Page 128 of Confessions of the Dead

Keith’s eyes locked with Peterson’s, then he offered a slight nod. The people around him parted, made a path. He slowly came down, stepped over the first row, and made his way over to Peterson and the girl.

“It’s best you kneel, Keith. Kneel before her.”

Keith Gayton clearly didn’t want to, but he lowered himself to his knees anyway.

Peterson looked first at Keith, rolled his gaze slowly over the growing line and those still in the bleachers, then went back to the girl. In a low voice, he said, “Judgment.”

Her hands, still outstretched, dropped on Keith’s head.

The images smacked into Matt like a truck—Keith in an alley, his eyes red and wild, high on something. He had a knife in one hand and was holding a man by his hair with the other, screaming in his face. The other man held up a small plastic baggie filled with white crystals—meth. Keith snatched the baggie, took one look around the alley, and plunged the knife into the side of the man’s neck. He gave it a twist and yanked it back out. He dropped the man and ran.

Matt snapped back.

Back to the gym.

He knew by the utter silence around him they’d all seen it.

Keith remained on the ground, his head low, the girl hovering over him.

“Judgment,” Stu Peterson said again, then pressed the barrel of his shotgun into the small of Keith’s back and fired.

Matt tried to jump up at him, but Rodney cracked him in the head again with the Colt.

Before the echo of the fatal blast died, Peterson was back at the girl’s side, studying her arm. He looked back out over the crowd and shouted, “Cody Hill!”

100

LOG 10/16/2023 22:12 GMT-4

TRANSCRIPT: AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING

Sordello:

Stuart Peterson asked you if you remember. Do you, Deputy Maro? Do you remember?

Analysis Note: If the subject heard her, he gave no indication. He was still staring at that photograph. When he finally looked up, there was no life in his face. The color was gone. If I were forced to touch his skin (and thank God he was isolated in that chamber and I wasn’t asked to do that) I know he’d be far too cold.

Maro:

The arm, that’s Riley, isn’t it? Gabby’s daughter.

Sordello:

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