Curling her hands around his arm, she rested her head on his shoulder and watched his mother and Charlie play with Holden on the bench across from theirs. Holden laughed at everything Charlie did, which made Laura smile. He was going to be an incredible grandfather to their children.

“For what it’s worth,” Laura said, “I have a good feeling about all of this.”

“I’m glad you do.”

“My dad brought me up to believe that while our justice system is flawed, most of the time it works exactly the way it’s supposed to. You and your mom have a strong case and a good team backing you. It’s going to be okay.”

“Keep telling me that, will you?”

“Any time you need to hear it.”

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

At one thirty that afternoon, Owen, Sarah, Frank and Dan took a cab from the hotel to the downtown Richmond office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Tom Corcoran, the assistant commonwealth attorney who was prosecuting the case, met them in the reception area and welcomed them into a conference room.

Here we go, Owen thought, girding himself for battle.

Tom’s warm personality and helpful attitude had been a source of comfort to Owen and his mother over the last year as they prepared for this day. They introduced him to Frank and Dan, and took seats around a big table.

Sitting at the head of the table next to a stack of file folders, Tom asked about their trip and made a big deal out of meeting Dan Torrington, whose reputation preceded him.

“A few developments since the last time we spoke,” Tom told them after all the pleasantries had been dispensed with. “Chief among them is General Lawry’s willingness to entertain a plea deal.”

Owen felt like he’d been electrocuted. Was it really going to be that easy?

“What kind of a plea deal?” Sarah asked hesitantly.

“He’s willing to consider pleading no contest to one felony count of domestic assault and battery in exchange for us dropping the other charges,” Tom said.

“What does that mean?” Sarah asked, looking to Frank and Dan for an explanation.

“It means,” Frank said, “he’s not admitting guilt or claiming innocence. Basically he’s entertaining the option as a way of avoiding the trial.”

“Would there be jail time?”

“We’d ask for seven years and probably get five with three to serve and at least two years’ probation after he’s released.”

Owen knew a moment of pure relief at hearing his father would definitely spend time in jail. That was all he’d wanted from the outset. “What do you think, Mom?”

“So,” Sarah said carefully, “he wouldn’t plead guilty, but he’d still go to jail?”