The presenter turned to the next woman. Im now going to go to our next panelist, Emma Ridley, who is a lawyer with the Innocence Project Northwest. She paused, then clearly went off-script. Maybe you ladies need to come together on this one... this falls into your region, Emma, am I right?
Eye-dart from the Innocence Project lawyer. Well, yes, that would be great, she said. We would very much welcome that opportunity.
Tense smile from Alice Veir, and the light of a small flame in her eyes.
What the heck was that about?
Ren went to justiceforanthony.com. The interrogation video was front and center of the home page. Ren checked the time. It was twelve forty-five.
I have three hours to spare. Ive probably got twice that if I incorporate the time I usually spend staring at the ceiling.
She hit Play. Anthony Boyd Lorden appeared on screen. He had tight-cut brown hair, good skin, broad shoulders. He looked fit and healthy, young, eager, and trusting.
There is something about you...
He was sitting in a chair that had been backed right up against the wall of a cramped interview room. Two huge detectives sat opposite him, dwarfing him, their backs to the camera.
Ren had tears in her eyes before the first hour was up.
You fucking assholes.
This is what Alice Veir fights against. This is the good fight.
Ren watched the video again on fast forward, and it was like a flicker book showing the deflation of a soul.
Outside, in the quiet night, the sound of sirens erupted.
Rens cell phone beeped with a text. She looked down at her screen. The text was from Gary.
Fire at the Veirs...
35
Two fire trucks, an ambulance and two squad cars were parked outside the Veirs house. Ren parked across the street. A weak strand of smoke drifted up from behind the house.
There were neighbors standing out front, others watching from their windows. Ren walked up to the open ambulance doors. An EMT was finishing his checks on John Veir, who was sitting in the back, dressed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, his bare feet on the metal step. There was a blanket around his shoulders. He jumped up when he saw Ren, stormed over to her. He raised his hand and stabbed a finger at her, sending a waft of kerosene her way.
This is your fucking fault! he said. All your fault. This was Merrifield! Youre all wasting your time on me when its clearly fucking Merrifield
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the fuck? OK, said Ren, first of all stop pointing at me.
How else can you explain this? said John, gesturing toward the house. The guys a fucking arsonist!
Ren held her two palms up to him. John, we asked you about Merrifield, day one, and you told us there were no issues between you, that you didnt really know him. Is there anything youd like to say now?
How has Merrifield not been found? said John. And we have to pay the price
This is all very strange. Why dont you sit back down, and tell me why you would think that Merrifield would abduct your son, then come back and carry out an arson attack on your house? Or do you think hes responsible only for the arson attack?
He looked at her, dead-eyed. Both, obviously.
Yet you were the one to shut that avenue down immediately.
John sat back down on the step of the ambulance. Ren nodded to the EMT to give them space.
John sat back down on the step of the ambulance. Ren nodded to the EMT to give them space.
Maybe Im just clutching at straws...
Ren looked around. Wheres your wife?
Luckily, shes at Pattis she swapped nights with one of her friends.
OK, talk me through what happened tonight, said Ren.
Someone spray-painted the wall and lit the garbage on fire.
Lets start at the beginning, said Ren.
Uh... OK, said John. I was taking a shower. When I came into the bedroom, I saw smoke at the window. I threw on some clothes, ran down and out into the back garden, saw the flames. I called 9-1-1. Then I thought of the garden hose. I went around the side of the house, got that going. I was putting it out by the time the fire trucks arrived.
Hmm.
What did they spray paint? said Ren.
Pedophile killer, said John. F-I-L-E, though. And K-I-L-L-R, no e. Whoever did it emptied out the recycling container, lit that on fire. Looks like they took a drum of kerosene out of the garage.
The garage was open? said Ren.
John nodded. I leave it open... in case... he shrugged. In case Caleb comes back.
You dont think he would ring the doorbell? said Ren. Im sorry, but seriously.
None of this makes sense, said John. Anythings a possibility, as far as Im concerned.
Yes. Such as you are the person responsible for this circus.
Ren walked over to the officer guarding the driveway, flashed her creds, and went around the back of the house. Smoke was rising from a damp pile of garbage. There was a heavy smell of burnt plastic and kerosene.
Ruddock was standing with his hands on his hips in the middle of the garden. A hose was discarded on the grass. The patio was drenched. Ren followed his gaze to the back wall of the garage where PEDOFILE KILLR was spray-painted shakily.
Needs a plus sign... or ampersand, said Ren. Unless theyre saying he killed a pedophile, whereupon I dont see a problem. I might look through my cabinet of pedo-files...
Ruddock smiled.
Any sign of the paint can? said Ren.
Ruddock shook his head. No.
Veir did this, right? said Ren.
Ruddock gave her a measured look.
Wheres Wiley? said Ren.
I dont know, said Ruddock. He got the same message as everyone else.
Ren walked down to the back of the garden, and turned to face the house. She took a step back. She tripped, landed on her butt.
Shit.
Ruddock rushed over to her, helped her up.
Thank you, said Ren. Wet ass. Great.
They both looked down to see what she had tripped over, ran the beams of their flashlights over the grass. It was a small piece of a flagstone.
Theres another one, said Ren. It looks like part of a path... to nowhere.
Maybe there was another structure down here at some stage, said Ruddock.
They walked back toward the house, and met Gary, Sylvie and Paul coming toward them.
Ren filled them in.
Did you talk to Veir on the way in? she said.
Not yet, said Gary.
Isnt it a little convenient? said Ren. An arson attack while an arsonist is on the loose? And who spray paints a message on the back wall of a house? Isnt the point to expose someone to their whole community as a KILLR? With no e...
Someone might have wanted the message to go only to John Veir and were covering their own ass by choosing the back of the house quick escape over the back fence, said Gary.
We all know that bad spelling bullshit is done by people trying to seem dumb, said Ren. Is anyone buying the fact that this anonymous arsonist arrived with no kerosene, fingers crossed the garage door would be open, would contain fuel, etc., etc.?
Yeah, didnt think so.
I think Veir did it, said Ren. And when Teddy wasnt home? There could be a pattern there: Teddys gone, John Veir does bad things... She paused. Can I just say that I dont think theres a lot more for me to do here? I have a pounding headache. She lied. So Id like to absent myself from thinking about this big wet fiery distraction any further. Night, everyone.
She walked away.
Fuck this bullshit.
She went around the front of the house, and had no choice but to walk past John Veir.
The smile is for the EMTs. The burrowing eye-fuck is for you.
What are you hiding?
Oh. Just one more thing...
She jogged over to him. John was there ever a building behind your house?
Eye-dart. Yes. He paused. We bought the house off a family they had built a separate dwelling for the grandmother.
What happened to it? said Ren.
We knocked it down to have more room for Caleb to play.
Why the eye-dart?
36
The first person Ren walked into the next morning was Paul Louderback.
Hows your head? he said.
What?
Your headache... last night.
Shit. Oh, said Ren. Yes. Its fine.
You look tired.
She stared at him. You know thats right up there with asking a woman when shes due...
Ooh... cranky.
Cranky wow. Youre on fire this morning.
He raised his eyebrows. Have I done something?
Yes. No, Im sorry. Im... just... fucking bereft... its the case.
Paul nodded. Thats understandable.
Really youre buying that? Im... fucking sad... Im heartbroken. I dont want to sleep with you. I want to cry. And, yes, in your arms would be a great place to do that, but I dont trust your hands not to go anywhere else. I will lie there and cry, but part of me will be expecting to ward off an advance and wheres the comfort in that?
Im sorry for being short, she said. It wasnt a great night, even before I got to that shitshow at the Veirs.
So he got you at a bad time, said Paul.
What? John Veir? said Ren. Do you believe him? That it was Merrifield?
Paul shook his head. No, but...
Oh, I get it. But I shouldnt have let it get to me.
No, you shouldnt have.
Sorry.
No need. He paused. I hope you know you can pick up the phone to me any time. He looked at her with great kindness. And it doesnt have to be about the case.
Oh, God, Im such an asshole. I do know that, said Ren. Thanks.
So... before the shitshow? said Paul.
Memories, said Ren. Sadness.
Im sorry, said Paul.
Also, though, I looked into Alice Veirs wrongful conviction case. She filled him in.
Do you think its relevant to this? said Paul.
I dont know, said Ren. If were taking Calebs disappearance in isolation, maybe. Could Alice Veir be a target through her work? What if Caleb was calling her because someone had approached him about her? Mentioned her name? Or he was concerned someone was following him? I dont think Alice Veir would tell us if shed been threatened in any way. If Calebs been abducted, his safe return could be dependent on her doing something.
I dont know, said Ren. If were taking Calebs disappearance in isolation, maybe. Could Alice Veir be a target through her work? What if Caleb was calling her because someone had approached him about her? Mentioned her name? Or he was concerned someone was following him? I dont think Alice Veir would tell us if shed been threatened in any way. If Calebs been abducted, his safe return could be dependent on her doing something.
Its worth looking into, said Paul. Do you think her wrongful conviction guy is innocent? Could the real killer be getting nervous?