Page 115 of Homecoming

“How does this happen? How do two innocent people get charged with murder?”

“Happens all the time. Family members of victims are agonized, the community is anxious, law enforcement is undertremendous pressure to make an arrest… Sometimes there’ll be just enough evidence to justify an arrest, and then a case is made around that evidence that’s sold to a jury, and an innocent person is convicted and sent to prison. Often, the accused don’t have the resources to hire top-level defense attorneys with investigators who can uncover the truth. It’s a very imperfect system, but it’s the only one we’ve got.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“It is.”

A gust of wind had Kara shivering and zipping her coat.

“Let’s get you out of this chill.”

They drove down the mountain and through the lush forest that made up Acadia.

“Are Bertha and Buster coming to dinner?”

“She took a pass. She said she’s having a rough day with the arthritis.”

“I hate to hear that.”

“As do I. The thought of anything being wrong with her is beyond me.”

“She’s strong as an ox. You know that.”

“I do, but she’s still in her eighties and working full time.”

“She’s doing exactly what she wants.”

“Yeah, definitely.”

“You’re sure you’re okay about going to your parents’ house?”

“Will you be there with me?”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you.”

She covered his hand with hers. “Then I’ll be just fine.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

After they left the park,Kara directed him toward Bar Harbor and the home where she was raised. She received a text from Renata that she couldn’t make it to dinner but would catch up with Kara later. When they got to town, she told Dan to take a right. A few more miles passed before she said to slow down and prepare to take a left turn.

“I wouldn’t have even seen a place to turn there if you hadn’t shown me,” Dan said.

“When I was first driving, I’d go by it more times than not until I started to recognize the landmarks.”

As Dan drove down the winding dirt lane that led to Sea Swept, the Ballard home, Kara’s anxiety spiked the way it always did when she went there. “This road… I remember having to steel myself for whatever would be happening here when I arrived. It rarely had anything to do with me, but it was always something.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to come here now?”

“It’s fine. None of it has the same power over me that it once did. I’ve moved on from here in every possible way. And in someways, I’ve moved too far past here, which I’ve been reminded of on more than one occasion.”

“Did you talk to your friends about the clambake Bertha suggested?”

“Yes, and we’re hoping to squeeze it in soon.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting them all in person.”

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