Page 86 of Ruthless Regret

Ashley nods, her eyes still fixed on the screen. "We've gone through the police reports a dozen times. The timelines, the evidence logs, your interrogation, my testimony ..." She frowns.

"What is it?"

"It's just ... we keep focusing on Ramsey. The way he behaved during my interview, what he might have done. But he wasn't the only one involved in the investigation."

"Holson."

Ashley's eyes meet mine, a spark of excitement in them. "He was there for everything. He saw how Ramsey handled the case, how he ... how he manipulated me."

"And if Ramsey was willing to pressure a traumatized kid into changing her story ..."

"Then Holson might know about other things Ramsey did," Ashley finishes. "Things that never made it into the official reports."

I'm already reaching for my phone before she finishes speaking. "We need to talk to him. Dig deeper, and there’s only one way to make that happen."

I dial McFadden's number, and it seems like the energy in the room shifts. We're onto something, a lead that could break this whole case wide open, I’m sure of it.

The phone rings twice before McFadden picks up. "Ryder. What now?"

"I need to talk to Holson."

There's a pause on the other end of the line. "That's not going to happen. You know I can't let you interrogate a detective."

"I'm not asking to interrogate him. I'm asking you to bring him in again, and let me be there when you question him." I catch Ashley's gaze as I speak, and something flickers in her eyes. Interest? Concern? I can't quite read it.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you know how important it is to find the truth." I stand up, pacing the length of the kitchen. "Holson knows things, McFadden. Things he didn't share the first time around. You bring him in, question him, and I'll be there to catch anything you might miss."

The silence stretches out, and I can almost hear the gears turning in McFadden's head.

"Fine," he says finally. "But you're there as an observer only. You don't speak unless I say so. Understood?"

"Crystal clear."

I hang up and turn back to Ashley. She's watching me intently, and for a moment, I'm struck by how different she looks from the woman I threatened and bullied less than a week ago.There's a strength in her now, a determination that mirrors my own.

"He agreed," I slide my phone back into my pocket.

"I heard. So, what now?"

"Now, we prepare." I sit down across from her, leaning forward. "We need to think about what we want to ask Holson, what details we're looking for."

Ashley pulls up a new document on the laptop. "Let's start with the timeline. There were inconsistencies that were never addressed."

I nod, feeling a surge of ... something.Appreciation?

"Good idea. We should also ask about the evidence that was dismissed. The partial fingerprint, the conflicting witness statements."

"And what about Ramsey?" Her fingers are poised over the keyboard.

“The knife went missing before the trial. I think he made sure it disappeared, so it couldn’t be tested for prints or DNA.”

"Well, we know he manipulated me into changing my testimony about the knife, so that would make sense. What else might he have done?"

The question hangs in the air, heavy with implications. I consider it carefully before answering. "If he was willing to manipulate a thirteen-year-old girl, there's no telling what else he might have done. We need to look at his approach to the entire case."

"I was so young. So scared. It's no wonder I believed what he told me. What else did he make me think was true?"

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