Page 45 of In the Air Tonight

“That’s a very serious accusation, Mr. DeGrasso. These young men made sworn statements and were informed of the consequences of lying under oath.”

“We have statements from Camden Elliott, Arlo Merrick…”

He continues to recite names that’re familiar to me, but it’s all lies. I never went near any of them.

Neil glances at me. As his gaze collides with mine I realize he’s not sure who to believe.

“Ms. Sutton,” the defense attorney says, “is it true that you were sexually promiscuous while attending Hope High School?”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not true. I’d never had sex before Ryder Elliott raped me.”

“Ms. Sutton, please confine your answers to the questions you’re asked,” the attorney says testily. “One final question.Were you disappointed when you asked Ryder Elliott to go out with you and he declined?”

My mouth falls open in shock. “That never happened.”

“It’s a yes or no question, Ms. Sutton. Were you disappointed?”

“No, I wasn’t, because I never asked him any such thing.”

“No more questions.”

“Ms. Sutton, you’re dismissed.”

I look up at the judge, feeling incredulous that she’d allow them to smear me this way.

She won’t look at me.

That’s when I know she’s going to let him off, that the lies Ryder and his friends have told will take precedence over the truth.

I’m so devastated I can barely find the strength to stand and walk back to my seat. The devastation is compounded when Kane doesn’t take my hand. He can’t possibly believe I’d do that to him. Can he? What if he does?

If I lose him, I’ll never get over it.

“This is a very difficult situation,” the judge says.

The room is eerily silent and thick with tension as we wait for her to render judgment.

“Ms. Sutton, I believe something happened that night, but without the physical evidence to tie Mr. Elliott to a crime, I can’t allow this case to go to trial. The charges are dismissed. Mr. Elliott, you’re free to go.”

His supporters erupt in cheers as he hugs his attorney and then his parents.

He’s surrounded by the same group of boys who lied for him as they cheer for his exoneration.

“Please get me out of here,” I say to my dad.

He puts an arm around me and has me out of there in a matter of seconds.

I’m so cold, I feel like I’ll never be warm again.

We ride back to the house in complete silence.

Kane looks out the passenger side window.

What is he thinking?

In the driveway at the house, my parents get out.

Kane and I don’t move.

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