Page 60 of The System

“They might,” she said finally.

“Getting it admitted in won’t be easy, and I think I’ll be able to quash it if they try,” Frank told them. “Even if they get it in, it could work for us on appeal. I might be able to use that admission to get a retrial. It’s all a long shot, but we’ve got to work with what we’re given.”

“Trust me, I know that better than most,” Marin stated. “You said Kenna has this, too?”

“Yeah,” Kieran confirmed. “And I know you’ve been promised to get to control all the questions and what she shows to people at the end, but, Marin, things aren’t going your way right now. I really don’t think you should do this interview thing. It’s a bad idea. If you get off, and they can’t prosecute you again for this – sure, do the interview and tell your story. But people won’t believe you if you do this now. There’s just too much evidence, and there’s really no other probable suspect out there; at least, not yet.”

“She’s right,” Frank echoed. “I just got the case, and I’ll keep looking, but we don’t have anyone else who canbe placed in the house that night or even earlier that day. Do you know something we don’t? Any name can help.”

“We had people in and out of that house all the time. Nick was a dealer. People were always over, sampling new product or just picking up what they were buying or selling. And yeah, there were people there that day, but it was maybe around noon, and I don’t have names for you.”

“You don’t have to worry about anyone hurting you,” Frank told her, probably thinking Marin wasn’t cooperating.

Marin laughed and said, “I’m not. I got hit in the head with a board, Frank. What I remember of that day is blurry, at best. I remember people, but not who. Besides, he was dealing. I rarely got actual first names. Most people went by nicknames or gave him no names at all. Hell, I even got the bus I took out of town wrong; things were so foggy for me. I wasn’t in the house when it happened, anyway. I have no idea who could’ve been there then. The door was pretty much always unlocked, except for when we were sleeping, but it wasn’t exactly Fort Knox – anyone could’ve picked it and gotten in.”

“Okay. Well, that’s not good news, but I’ll keep working on his known associates at the time,” Frank said.

“Great. Can I go now?” Marin asked. “I’m missing the morning soaps in the TV room.”

“Marin, this is your life,” Kieran remarked.

“I know. But what am I supposed to do here, Kieran? They’ve got an agenda, and it’s to keep me behind bars.”

“Maybe you should consider the deal. It’s better now. Ten years still, but out in five on good behavior and only two years of probation after that. It was five years.”

“Still in here for something I didn’t do,” Marin replied. “But that’s the hand I was dealt, huh?”

Kieran didn’t know what to say to that, so she just sat there as Marin called for the guard, who came in and undid her cuffs to walk her out of the room.

“If she doesn’t take this deal, we’ll lose at trial,” Frank said softly. “It’s not just that I won’t beat Carina Whitlock, who is a legend in her office, and I’m man enough to admit that she’ll beat me – I’ve got nothing. I don’t even have a character witness to put on the stand. I can’t use you. You just met her.”

“I know. I’ll keep trying,” Kieran replied.

“Please do. If she really didn’t do this, she doesn’t deserve to be here.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think the justice system works like that, do you?”

Frank shook his head and gathered his files back into his case.

“I’m just going to go put more money into her commissary. It’s the only thing I can do for her, so I’m trying to make sure there’s always something there.”

“You’re here, Kieran,” Frank pointed out as he stood. “And that counts for something, too. Most people in her shoes don’t have someone like you.”

CHAPTER 19

“I just feel like I’m going a little crazy here,” Carina said.

“Over Kieran?” Kenna asked.

“I’m supposed to go out with someone tonight. It’s a first date that we’ve been planning or kind of planning on having for about a month now, but she’s been busy with work, so we put it off. And, honestly, I didn’t want to bring anyone home, with Tinley still there, so I’ve been putting it off, too.”

“Is it that Jessa woman you’ve mentioned?” Ripley asked.

“No, Jessa and I only have sex, and we haven’t done that in…. well, since before I met Kieran, technically.”

“So, you’re going out with someone who’s decidedly not the woman you want to be going out with?” Kenna asked.

“Yes. And Kieran is complicated and also straight.”

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