Page 30 of In the Air Tonight

“You don’t want to give them a chance to trap you into saying something that isn’t true,” the lawyer said when he came to the house earlier. “Let me handle the police. You sit tight and don’t talk to anyone.”

“He has football practice,” Dad says. “He’s a team captain. He can’t miss it.”

“Go to practice,” the lawyer says, “and come straight home. Don’t discuss the case withanyone. I need you tell me you understand me when I sayno one.”

“I get it,” Ryder says.

“You have to make this go away.” Mom sounds frantic. “That someone could accuse him of such a heinous crime… His entire future is at stake.”

“I’m well aware of what’s at stake, Mrs. Elliott. I’ll do what I can.”

The lawyer goes through everything about the night in question, writing down the names of friends who can attest that Ryder was at Houston’s party, that he didn’t go near Neisy, that what she’s accusing him of couldn’t be possible.

The party was weeks ago. Details are difficult to recall. So much has happened since then—Louisa’s entrance into hospice care and the associated trauma, gatherings with friends, Fourth of July celebrations, two-a-day football practices.

The lawyer asks Ryder to recount every conversation he’s ever had with Neisy, which is three that he recalls, all in passing.

“Did you ever hit on her, ask her out, say anything inappropriate to her or about her to someone else?”

“No, never. I have a girlfriend. We’ve been together since middle school.”

I ache for him and for Louisa, who has enough to handle after hearing there isn’t anything more that can be done for her. I can’t imagine life without her. I can’t begin to know how Ryder must feel. The news devastated him, and that was before the police came to the door.

The lawyer leaves, promising to be in touch shortly.

Mom and Dad are shattered, and Ryder… He’s pale as a ghost and shaking.

I tip my head, telling him to come with me. We go outside to the backyard oasis my parents put such care into creating. We love being out here, but it brings no comfort to us now. Both our older sisters, who live out of state, have been texting nonstop since the news broke online.

“What can I do?” I ask my brother, my closest friend and confidant.

“I don’t know.”

“You want a drink?”

He shakes his head. He never drinks during football season, but there’s a first time for everything.

We sit in the Adirondack chairs that encircle the stone firepit Dad built himself.

“If you want to talk, you know I’m always here.”

“I do. I know that.”

“The girls were right about Neisy. She’s been trouble from the get-go.”

Ryder stares straight ahead, transfixed the way he would’ve been if a fire had been lit.

I ache for him. I’d give anything to make this go away. Both our phones are buzzing with texts we ignore. Our friends are rallying around us, offering whatever help they can, expressing their shock and disbelief.

No one believes her.

They grew up with Ryder. They know him. They know he’d never do something like what she’s accused him of.

“Cam.”

“Yeah?”

“I need to tell you something.”

---