“You’re a writer, Ms. Verdure,” Pat said. “What’s your interpretation of what Finn told you?”

Tish glanced at Stride, who was seated beside her in front of Pat’s desk. “I think this changes everything,” she said.

“How so?”

“Well, isn’t it obvious? The whole theory behind Dada committing the crime was that his fingerprints were on the bat. Now we know why. It wasn’t that he attacked Laura, it was that he rescued her by fighting off Peter Stanhope. Peter was trying to rape her. They weren’t dating. There was no secret meeting planned. He assaulted her, and then this black man Dada broke it up.”

“According to Finn, Dada was the one who followed Laura toward the beach where her body was found,” Pat pointed out.

“Yes, but without the bat. That’s important.”

Pat nodded. “Isn’t it odd that he would remember a detail like that so clearly?”

“He remembered it, that’s the main thing.”

“So he says.”

“Are you saying he’s lying?”

“I have no idea, but why didn’t he come forward back then? Why wait thirty years to tell this amazing story?”

“He told me that he blacked out the entire night. For months, he didn’t remember a thing. He didn’t even remember being there. It’s only come back to him in flashbacks. Recovered memories.”

“Recovered memories aren’t very reliable. Juries don’t like them.”

“Except his story fits the facts.”

“Yes, you’re right. It does.” Pat looked at Stride. “What do you think, Lieutenant?”

“I’d say that Finn was telling the truth, up to a point,” Stride said. “His story about what happened in the softball field with Laura and Dada makes sense. His motive for coming forward now is another question. I also don’t know whether he’s telling us everything he remembers.”

“Why do you think Finn chose to come forward now?” Pat asked Tish. “Did he say anything about that?”

“I think he felt guilty for keeping it secret for so long.” Tish hesitated. “Also, I don’t believe he’s well.”

“You think he’s ill? Is it serious?”

“He told me his liver was failing. He has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse.”

“The perfect witness,” Pat said, with a thin smile. She added, “If you don’t mind my asking, Ms. Verdure, what exactly do you hope to accomplish by writing this book?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, is your motive to make a lot of money? Is it to get publicity and headlines?”

“I want justice for Laura,” Tish said. “That’s all.”

“In other words, it’s important to you that your book somehow ‘solves’ this case.”

Tish nodded. “Mark Fuhrman wrote a book about the Martha Moxley murder in Connecticut, and now someone’s finally in jail for the crime.”

“I have to tell you, Ms. Verdure, if that’s your goal, you’re setting yourself up for a big fall. I’m sure Lieutenant Stride has explained the challenges of conducting a prosecution on a case where we have so many missing witnesses and so much missing evidence.”