Oliver interrupted. “We’re due in court in five minutes. We’re clear on your statement today, correct?”

Stanley glanced at his attorney, seeming to have forgotten that he was in the room. “Yes,” he said, then turned back to Max. “Victoria’s family respects you. I’ve followed your career for years. You can find out what happened to her. I should never have confessed. I should have found a way to get Marie and the boys safe. But after the car accident— I panicked.”

Oliver said, “We may bring all this up during the trial, but I’m going to move to dismiss the case based on lack of evidence.”

“But I confessed.”

“I’ll try to get the confession thrown out. I don’t think it’ll fly, but it’s a good first move. The police didn’t coerce the confession, so the judge has no reason to suppress it, but I may be able to convince the court that you were coerced by a third party. Even if it’s not thrown out, once I get discovery I can look at the evidence and the tape of your confession and see if there is anything contradictory. In the meantime, I’m asking for bail, I think you’ll get it. The prosecution will ask that you have an ankle monitor. I’ll object, but the judge has been known to have monitored release in cases like this. Then, we’ll work on the case if I can’t get it tossed.”

The bailiff came in and said, “Mr. Jones, Mr. Grant, I need to escort the defendant into the courtroom.”

“Thank you,” Oliver said.

Max and Oliver stepped out. “What do you think?” Oliver asked her.

“He’s lying.”

Oliver wanted to talk more, but Max walked away and sent Sean a text message:

Ask Marie about a car accident she was in the day before Grant confessed.

By the time Max was seated in the courtroom, he had a response:

Her car was totaled, no one seriously hurt. Turn around.

She did and saw Sean walk in with who she presumed was Marie, a petite blonde who looked like she hadn’t slept in days.

Sean situated Marie between Max and himself and whispered, “Marie, this is Maxine Revere.”

“You’re helping my brother?”

“I’m finding the truth,” she replied. At this point she didn’t know if the truth was going to exonerate or condemn Stanley Grant.

The judge hadn’t yet come in from his chambers, but movement in the back of the courtroom had Max glancing over her shoulder. Simon Mills, Victoria’s older brother, walked in. She had reached out briefly to their father yesterday to let him know she would be in town, but she hadn’t talked to anyone in the family today.