When I talk to Daddy about his case and get too hopeful, he makes me promise not to be upset if an appeal doesn’t happen. Because getting one grows more unlikely with each day. But Daddy’s also not the type to give up. He could’ve accepted a plea deal, but he said he wouldn’t admit to something he didn’t do. God would be watching over him and set him free. He believed there’d already been tragedy enough with the Davidson couple being murdered, and him and his best friend, Jackson Ridges, being blamed. Mr. Ridges was killed by the police as they tried to take him from his home. Daddy thought God wouldn’t let more pain come from that tragedy. So he pled innocent, and life without parole was off the table. It would be a death sentence if found guilty.

I used to believe that what Daddy said about no more pain was true. Like the Messiah himself would walk right through the courtroom and carry my daddy out. Now I know it’s up to us.

“I didn’t mean to ruin Jamal’s moment.” I watch him with hopeful eyes.

“I see no one else came to make this visit.” Daddy squeezes my hand. “I need you to stay close, not pull apart.”

“I just wish Jamal’d understand what I was trying to do. I couldn’t not talk about you.”

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to control yourself if you had the chance. I had a bet out here when we watched it, but I didn’t expect you to lie. You don’t know what that does in here.”

I look away. I know I shouldn’t have lied about possible suspects. I only wanted to attract Innocence X’s attention.

“Someone got away with murder, and it’s never been right I had to do the time. Trust me, no one knows that injustice more than me. I feel it every day. But you can’t make stuff up.”

“But if we get someone to look into your trial, they could see they didn’t have any evidence to convict you in the first place. Then they’d find new suspects.”

Daddy pats my hand. I try to let the topic go. We’ve talked about this too many times. I’m preaching to the choir. The fact is, the gun that killed the Davidsons was never found. Daddy never owned a gun. They arrested him anyway.