Page 106 of In the Air Tonight

“So you think I’m fucked?”

“Totally fucked.”

“You’re pissed.”

“You’re goddamned right I am! Everything was fine the way it was, but you just had to want more. I hope you’re not going to take me and all the guys who lied for you the first time around down with you.”

“I never asked you guys to lie for me!”

“But we did it anyway and saved your ass!”

“I’m so sorry, Cam.” His voice breaks. “I know that’s meaningless right now, but I really am.”

“I’m sure you are, but you’re right. That doesn’t mean much to me right now.”

“So you won’t represent me?”

“I’m not a defense attorney. You need someone who knows what they’re doing. I’ll ask around and get someone here for the arraignment.”

“What about Caroline and the kids? What do I tell them?”

I stare at him, incredulous. “How about the truth?”

He shakes his head. “I can’t. She’ll leave me and take my kids. I can’t lose my family.”

“What do you think she’ll do when you’re convicted?”

“Maybe I won’t be.”

“Ryder… They have aneyewitnesswho saw you rape her. There’s no statute of limitations on sexual assault in this state. The fact that she took fourteen years to come forward won’t mean anything to a jury when they hear her testimony in support of Neisy.”

“We have to do something. We can’t just let this ruin everything.”

“It’s far too late todoanything. This is why I begged you not to run. I was afraid of something just like this.”

“Okay,you were right!Are you happy now?”

“No, Ryder. I’m not at all happy. What do you want me to tell Caroline? She’s frantic and blindsided.”

“Tell her…tell her I’ll explain everything when I get out of here.”

“And you’ll tell her the truth?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“You owe her the truth at this point.”

“I…uh…”

“Ryder! You’ve turned her life upside down! She deserves to know.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You do that.” I slap my hand against the door to call for a Trooper to let me out.

“Cam…”

I turn back to him.

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