Page 47 of In the Air Tonight

“When you’re used to LE, anything seems crazy in comparison.”

He grunts out a laugh. “That’s true. I was coaching my niece and nephew’s soccer team, or I would’ve been here sooner. They said you wanted to report a crime?”

“I do.”

“I guess I’m confused since you don’t live here anymore.”

“It happened fourteen years ago.”

“Oh. Okay…”

“It happened at the party you had.”

He sits up a little straighter, his eyes going wide. “Are you talking about Ryder and Neisy?”

This is it. My mouth is so dry I can barely swallow. All the moisture in my body has collected in the palms of my hands, which are pressed tightly together. “Yes.”

“What’re you saying, Blaise?”

“I…I saw him attack her.”

For a long moment, he’s still and silent, his stare unblinking. “You saw Ryder rape Neisy.”

“I did.”

“Blaise…” He says my name with an expression of disbelief. “Why didn’t you come forward sooner?”

I tip my head to give him a “come on, you know why” look. “It was wrong of me not to. I’ve always known that. I lacked the courage to upset my entire life then, and it’s haunted me ever since. I’m as sick over it today as I was the day it happened.”

“So why come forward now?”

“I heard he’s running for Congress, and I couldn’t sit on it for another second.”

“It can be a crime to conceal evidence of another crime.”

That hadn’t occurred to me, and for a second I’m not sure how to reply. But then I know what I should say. “I’m willing to take whatever punishment comes my way to do what I should’vedone fourteen years ago.” My voice wavers on “whatever punishment comes my way,” but my resolve is firm. I simply cannot live with this any longer.

“Did anyone else witness this crime?”

“I’m speaking only for myself.”

“So that’s a yes?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny.”

He expels a deep breath and seems to become very interested in the far wall as he fiddles with a pen on his desk. “Do you understand what’ll happen when I notify the attorney general that a witness has come forward?”

“I think so.”

He leans forward, arms propped on the desk, gaze intense and fixed on me. “It’ll be a nightmare, Blaise. People will attack you for not reporting it at the time. They’ll question your motivation for coming forward now. They’ll tear apart every aspect of your life. Old crap from high school will be resurrected. The Elliotts will fight back—hard. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“In other words, the same thing that would’ve happened fourteen years ago will happen now, only worse because I’ll be vilified for waiting so long to report it. Do I understand you correctly?”

He never blinks when he says, “Yes.”

“I can handle it.”

“Are you sure?”

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