“The date and time.”
“Why do I care about a time stamp on a photo?” Ref asked.
“Because you’re in that car.”
“So what if I am? You’re visiting me in a max-security prison. I’m doing my time. I’m paying for my sins.”
Elena nodded. “But what if you’re paying for the wrong sins?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“The murder you were convicted for is not this one. The homicide you’re serving time for happened at almost the same time as this shooting. Only about ten minutes apart. There’s no way you could be in both places at once unless you’re Superman.”
Ref smirked. “Maybe I am Superman.”
Elena took a deep breath. How was she going to break through and get any information from him? She would try another tactic. “I hear that your son is doing well in school and that he and your girlfriend visit you when they can.”
Ref’s expression changed. “What does my son have to do with this?”
“Not much. I’m just saying that maybe telling the truth and doing the right thing would show your son that you can change. I hear you’re taking classes. I’ve even heard rumors that you’ve been talking with young gang members and trying to help them get out of the life. I’m sure you don’t want your son to be in a gang, do you?”
“No,” Ref said. “I don’t. I’ve told him he needs to go to school and get an education.”
“That sounds like someone who’s making a positive change and might get out on good behavior.”
Ref laughed. “They’re not going to let me out. Not for what I did.”
“But this photo proves you couldn’t have murdered the person that you admitted to killing. Why confess to a crime you didn’t commit?”
“Look, lady, I’m guessing you’re one of those high-and-mighty people out to save the world, but I’m going to do my time and not say anything more.”
“There’s a killer on the loose who strangled a young woman in a brutal murder. It wasn’t you. Don’t you want the truth to come out?” Elena asked, starting to feel like she was pleading. She was losing Ref, she could feel it, and then what? “There was a little boy killed in this drive-by. If you agree to be a witness to put the shooter behind bars, then we can work a deal to get you out of here soon. You’ll be with your son again. Be a father outside of prison.”
“I’m not a snitch.”
“I’ve heard you left the gang life.”
“Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t, but I know what will happen to me if I snitch on one of my guys. There’re powerful people who put me here. They need me to take the blame for this murder. I can’t go against them. They’d not only kill me, they might go after my girlfriend and son. Plus, what evidence do you have?” Ref said, leaning closer to Elena. “Did you not notice that the bitch was strangled with a scarf that had my DNA? Looks like a problem for your case. Maybe my twin was in the car.”
Elena responded by moving slightly forward herself. She would not back down. “Do you have a twin?”
“No.”
“If you’re innocent of this crime, then you should let me help you. I can see what I can do to keep your son safe. Plus, I think I know someone who might have evidence of the murder you’re wrongfully convicted of who could help prove you didn’t do it. Maybe even find the real killer. But I need you to agree that this is you in this photo and that you were somewhere else that day. And I need you to testify against the shooter.”
“Who has evidence that would prove I didn’t kill that rich bitch?” Ref asked.
“A former cop. He was the first one to find the victim and he took photos and notes. But since he was no longer working for the department, no one gathered those items as evidence. They ignored him. I believe that the photos and notes will lead to the real killer’s identity. You already have an alibi. Why not help me out with both cases and get out of here sooner? Then you can be a father. The kind of man I believe you want to be.”
Ref studied her, and for the first time, Elena thought she might be getting through to him. That he might agree to help her.
“Who’s the former cop?”
“Name is Josh Colten.”
Ref broke out laughing, surprising Elena. “You serious?”
“Yes.”
