Page 155 of Homecoming

“Yes, and you also told the media that, and they’ve been up my ass about it ever since.”

“Sorry, but it’s an angle that requires pursuit.”

“I’ve been looking into it, but I haven’t gotten very far.”

“I may have some info that could help.” Dan laid out the pages Carter had produced and took Cosgrove through the sequence of events that’d led up to Tanya’s breakup with Billy and everything that’d followed.

“Holy shit,” Cosgrove said as he reviewed the police report on the assault in Storrs and the subsequent restraining order.

Next, Dan used his phone to show the detective pictures of the young man from his social media accounts as well as the film from the Barnacle that put him in the crowd at the bar the night Tanya was killed.

“I’m not saying Billy Norton killed her,” Dan said, “but I think you’ll agree that this information would demolish any case you might be building against my clients.”

Cosgrove reviewed each document and then watched the video twice, his face expressionless. Then he stood. “I’ll be right back. Do you mind if I borrow your phone for a second?”

“Be my guest.”

While the detective was gone, Dan used the time to write a draft of the motion to dismiss that he’d file with the court that afternoon if the prosecutors didn’t move to dismiss based on this new information. He’d learned to be prepared for any scenario.

Cosgrove returned twenty minutes later with an older man whom he introduced as Chief of Police Rushton White.

Dan stood to shake the man’s hand as Cosgrove put Dan’s phone on the table. “Nice to meet you, sir,” Dan said. “My grandmother-in-law speaks highly of you.”

“Bertha is good people.”

“She says you are, too.”

“That’s nice to hear. Detective Cosgrove has shown me the information you produced, and we agree, after consulting with the AG and the judge, that all charges against your brothers-in-law should be dropped immediately, with our apologies for the ordeal.”

Dan wanted to give a shout and a fist pump. He maintained his professional demeanor, but it wasn’t easy. “When will they be released?”

He looked at Cosgrove. “Immediately.”

“I’ll need a copy of that video,” Cosgrove said, “and I assume I can keep the other documents you provided?”

“They’re all yours.”

The detective nodded and left the room to see to the chief’s order.

“Thank you very much.”

“I regret that this happened, but I’m sure you understand how things work in situations like this. The state police had an eyewitness who put them with her shortly before her time of death…”

“I understand, and I appreciate you doing the right thing when new information came to light.”

“I wish we’d met under different circumstances,” White said. “I’ve admired your work for many years.”

“Thank you. Most LEOs probably think of me on the same level they’d put the plague.”

“Only the ones who don’t play by the rules. The rest of us are far more concerned with making sure we charge the right people than we are with chargingsomeone.”

Dan deeply respected the sentiment behind that statement. Justice at any cost had made him a celebrity, but he wished his services had never been needed by any of his wrongly accused clients.

“You’ll want to come with me to greet your family members,” White said.

“Lead the way.”

Chapter

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