Page 77 of The Summer that Changed Everything

“True,” Friedman agreed.

“Actually, the timingisn’tall we have to deal with,” Ford said. “There’s also the trumped-up motivation.”

“That Lucy was jealous,” Friedman said.

Ford frowned at Lucy. “Yes.”

“Jealousy can definitely motivate someone to violence,” Friedman said. “They’ve got that going for them, especially because, at the time, so many of your peers went on record to say Aurora was making a very obvious play for you and didn’t respect Lucy’s relationship with you at all.”

“But there’s no record of Lucy ever confronting her about it,” Ford said. “No escalation they can point to that would indicate the situation was heating up.”

“That part goes in our favor,” Friedman admitted. “A good lawyer would’ve pointed that out.”

Lucy pursed her lips before saying, “I remember my dad’s lawyer trying to argue that, but there was too much goingagainst him. The prejudice in the community was another problem.”

“Have you found anything else?” Ford asked.

“Not yet. But I’m having the DNA profile from the blood in the sink at the Matteos’ trailer run through CODIS. When they ran it before, they didn’t get a match. But CODIS wasn’t what it is now, so we have a much better shot.”

“I’ve heard of CODIS,” Lucy said. “It’s the national DNA database, right?”

Before Friedman could confirm it, Ford said, “You have access to CODIS?”

“Yes to Lucy, and not directly,” Friedman replied. “But I’ve been in this business for a long time and have managed to make a few friends along the way.”

“Friends in the right places,” Ford said.

“Exactly.”

“Could it really be that easy?” Lucy asked. “We run the DNA through CODIS, come up with a hit and then we know who was there that night?”

“If it works out that well, it’ll be a miracle,” Friedman told them. “But if whoever left that blood has been convicted of a serious crime in the years since, there’s a chance. Even if we don’t get a match when it comes to the offender, we might get something that connects this case to other unsolved cases where they have more evidence and figure out who committed the murders that way, if it wasn’t your father.”

“It wasn’t him,” Lucy said.

Her sudden confidence worried Ford. Proving Mick didn’t kill Aurora would be much easier than proving he didn’t kill the Matteos. There had to besomereason Mick’s DNA was found under Tony’s fingernails. “I hope you’re right, Lucy, but...”

Her expression turned sheepish. “But I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I know.”

“For your own good,” Ford said gently.

A beep signaled another call. He looked down to see Chief Claxton’s name on his screen. “We’ve got to go,” Ford told Friedman.

“No problem. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back on the DNA.” Friedman hung up as Ford switched over.

Lucy tensed as Chief Claxton’s voice boomed through Ford’s phone.

“I got your message. What the hell are you talking about now?”

“Anna’s husband came over here earlier. Said she finally broke down in tears and told him that Reggie made it all up—the whole confession. Reggie admitted Mick McBride scarcely said two words to him while they were incarcerated together, let alone confessed to murder. You’ve got the wrong man—at least when it comes to Aurora.”

“That can’t be,” Claxton insisted. “The timing... everything aligned.”

“I know. And there’ve been no murders since. But that doesn’t prove a damn thing. Call Joel and Anna Stover if you don’t believe me and have them make an official statement.”

There was a long pause. “Why didn’t Anna come forward fifteen years ago?”

“Why do you think?” Ford asked. “Because of family loyalty.”

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