Page 126 of In the Air Tonight

As she hugs me again, I feel slightly better to know I have the unwavering support of the friends who’ve been such a big part of my life in this town that belonged to Ryder when I first arrived. But I’ve made my own life here, and I’m thankful to know my friends plan to stick by me and the kids.

That, and the push she’s given me toward a means of support, makes all the difference in this nightmare.

Chapter 25

Ryder

NOW

Outside the house, I call Arlo for a ride to my car, which must still be at the ballfield. While I wait, I lean against Caroline’s new minivan. The payments are six hundred dollars a month. How will we ever pay for everything with a massive legal tab hanging over our heads?

Since Arlo lives nearby, he arrives ten minutes later.

“We need to talk about the campaign,” he says on the way to the ballfield where my life changed forever.

“What campaign? It was over the second I was taken into custody last night.”

“I’ll take care of making it official.” He glances over at me, as stressed as I’ve ever seen him. “I’ve been getting calls all day from the other guys who signed that affidavit. They’re worried.”

“We should talk to Cam about it and see if he’s heard from the AG’s office on that.”

As the lawyer in our group, Cam is usually our go-to guy for advice. That he and our other closest friends could get caught up in this mess only compounds the nightmare.

Arlo calls Cam on the Bluetooth. “Hey, I’m taking Ryder to get his car. The decision has been made to suspend the campaign.”

“Okay.”

“I’m getting calls from the others about that affidavit…”

“We might be screwed on that.”

“You think so?” Arlo asks, his voice quite a bit higher than usual.

“My contact at the AG’s office told me that Neisy reminded them that the affidavit was complete bullshit and made her cooperation in the reopened case contingent on them doing something about that. He said they’re looking into it.”

“Son of a bitch,” Arlo whispers.

“I’ll let you know what I hear,” Cam says.

The line goes dead.

“Yeah, goodbye to you, too,” Arlo says.

“He’s pissed with me, not you. He told me not to run for Congress because of the skeleton in my closet. I should’ve listened to him.”

“You had no way to know my sister, of all people, had seen it and would come forward.” He sounds bitter and furious. “I still can’t believe she did that.”

“Cam was right. I should’ve left well enough alone. I should’ve been satisfied with what I had and counting my lucky stars to have gotten off the first time.” I glance out the window at the familiar scenery of the town I’ve called home for most of my life. “I want you to understand why I felt the need to run…”

“I’ve wondered about that. It sort of came from out of nowhere.”

“Not to me. I’d been thinking about it for a while, and then when Altman decided to resign, it felt like a sign, that maybe this was my time.”

“I never would’ve pictured you for politics.”

“I’ve always had that in the back of my mind. After I was charged the first time, the Naval Academy appointment went kaput and then Louisa died… It took a long time to figure out how to go on. I did my best to be happy at URI, but I was still in such turmoil. I missed Louisa so much. Nothing was ever thesame after that summer. I wanted to try to get back some of the magic, you know?”

“I guess.” He gives me a tentative glance.

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