After listening to them tell me their side of things, I lay out my case against Charles, the DNA, his extensive criminal history, the fact that he confessed at one point, and that his brother lived across the street from Alice and Greg at the time so there would have been a connection, even if they didn’t know each other personally. As I talk, I know everything I’m saying is falling on deaf ears, and I’m wasting my breath. They have spent years building up Greg as the villain in their heads, and nothing short of a full confession from Charles and him stating that Greg wasn’t involved is going to change their minds. Even then, I wonder if they would believe him.

When they leave, Mary and I come up with a game plan and I have Jamie call judge Brown’s secretary to get us on his calendar. In a few weeks I’ll know if my case is strong enough to bring to a jury and then we will go from there.

A few hours later, with the sour taste of my meeting with Alice’s sisters still sitting in the back of my throat, I drive up to Franny’s childhood home. When I arrive, Betsy lets me in and then leads me to the back patio, where I find Barrett with his feet up, watching TV.

“Dayton, good to see you.” He starts to stand when he sees me, but I shake my head.

“Please don’t get up.” I pat his shoulder, then take a seat across from him. “How are you feeling?”

“Better, ready to get back to work. Betsy is keeping me in lockdown until the doctors give me the all-clear.”

“I don’t want to side with her, but that’s probably wise.”

“Probably.” He picks up a glass of water he has sitting on a table next to him. “So, what brings you out here?”

“There is a situation with Billy that I’ve been brought into, and I want to let you know about it.”