Physician.
Oh. I didnt realize...
Yes, youve already demonstrated that youre remarkably badly briefed on this case. Anyway, this woman comes in having an acute asthma attack. I treated her, and then I recognized her, though it was several years since Id seen her. She remembered me, too. I was a character witness for Kelly during his sentencing. I couldnt resist bringing it up, even though I know its cruel to remind a woman of the most traumatic time in her life. But she seemed to want to talk about it. She jumped at the chance. She said she needed to get something off her chest. And that was when she told me that she didnt really recognize Kelly in the lineup. The prosecutor was with her in the room, she was nervous, he was putting all kinds of pressure on her to identify her attacker.
She said they gave her hints about which man she was supposed to pick out, and she did it. And the more times she said it, the more sure she became in her head that he was the one. But later, after all the pressure was off, she knew shed made a terrible mistake, that shed sent an innocent man to prison. But she was afraid to change her statement. She was afraid shed get into troubleher record isnt exactly sterling and she has reason to be afraid of the police.
What makes you think shes telling the truth now?
She wasnt lying. She had no reason to.
Maybe shes starting to feel guilty about sending a man to prison for life, even if he is guilty. Maybe shes downplayed the severity of his crime in her mind over the years. Maybe a friend or relative went to prison for sexual assault, and now she sees the crime from a different point of view. Hell, for all you know, Kelly has been writing letters to her from prison, and theyve fallen in love. Weirder things have happened.
You wouldnt say that if you met her. She was telling the truth. I know it.
Bree. Kelly Ralston is where he belongs.
You wouldnt say that if you knew him the way I know him. Hes kind. And gentle. She rushed ahead before he could bring up his scar again. If he cut you, he had a reason. But he wasnt really trying to kill you.
Eric looked away, only for a moment, but long enough that she knew shed hit home.
Its not even my decision to make, Eric tried again. Daniel has the last say.
He changed his mind because you convinced him to. And you can unconvince him. Just talk to Philomene. She promised she would speak with someone from Project Justice so long as her statement didnt go on the record. Shes committed to finding the real culprit, whos out there somewhere, and shes willing to undergo hypnosis or answer any questions. She just doesnt want to talk to the police. Please, talk to her. Ten minutes. If you arent convinced after that, Ill drop it.
And if I dont agree to meet with her?
She smiled, letting him see her teeth. I wont give up. Ill be your worst nightmare.
Eric sighed. All right, Ill meet with her.
Bree grabbed a pad and pen from her purse and scribbled down an address. This is the local diner, called the Home Cookin Café. Best meat loaf in the world. Might as well have dinner while youre there. She ripped off the page and handed it to him.
Tonight? You want to do this tonight?
Sooner the better.
Youll be there, too, right?
Of course. Philomene is very fragile. I wouldnt send her to meet a strange man alone.
Then Ill see you... He looked at the paper again. Tuckerville? Hed heard of it but had no idea where it was.
Only a couple of hours away.
A couple of hours? I have a little girl at home. Evenings are the only time we have together.
Bree found herself smiling. Really? How old?
Six.
I love that age. Ill keep her entertained while you and Philomene chat. Heck, bring your wife, too. Make it a family outing. Tuckerville is a charming little town.
His features hardened. I dont have a wife. Look, Ill be there. I said I would. But dont get your hopes up.
Fair enough. She stood and gathered her things. Shed sold jewelry to help pay her living expenses in college, and she knew that when shed made the sale, it was time to leavebefore she ruined it. She was frankly surprised that Eric had agreed to meet Philomene at all. Ill see myself out.
Ill walk you to the door. If I dont, Celeste will eat me for lunch.
Let me guess. The lady at the front desk?
That would be the one. The first thing they told me when I walked through the door yesterday morning was to do what she says, or else.
They retraced their steps to the lobby. Now that she was less on edge, Bree was able to take in her surroundings more. The hallway was floored in a beautiful parquet pattern, and original oil paintings lined the walls. The light fixtures were real chandeliers.
They parted ways at the front desk. Bree shook Erics hand again. See you tonight.
Just as she hit the door, she heard Celeste say in a loud stage whisper, You work fast.
Then came Erics rapid denial. Its not a date.
Of course it wasnt a date, Bree thought as she tried to remember where shed left her car. She didnt spend much time in the city and wasnt used to having to park blocks away from her destination. But her heart felt lighter knowing shed once again pulled Kellys case out of the ashes of destruction and blown the embers to life. And maybe because tonight shed be seeing a certain dashing single-dad lawyer again and would find out why he was making up lies about Kelly.
Then she was going to make sure he knew the meaning of the word justice.
* * *
DADDY! THE MOMENT Eric hit the front door of his brothers house in Timbergrove, MacKenzie launched herself at him like a cat on a very large mouse. He scooped her up into his arms and reveled in the sweet little-girl smell of strawberry shampoo and crayons. She clung to him like a burr.
Hello, angel-cakes. Hows my big girl?
Im good now that youre home.
Judging from the chatter going on in the kitchen, and the smell of garlic and tomatoes, his brother, Travis, was already home from work and making dinner with his wife, Elena. Between the two of them, Travis was the better cook, but Elena could whip up a few Cuban dishes from her homeland.
He hoped they werent going to too much trouble, given that he was going to miss dinner.
Uncle Trav is making spaghetti, MacKenzie said as Eric slid her down to the floor. She didnt seem to want to let go of him. Once upon a time, MacKenzie had been a bright, inquisitive, fearless child. But ever since a lowlife named John Stover taught her that there were things to fear in the world, MacKenzie had been a different personshy, timid, withdrawn. During those few times shed been allowed to visit Eric in prison, shed barely said a word.
She was starting to come out of her shell now that she had her father back, but she had a long way to go. For one thing, she was excessively clingy and wanted to know where Eric was every minute. Hed warned her that he wouldnt be home until after five oclock, that hed started a new job, but shed still had a meltdown when shed arrived home from school and found him gone. Elena, who was watching MacKenzie after school, had called Eric, and hed been the only one who could calm her down and reassure her that he wasnt back in prison and that he would be home soon.
It almost killed him that he had to leave againand all because hed been suckered by a pair of eyes as deep as the ocean. Philomene Switzer could say whatever she wanted, but Eric wasnt going to change his mind.
He told himself hed agreed to Brees proposition because it was the only way to get her out of his hair. Shed promised to back off if he did this one thing, and he was going to do it. He couldnt afford for Daniel to devote any more time, attention and effort to the Ralston case. Because if he looked into it very deep, hed find out Eric was lying. Daniels investigator could talk to other prisoners, cell mates, friends and relatives on the outside, and hed discover that Kelly had never confessed his crimes to anyone. In fact, tough and mean as he was, hed always vehemently proclaimed his innocence.
Eric still believed hed done the right thing. And the proof was this little girl, clutching his hand with complete trust. Ralston had said he could get to her even from prisonthat if Eric ratted him out, he could count on never seeing his daughter again, one way or another.
Eric hadnt said a word to the warden. He hadnt even sought medical treatment for the cut, not until the infection got so bad that a guard found him unconscious in his cell. Still, when questioned, hed refused to name Kelly Ralston.
Somehow, though, the warden had found out, and Ralston had gone into solitary for a week, pretty much guaranteeing that his upcoming parole hearing wouldnt go well.
So far Ralston hadnt made good on his threat. But if he were free, taking his revenge against Eric and his family would be childs play.
MacKenzie dragged Eric into the kitchen. Daddys home, she said proudly, as if she had personally caused him to appear. In a way, she had. If not for her, he probably would have just headed for Tuckerville right after work.
Travis grinned. Hey, how was your first staff meeting? Did Daniel kick your Um, did he give you any trouble?
Travis and Daniel Logan had a rocky past, but theyd come to terms.
I only saw him on a video screen. How much damage could he do?
Plenty, Elena answered. She had been Daniels personal assistant until recently. Ive seen him reduce a grown man to tears over video conferencing. But he wouldnt have any reason to be on your case.
Oh, wouldnt he? How about if he knew Eric had told a big fat lie?
Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes, Travis said. You want a beer?
Maybe later. Unfortunately, I have to leave again.
What? MacKenzie shrieked.
I have to go out. Its important, or I wouldnt.
But you just got home! I havent showed you the picture I colored or my homework papers I got an A on. MacKenzie was in a near panic.
You can show me later, okay?
When?
I should be home about nine-thirty.
I have to go to bed at eight-thirty. No, Daddy, dont leave. She was about to have a full-blown tantrum. Already little tears were squeezing out of her eyes, and she was holding on to him with the grip of a lumberjack on his ax.
Where are you going? Travis asked. I mean, not that its my business
Its work-related, Eric said.
Daniels making you work late your second day? Elena was incensed. Then she whispered, He knows MacKenzie needs you.
You can go out later, MacKenzie wheedled, after I go to bed. Dont leave, Daddy.
When she looked up at him with those big blue eyes, it was impossible to deny her. But hed given his word to Bree that he would meet Philomene. Shed said he could bring MacKenzie with him....
MacKenzie, how would you like to go for a drive with me?
What? Travis and Elena said at the same time.
But MacKenzie clapped her hands together gleefully. Are we going to get ice cream?
You can have ice cream if you want when we get there. He couldnt imagine any diner that didnt serve ice cream. But its a long drive. About two hours. Well have to take a snack with us.
Where are you going? Travis asked again.
To talk to a reluctant witness.
You think its okay to bring a child to
I have a babysitter lined up.
Travis looked as if he wanted to say more, but he resisted.
Ill make her a peanut-butter sandwich, Elena said.
Great. Ill go change clothes.
Ten minutes later Eric was in the car with MacKenzie snug in her car seat with a sandwich and his iPhone, where she was watching cartoons. She was quiet for a long time, leaving Eric far too alone with his thoughts.
He couldnt stomach even the thought of anyone hurting his little girl. Though Ralstons threat had been issued years ago, when Eric was a green convict, Eric recalled every word as if it were an hour ago.
You better not rat me out, Riggs, or your life wont be worth the ink on your fancy law degree. You may leave here. You may think youre safe. But vengeance will come when you least expect it.
At that point everything about prison had scared Eric. He still didnt know where hed come up with the courage to try to stop a fight. But when Ralston and the other man had squared off, each of them brandishing a homemade weapon, Eric had been naive enough to try to calm them down.
Stepping between them just as the second man struck hadnt been his sharpest move. Ralstons vicious countermove had cut Eric stem to stern.
Reflexively, he rubbed his chest again. The scar still throbbed when he was nervous.
I dont care what happens to me. That was what Eric had retorted, because at the time, hed thought death might be preferable to the hell of prison.
No? What about that cute little girl of yours? Whats her name? MacKenzie? When I get done with her, there wont be enough left to identify at the morgue.
Erics gut twisted as he recalled Ralstons threat. Hed wanted to tell Ralston to back off, that if he touched one hair on his daughters head, Eric would kill him. Painfully.
But the words hadnt come. It had been all he could do not to puke.
Ruthlessly, Eric shoved the memory aside and focused on the upcoming meeting. This shouldnt be a big deal. He would listen to Philomenes story, then politely tell Bree that he was sorry, but his decision stood. Then hed buy MacKenzie an ice cream and come back home. MacKenzie would probably go to sleep during the drive home. She loved riding in the car.
Daddy, when are we gonna get there?
Were more than halfway there. Are you tired of your cartoons?
Uh-huh.
You can look out the window. Were going to a new place youve never been before. Tuckerville. What a name. He could only imagine what kind of backwater wasteland Tuckerville was. Why a woman of Brees obvious intelligence and sophistication chose to live there was a mystery. He couldnt imagine wanting to live so far from any big city, so far from shopping and fine restaurants and...good haircuts. That was one thing hed really missed in prisongetting a decent haircut. Sometimes it was the small things.
Its dark out there, MacKenzie said. I cant see anything.
Look off to the right. Theres a radio tower. See those red lights? They were driving through farm and ranch land. Not much to see at night. When we listen to the radio, thats where the sound comes from.