion.
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  It was well-planned, and it had to be one of those kids.
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  Inside the police station interrogation room, Detective McAllister sits across
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  from Maya Canton, a petite 16-year-old girl who appears shaken,
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  struggling to maintain composure.
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  Detective McAllister's eyes fixed on Maya's shirt the moment she stepped into the room.
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  Black leggings, thick socks, purple Crocs. Every inch of her was smeared with dried blood.
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  But it was the oversized Prince Concert tee that caused McAllister to pause.
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  Deep purple, bold lettering across the front. I would die for you.
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  McAllister knew the song, of course. Who didn't? But under the circumstances,
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  it felt ironic, almost satirical.
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  Maya didn't seem to notice the irony, or notice at all for that matter.
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  Music.
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  What an unfortunate choice McAllister was struck.
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  But something else bothered her more. Much more.
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  Her mind drifted ever so briefly. An unusual occurrence for her.
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  She was a precise and skilled interrogator. Every move she made and every word
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  she uttered in this room were almost always calculated.
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  Down to the last detail.
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  But this case, well, it was exceptionally grim.
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  The weight of the case pressing heavily on her shoulders. so heavily,
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  she could physically feel the pressure.
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  Maya sat dazed and rumpled in front of her.
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  Music.
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  Bright blonde tendrils of her curly hair sprung out. The cap appeared extra
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  thick, extra fuzzy, and McAllister's thoughts solidified.
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  Warm socks, warm hat, no coat.
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  That would have been unbelievable to Detective McAllister if she hadn't seen
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  the surveillance tape showing Maya and the others entering Escape Haven's lobby.
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  Maya didn't have any type of jacket, sweater or coat despite the frigid temperature.
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  She offered a blanket and Maya wrapped herself up, knees pulled to her chest,
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  arms wrapped around her legs holding her in her chair.
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  The fluorescent lights above cast harsh shadows emphasizing the tension in the room.
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  Maya's eyes are red from crying, her body looks limp, and as she waits for the
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  first question, she appears as if she could easily slide right out of her seat onto the floor.
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  McAllister is curious why Maya seems so uncomfortable in her own skin.
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  Is it shock, fear, deception, or just plain awkwardness?
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  How strong is Maya's sense of self, she wonders. Is she a leader or a follower?
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  The detective decides to ease into the questions.
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  Maya, I know this has been a rough day for you, but I need you to tell me everything
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  you remember. Let's start with the basics.
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  How did you and Jenner end up at Escape Haven today?
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  It was Jenner's idea. He said he wanted to do something fun,
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  something that wasn't just hanging out at the mall.
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  He thought the escape room would be a challenge, you know? He was always competitive like that.
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  McAllister was surprised by Maya's steady answer. She must be stronger than she looks, she thought.
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  Then she remembered, Maya was an athlete. That must be where her mental toughness is coming from.
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  And the others? Jenkins, Blake, Myers. How did they fit into the plan?
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  Jenner texted them. It was just supposed to be a fun afternoon.
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  We're all friends. Or at least we were.
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  And the money for Eddie? Was that Jenner's idea too?
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  Here, Maya noticeably hesitates and drops her head and averts her gaze toward the table.
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  I don't know. We all just put in the money. Jenner. He liked to do things his
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  way. If he didn't like the rules, he'd find a way around them.
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  I guess we all just went along with it.
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  Did you notice anything off about Jenner today? Anything different in his behavior? He was distracted.
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  Usually he's all about winning, about showing off. But today he seemed,
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  I don't know, like his mind was somewhere else.
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  He kept looking at Jenkins like he wanted to say something but didn't.
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  But, I don't know, him and Jenkins were like that a lot. And Blake,
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  they hardly spoke at all.
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  Which is not normal at all. He got annoyed with me too, like short,
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  because I was creeped out about the castle.
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  I don't like the dark he knew that already. But he didn't care.
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  He tried to tell me it wouldn't be that dark inside. How did he know that?
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  Well, he was wrong anyway.
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  It was dark and creepy, so I was right.
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  What about you, Maya? How were things between you two? You've been dating for
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  a while, right? Yeah, almost a year.
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  Things were... Okay.
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  Jenner was... He was amazing, you know? But sometimes he could be... He could be tough.
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  He liked things his way, and sometimes that meant... I don't know.
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  He didn't always treat me like I mattered.
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  Did you ever feel angry with him? Angry enough to want to hurt him?
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  No, I mean, he frustrated me, sure, but I never wanted to hurt him.
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  I loved him, in my own way.
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  Music.
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  Flickering with a hint of something. Fear? Regret?
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  Her entire interview has been a study in conflict as she seems to struggle to
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  remain confident, while her fidgeting and lack of eye contact are telegraphing her discomfort.
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  I... I don't know. Jenner was... he was the kind of guy everyone noticed,
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  but sometimes I felt like he didn't really see me.
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  Not the real me. I was just there.
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  His girlfriend, you know?
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  But I loved him. I really did. I would never hurt him.
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  Did Jenner ever talk to you about Jenkins, about Blake, about Myers?
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  Not really. He was close with Blake, but Jenkins?
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  They had a complicated relationship. And Myers? Jenner didn't really know him that well.
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  None of us did. He just showed up one day, and Jenner tried to be nice,
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  but I think Jenner didn't trust him. Why not?
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  I don't know. It was just a feeling, I guess.
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  Like Myers was hiding something, but Jenner didn't talk about it. He just watched.
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  I mean, I was with him a lot, and he did just pay attention to Myers more than
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  normal. It's hard to explain.
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  But he didn't complain about him hanging out, he just didn't talk to him.
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  Maybe they were just so different.
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  I mean, they were. Everybody is different than Jenner, you know?
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  He's like superior, so confident.
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  And Myers is like quietly confident, which is way different.
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  But maybe it bothered Jenner.
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  Did Jenner ever mention finding out something unusual? Something that didn't sit right with him?
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  No, not that I remember. You're sure about that? Yes, I'm sure.
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  Hey, Maya, one last thing before you go. Have you ever been to that escape room
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  before? Me? No, that was my first time.
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  Maya looks as if ready to escape the interrogation room. The detective has her
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  hand on Maya's shoulder, lightly holding her in her seat.
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  Maya is trembling uncontrollably.
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  Okay, Maya, settle down. Take a deep breath. We're almost done here.
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  Are you still cold? You're shaken.
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  I'm always cold. And these questions are overwhelming me.
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  I mean, no, I haven't been to that place and you keep asking.
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  And I loved Jenner and he's gone.
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  And what am I supposed to do now? I can't even talk to my friends and you act
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  like I'm lying. I'm not lying.
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  Hmm. Eddie was certain you handed him a punch card.
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  Um, yeah, but it wasn't mine. One of the guys handed it up to me.
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  I didn't pay attention. Maybe Blake.
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  So I just put it on the counter for that Eddie guy to punch.
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  I think Jenner put it back in his pocket.
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  You sure? We found a punch card on the floor in the first room.
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  It wasn't in Jenner's pocket. We will be checking it for prints.
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  McAllister let her sit with that nugget of information. Maya's expression does
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  not change. It was already fearful. She remained silent.
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  Okay, well, then it was your first time in the room, and you had to enter it
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  alone. Were you nervous?
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  A little. It felt claustrophobic at first. The walls were so close together.
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  It was dark. I almost panicked.
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  But then I looked up and saw the high ceiling and rafters all open above,
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  and I focused on how I feel when I dive.
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  I do this mental thing before I dive to help my nerves. I imagine myself floating instead of falling.
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  It puts me in control over my environment.
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  Coach taught the whole team. That made me feel comfortable, not scared and not closed in anymore.
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  And I turned on a flashlight, which is technically cheating,
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  but I am really afraid of the dark, you know?
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  What about exiting? How did you feel? Do you know what order everyone exited?
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  I don't remember the order, but I felt glad to be out of that maze.
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  I was lost and scared and it was so dark and I was all alone so I was happy to get out,
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  And then I got chills for a second because Blake, he had the weirdest look on his face.
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  It was like he was more scared or nervous than me and that freaked me out.
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  Did you say anything to him? Ask if he was okay or what was wrong?
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  No. We're not like that. He'd probably get mad if I said he looked scared.
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  I was dehydrated from being so anxious, just wanting some water,
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  and I had a bottle in my purse.
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  So I just went in my own corner to drink it and wait for everyone.
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  I was surprised Jenner wasn't out before me. I mean, he should have been first.
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  McAllister knows this was a tight-knit group with Jenner in the center of it,
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  his brother, his best friend, his cousin, and his girlfriend.
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  But these kids spent a lot of time together. And now they're all downplaying
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  their relationships with each other.
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  McAllister's determined to unearth the true ties that bind these kids together.
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  Look, Maya, you all know each other much better than you're admitting to.
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  Jenkins was especially concerned about you. There must be a reason. Tell me why, Maya.
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  Ask him. Maya slowly shakes her head no, eyes cast downward.
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  McAllister will have to come back to her. Maya's depleted the energy she had
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  mustered. She's not going to get anything more from her now.
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  All right, Maya, we're going to need to keep talking, but I want you to know something.
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  Right now, everyone's a person of interest. We're going to find out who did
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  this, and the truth always comes out.
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  If there's anything you're holding back, now's the time to tell me.
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  Oh, and before you leave, we're going to need your clothes. They're part of the crime scene.
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  Betty, right outside this door, will take you where you can change,
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  and they will give you a jumper to wear home.
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  McAllister calls Detective Ramirez in He's been observing via video feed And
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  he's ready to share his thoughts,
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  That girl is not telling it like it is She's telling it like she wants us to
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  believe Her hesitation when you asked her If Jenna found something out was too
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  apparent And her quick deflection about the punch card Was too abrupt I'm going
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  with my gut I don't see us clearing her yet We got a ways to go Let's see what the others say about her,
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  I know Mike But she seems scared to me Maybe she's not covering for herself.
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  She could be covering for one of the others. Or maybe she's afraid of someone.
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  Maya Canten. Sweet, quiet, and seemingly innocent.
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  But beneath that exterior, Detective McAllister senses a deeper story.
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  Is Maya just a victim of Jenner's charm? Or is there something more sinister lurking in her past?
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  As the investigation continues, the detectives will have to dig deep to find
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  out what really happened in that escape room.
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  That does it for episode two of No Escape. Anyone feeling close to cracking the case?
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  Well, there's plenty more on the horizon. So keep your eyes,
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  ears, and mind wide open.
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  Join me next time as I dive into the interrogation of the next suspect, Blake Dunstan.
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  And remember, nothing is ever exactly as it seems.
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  How do you feel after an episode of Slice of Crimes?
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  One step closer to the truth? If you haven't cracked the case yet,
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  no worries, you're not alone.
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  But before you go, remember, the mystery doesn't end here. Enjoyed this episode?
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  Show some love, share, slice of crimes with your friends, family,
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  or even that neighbor who's a little too interested in true crime.
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  Oh wait, that's probably you. Your five-star ratings and killer reviews help
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  keep these investigations coming, and I couldn't do it without you. Got your own theories?
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  Burning questions? Or maybe a case you think I should tackle next? I'm all ears.
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  Send your ideas and suggestions my way. The more you engage,
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  the sharper my sleuthing gets.
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  So until next time, fellow sleuths, keep your wits about you.
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  Stay curious. Stay sharp.
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  You never know what the next slice of crime will serve up. And trust me,
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  you won't want to miss it.
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  Infinite thanks for listening today and for tuning in next week.