Page 105 of In the Air Tonight

“Christ, Cam. How can this be happening after all this time?”

“I don’t know.” People would find out soon enough how it happened.

“Let me know what’s going on, if you can.”

“I will.”

On the drive across the bay to Wickford, I take three more calls from guys who signed the affidavit about Neisy back in the day, all expressing the same fears Arlo had. I do what I can to reassure them, even as I’m filled with dread over what this will mean for me and my family. If I’m disbarred, how will I provide for them?

In Wickford, I wait more than an hour before they let me in to see Ryder.

He looks wild in the eyes. “Cam! They came to Miles’s game. They arrested me in front of Caro and the kids and everyone we know. They fucking strip-searched me! Is this because of Blaise?”

“Yes.”

“So she went to the police after fourteen years of holding onto this secret.”

“She did, which means she no longer cares about the implications for herself.” I run my hands through my hair as I pace the claustrophobically small room. “Goddamn it, Ryder. This is exactly why I told you not to run. It was fucking arrogant to think the past wouldn’t resurface.”

“How was I supposed to know there was a fucking witness?”

“She might’ve stayed quiet forever if you hadn’t run for Congress.”

“Maybe you could pay her a visit?”

“And say what?”

“Ask her not to testify.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Arlo would.”

“If you want him to do that, you can ask him yourself.”

“How can I do that from in here?”

“I’m sure you’ll be released on bond after the arraignment. If you want Arlo to deal with his sister, you can take care of that dirty work on your own.”

“I’m sorry, Cam. You were right. I never should’ve run for Congress.”

“No, you really shouldn’t have. You know what your problem has always been?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Everyone said you were the shit, and you believed it.” I poke his chest when I’d much rather punch him. “You believed you could attack Neisy and get away with it. That you could run for Congress and none of this shit would come back to bite you—and the rest of us—in the ass. You’re arrogant and entitled, and you deserve all of this.”

“I’m sorry! If I could go back and change everything, don’t you think I would?”

I have nothing to say to that. You can’t change the past, no matter how much he might wish he could.

“So what now?”

“You’ll be arraigned and hopefully released pending trial. And this time, there’ll be a trial.”

“Not if Arlo can talk his sister out of testifying.”

“Do you honestly think she would’ve done this in the first place if she wasn’t determined to see it through to the finish?”

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