Page 146 of In the Air Tonight

“Because a witness came forward who saw the attack.”

“Where has that witness been for all this time?”

“She grew up in Hope, but she’s lived away for most of her adult life.”

“Why confess to it now?”

“I believe it was because she heard he was running for Congress.”

“So for all these years, she knew he’d done this, but she didn’t tell anyone?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Her tone is full of despair.

“Because he was her brother’s close friend, among other reasons.”

“Arlo’s sister.”

“Yes.”

I pause, feeling uncertain about whether I should say more. But she came to me looking for answers. The least I can do is tell her what I know. “You have to understand what it was like when Ryder was charged the first time. As an outstanding student and athlete, he was enormously popular with the other kids. He’d been widely admired for standing by Louisa during years of serious illness. People were shocked when he was charged with such a crime.”

“Did you believe he’d done it?”

“I didn’t know what to believe. Denise was a friend of mine. All she talked about was the boyfriend she loved, who lived overseas at the time. I found it hard to believe she’d make up a story like this, but it didn’t fit with what I knew of him, you know?”

“I guess.”

“It got really ugly for her after news of his arrest got out. His friends attacked her on Facebook and in court, basically forcing her out of town. Blaise would’ve seen how it went for Denise and feared the same thing happening to her if she reported what she’d seen. I’m not excusing what she did, but having once been a teenager myself, I understand why she was afraid to speak up.”

“It’s very hard for me to believe that the man I’ve loved with all my heart, the father of my children, is capable of such a thing.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult this has to be for you.”

“It’s like someone has died, even though he’s very much alive. He’s dead to me, I suppose, because how could I everforgive him for something like this? Not only did he lie to me for all those years, now there’s someone saying hedidattack that poor girl…” She doesn’t seem to notice the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Before we were married, he told me he’d been accused. He looked me in the eyes and told me he didn’t do it.”

I get up and go around the big desk that was once my father’s and take a seat in the chair next to hers, handing her a tissue. That’s when she seems to realize she’s crying.

She takes the tissue from me and wipes her face. “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”

“I’m sorry this is happening to you and your family.”

“Are you allowed to say that?” she asks with the first hint of a smile.

“Maybe not, but I’ve known Ryder a long time. The witness account came as a huge shock to me, too.”

“When he was charged the first time, you didn’t think he did it?”

“I couldn’t reconcile the charge with the kid I knew. He’d been close friends with Dallas for years by then.”

“Dallas came by the house this morning. He’s devastated, too.”

“I know.”

“Is he angry with you?”

“He’s not happy with me, but hopefully he’ll come around to understanding I have a job to do.”

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