“The only people who know about this…”

I know this line has been discussed a ton already, but I haven’t seen anyone point out that “either us or dead” is stated when the entire group is not together. Misty isn’t there. I think that’s key. It’s not “us who are in this car or dead.” It’s “us, everyone who survived.” Misty not being there is the little writing trick they played so they could, if they so chose, bring in more survivors. Looking back, there weren’t big hints or anything that Lottie or Van were alive, and it would have made sense to contact them sooner with the events happening then.

They can’t fool THIS citizen detective!