S1E3
WEST McCRAY:
Caddy Sinclair is a tall, skinny white guy in his midthirties. He lives in Wagner and shares an apartment with his brother. He spends most days at Whittler’s Truck Stop, hanging around outside, or—when he can afford it—eating one of Ruby’s famous specials. He’s a local legend; everyone knows his name and that, he tells me, is precisely his problem.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
I wouldn’t mind being left the fuck alone.
WEST MCCRAY:
Well then, I really appreciate you talking to me.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Whatever. It’s not like I’m doing you some big favor. If you find this girl, I want to know.
WEST McCRAY [STUDIO]:
Caddy’s an interesting contradiction; before he wanted to be left alone, a quick Google search of his name reveals a teenager who desperately wanted to be the next Eminem. If you head on over to musiccamp.com and search for the user “‘Sick Caddy” you can listen to six demos he recorded in a friend’s basement. If you’re streaming from our podcast’s official website, you’ll find an embedded player on this episode’s page. But do me a favor before you check it out: read the content warnings.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
That was a different … stupid time in my life. I’m not going to talk about it. Every kid thinks they got the makings of something great when they ain’t shit. Then you learn it’s better being nothing, anyway. [COUGHS] So you want to know about this girl, huh? She’s missing?
WEST McCRAY:
Yeah, she’s missing. I’m trying to help her family locate her.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
She’s probably dead.
WEST McCRAY:
Would you know something about that if she is?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Nope. Mind if I smoke? [PAUSE, LIGHTER SOUND] The last time I saw her she was alive, but if she’s as out of her mind as she was when I met her, and if she comes at the wrong people like she came at me … well, you could lose your life for a lot less in this world.
WEST McCRAY:
Let’s back up a little here. You told me when we talked on the phone that Sadie came to you for information about Darren. She’d never been to Wagner before from what I can tell, so how did she know she needed to talk to you?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Figure someone inside told her about me. Damned if I know. That part’s not real important, though, it could’ve been anyone. I’m the go-to guy around here. People want something—I mean, people want to know something, they’re going to come to me. I always know what the fuck’s going on because I just … I just do.
WEST McCRAY:
Did you know Darren?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
We weren’t friends, but if he saw me at the diner, we’d talk. Ruby knew him better. I didn’t know he had a daughter.
WEST McCRAY:
And that is who Sadie told you she was—Darren’s daughter.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Yeah, she showed me his picture and it was Darren, all right.
WEST McCRAY:
Do you happen to have a picture of him?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
No, but I can tell you what he looked like: white, tall, broad. Dark hair. He was just a guy. Nothing in particular really stood out.
WEST McCRAY:
Tell me what happened next.
CADDY SINCLAIR:
She pulled a knife on me.
WEST McCRAY:
Really? Just like that?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Yeah. She told me to tell her everything I knew about Darren or else.
WEST McCRAY:
And did you?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
Do I look alive to you?
WEST McCRAY:
What did you tell her?
CADDY SINCLAIR:
I told her the truth. I told her the most I knew about Darren was that a few years back, he was with Marlee Singer and she’d probably know more about him than I did. I told her Marlee lived in Wagner. Kid took off. Didn’t seem right in the head to me. If you do find her, let me know. I want this on record because I’m gonna charge that bitch with assault. Switchblades are illegal too.
WEST McCRAY:
Thanks for your time, Caddy.
WEST McCRAY [PHONE]:
Was Sadie a violent person, May Beth?
MAY BETH FOSTER [PHONE]:
No. No! Never. I mean … she could’ve been, but in the way we all could be. It wasn’t something that she was. It wasn’t in her nature, if that’s what you mean.
WEST McCRAY [PHONE]:
Caddy said Sadie had a switchblade. She pulled it on him. There wasn’t a switchblade in her belongings.
MAY BETH FOSTER [PHONE]:
Then he’s lying. Sadie wouldn’t—she wouldn’t … if it’s not in her things, he’s lying.
WEST McCRAY [PHONE]:
Or she could still have it.
WEST McCRAY [STUDIO]:
Whether or not she still does, I think the real question is why she felt she needed it.