Page 72 of In the Air Tonight

“It’s not about me. It’s about Denise and what was done to her.”

“It’s also about you and what this will do to your life.”

“My life has been a mess since the night I witnessed a crime and failed to do the right thing. I want to fix this, no matter what it costs me personally.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow with the details about the statement.”

“All right. Thank you again.”

“No problem.”

Shortly after I end the call with her, my brother, Dallas, calls. “Hey, do you want to play cards tonight? We’re getting together at Ryder’s around eight.”

I close my eyes for a beat. “I can’t tonight, but thanks for the invite.”

“Haven’t seen you since soccer practice, bro.” We coach his kids’ team together. “What gives?”

“Nothing. Just busy.”

“Let’s do something this weekend.”

“Sounds good.”

After he signs off, I sit staring into space for a long time wondering how this bomb Blaise dropped in my lap will screw up my own life. Will my brother still want to hang out with me if I help to convict his longtime friend—and now boss—on rape charges? Those charges will send shock waves through two towns and multiple families. Not to mention the legal exposure for Dallas and the other men who signed the affidavit that Denise always said was complete bullshit.

Ryder married a woman he met in college named Caroline. After he left the military, they moved back to Hope where they live with their three young kids. He still holds an annual fundraiser on Thanksgiving weekend in honor of Louisa, who’s been gone fourteen years. I try to reconcile that version of Ryder with the version that Blaise described to me, and the one I read about in Denise’s sworn statement.

Her statement and Blaise’s are nearly identical in their description of what transpired that night.

That’s how I know Blaise is telling the truth. She’d have no way to know what Denise reported at the time.

I’m wrapping up my day when my personal cell rings with a call from Denise. I take the call and hold my breath, waiting to hear what she has to say.

“Hi, Houston.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I um… I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said when you were here.”

I can barely move. My heart beats fast and my palms are sweating.

“If it’s not too late, I’d like to change my mind about testifying.”

“It’s not too late.” I’m not sure whether to be relieved or terrified. “The AG will appreciate your participation.”

“What will the timeline look like?”

“That’s up to the prosecutor. I’ll update him on this development right away and get back to you when I know more.”

“I want you to know… Your involvement makes all the difference in my willingness to be part of this. You were the only friend I had there, and I’ve never forgotten your kindness to me.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make this as easy as possible for you, knowing nothing about it will be easy.”

“No, it won’t, but the thought ofhimgoing on like nothing ever happened, and running for Congress of all things, haunts me. Now that Blaise has come forward, I won’t be alone in accusing him like I was last time.”

“I think you’re very courageous, but I thought that long before any of this happened. It’s not easy to be the new kid in a group that grew up together. You always handled yourself with dignity, and I admired that then—and I still do.”

“Thank you, Houston. There’re two other things I wanted to mention.”

---