Travis, you said?”
I nod. “Courier. Never really knew what the hell he was
doing. Just let his teacher, a
trusted, adult role model, use him. Scare him into doing something that was supposedly for the good of his
sister. If anything, though, I
think his record should be scrubbed just because of the value of his testimony.
If he turns on Chaps, the teacher, the teacher will turn on Tonin just to save
his own ass. His testimony could be
what puts Lance Tonin behind bars for a very long time. But it starts with the kid. We need him.”
“So, basically, they both get off with a slap on the wrist
rather than multiple felony charges.”
My stomach sinks like a stone. The fact that he views it in such a way
can’t be good. “No, sir. They haven’t gotten off. They’ve paid a
hefty price. Several
times over. They’ve been
forced to live in a prison for years now. Neither of them has been
free since their older brother died eight years ago. And, to be honest, I think they’ve
suffered enough. They’ve been punished. Probably even past the extent of the
law, just in a different way. Life
took care of that. But they’ve learned from it. Have no desire to be criminals.
They are both ready to let the past go and move on to better lives.”
“And how are you so sure of this?”
I know what he’s getting at. “I’ve spent months with them. They didn’t know me as a cop. Had no reason to show me anything other than what’s real,
what’s true. I’m so convinced of this,
I’d be willing to bet my career on it.”
“Is that so?” he asks, raising one brow.
“I’ll testify as character witnesses for both of them if you
think it would help. Which brings
me to another request.”
He laughs, but it’s not a joyful sound. “There’s more? Do tell.”
“I’d like to take care of the kid until something is decided
about his sister. He needs to be in
familiar surroundings. And he knows me. I think it’s what’s best for him.”
“So you want me to enter a guilty plea of misdemeanor
charges for both the kid and the sister. What if I can’t convince a judge to go
for it?”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” I swallow. Hard. “Does that mean you’ll try?”
He says nothing for the longest time, during which I picture
myself leaping across the desk and choking the life out of him then running
away with Tommi and Travis.
“Let me talk to the girl. And the boy. I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not
making any promises.”
“Fine. Just let me know when.”
“It’s not necessary for you to be there.”
“No, but I’ll–”
“In fact, I’d prefer that you’re not.”
I clench my jaw. I want to argue, but I know better. It will only hurt my case for Tommi and Travis. “Okay. If that’s what you need.”
He nods. “Now,
if you’re done making requests…” He puts his hands flat on his desk as if to
rise.
I stand. “Of
course. No, that’s it. I appreciate you seeing me.”
“You can thank your father for that.”
“Oh, he’ll get what he’s owed. Don’t you worry about that. ”
For the first time, I see a genuine smile appear on Lemmon’s
face. “I imagine that’s true.”
I stick out my hand. Lemmon takes it.
“I can see myself out. Thanks again.”
And with that, I turn and walk back the way I came, feeling
a little more hopeful than when I got here.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - TOMMI
It’s been over two hours since Sig left. I’m freezing, my butt is numb, I haven’t
eaten since breakfast and I’ve been questioned so much my brain actually
hurts. I’ve asked half a dozen
times when I can see my brother. All I ever get is Soon.
When the handle rattles and the door pushes open again, I
glance up warily, afraid to hope for someone other than another inquisitor. My
throat constricts and my eyes sting when I see Sig
I nod. “Courier. Never really knew what the hell he was
doing. Just let his teacher, a
trusted, adult role model, use him. Scare him into doing something that was supposedly for the good of his
sister. If anything, though, I
think his record should be scrubbed just because of the value of his testimony.
If he turns on Chaps, the teacher, the teacher will turn on Tonin just to save
his own ass. His testimony could be
what puts Lance Tonin behind bars for a very long time. But it starts with the kid. We need him.”
“So, basically, they both get off with a slap on the wrist
rather than multiple felony charges.”
My stomach sinks like a stone. The fact that he views it in such a way
can’t be good. “No, sir. They haven’t gotten off. They’ve paid a
hefty price. Several
times over. They’ve been
forced to live in a prison for years now. Neither of them has been
free since their older brother died eight years ago. And, to be honest, I think they’ve
suffered enough. They’ve been punished. Probably even past the extent of the
law, just in a different way. Life
took care of that. But they’ve learned from it. Have no desire to be criminals.
They are both ready to let the past go and move on to better lives.”
“And how are you so sure of this?”
I know what he’s getting at. “I’ve spent months with them. They didn’t know me as a cop. Had no reason to show me anything other than what’s real,
what’s true. I’m so convinced of this,
I’d be willing to bet my career on it.”
“Is that so?” he asks, raising one brow.
“I’ll testify as character witnesses for both of them if you
think it would help. Which brings
me to another request.”
He laughs, but it’s not a joyful sound. “There’s more? Do tell.”
“I’d like to take care of the kid until something is decided
about his sister. He needs to be in
familiar surroundings. And he knows me. I think it’s what’s best for him.”
“So you want me to enter a guilty plea of misdemeanor
charges for both the kid and the sister. What if I can’t convince a judge to go
for it?”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” I swallow. Hard. “Does that mean you’ll try?”
He says nothing for the longest time, during which I picture
myself leaping across the desk and choking the life out of him then running
away with Tommi and Travis.
“Let me talk to the girl. And the boy. I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not
making any promises.”
“Fine. Just let me know when.”
“It’s not necessary for you to be there.”
“No, but I’ll–”
“In fact, I’d prefer that you’re not.”
I clench my jaw. I want to argue, but I know better. It will only hurt my case for Tommi and Travis. “Okay. If that’s what you need.”
He nods. “Now,
if you’re done making requests…” He puts his hands flat on his desk as if to
rise.
I stand. “Of
course. No, that’s it. I appreciate you seeing me.”
“You can thank your father for that.”
“Oh, he’ll get what he’s owed. Don’t you worry about that. ”
For the first time, I see a genuine smile appear on Lemmon’s
face. “I imagine that’s true.”
I stick out my hand. Lemmon takes it.
“I can see myself out. Thanks again.”
And with that, I turn and walk back the way I came, feeling
a little more hopeful than when I got here.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - TOMMI
It’s been over two hours since Sig left. I’m freezing, my butt is numb, I haven’t
eaten since breakfast and I’ve been questioned so much my brain actually
hurts. I’ve asked half a dozen
times when I can see my brother. All I ever get is Soon.
When the handle rattles and the door pushes open again, I
glance up warily, afraid to hope for someone other than another inquisitor. My
throat constricts and my eyes sting when I see Sig
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