Page 107 of In the Air Tonight

“I’m scared.”

I want to tell him he should be, but I say nothing, exiting the room after a cop lets me out. On the way home, I call Caroline.

She grabs the call on the first ring. “Cam. Did you see him?”

“I did.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s upset, but otherwise, he’s fine.”

“What is happening?”

“He’s been indicted on rape charges from fourteen years ago.”

She gasps. “No. That’s not possible. He said he didn’t do it.”

What can I say to that? She’ll need to come around to understanding he lied to her in her own time.

“What do I do?”

“Sit tight until he’s arraigned. He should be released on personal recognizance sometime tomorrow.”

“He has to spend the night there?”

“Yes.”

“How is he being charged with this if he didn’t do it?”

“You’ll have to talk to him about that.”

“What do you know, Cam?”

“I’ll text you when I hear what time the arraignment will be in Newport County Superior Court. He’ll need clothes for that.”

“That’s it? I just have to sit here and wait?”

“I don’t know what else to say.”

“You could tell me this is a big mistake!”

I wish I could.“Just hang in there, Caroline. You’ll see him tomorrow. I’ll be in touch.”

I’ve never been more thankful to end a call in my life. I adore her and always have. She came along at a time when I feared Ryder might never recover from the events of that summer. In addition to committing a horrendous crime—and getting away with it—he’d withstood the devastating loss of Louisa, her funeral and deep, unrelenting grief. All before he’d started his senior year of high school.

He met Caroline during his sophomore year at URI, and they’ve been together ever since. In addition to facing charges, he’ll also have to confront the fallout from the lie he’s told his wife for all these years. Whether she’ll stay with him is anyone’s guess.

When I arrive home, Sienna mutes the TV. “How’d it go?”

“As you might expect. He’s terrified and worried about Caro and the kids.”

“Does she know the truth?”

I shake my head.

“Wow. I always figured he’d probably told her the truth at some point.”

“He didn’t.” I fix myself a glass of bourbon straight out of the bottle and sit next to her on the sofa.

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