“What can we help you with?” I asked.
He put his head in his hands. The man went from nearly open aggression to weeping in two seconds flat.
“The conference room is open,” Caro said, using her most motherly tone. “It’s just through here.”
The man nodded. He let Caro put a hand on his arm and guide him to the room across the hall. Sam shot me a look. He was by no means ready to stand down himself, but he let me lead the way as we walked into the conference room. Caro plopped our new guest down in a chair at the end of the table. Sam stood sentry by the door, ready to spring into action if he sensed any further aggression. I took the seat on the other side of the table.
“Can I get you anything?” Caro asked. “Water, coffee?”
The man shook his head. He looked up at me, eyes pleading.
“You really don’t know who I am?”
“I really don’t,” I said.
“My name is Dane Fischer. And I need you to tell me. Did Jamie Simmons kill my cousin?”
Sam and I exchanged a look. Dane Fischer. It took half a second for the synapses in my brain to fully fire. Dane Fischer. Ellie Luke’s cousin. This was the man Gus thought had killed Ellie all these years, but could never prove.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Fischer,” I said. “We can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”
“But I saw the news,” he said. “You’re arresting Simmons for Ellie’s murder. Right?”
“Yes,” Sam said. There was no point in trying to put him off. He was right. It was in the news. The arrest would be public record in a matter of minutes.
“He killed her.” Fischer repeated it like a mantra. “He killed her. I told them. I told them. Do you have any idea what the last twenty years of my life have been like? Are you going to do something about that?”
“Mr. Fischer,” I said. “I can’t imagine how difficult this has been for your family. I really wish we could talk more. But it’s as we said …”
“I need you to tell me something. That detective. Gus Ritter. He was mentioned on the news too. Is he going to be the one to handle this case?”
“Yes,” Sam said. “Gus Ritter is the lead detective on Ellie Luke’s case. Yes.”
Fischer’s face went white. “Do I need a lawyer?”
“For what?” I asked.
“I don’t think you get it,” Fischer said. “They all think I did this. My whole family. That detective made them think I did this. I never hurt Ellie. I would never have hurt Ellie. I would never hurt anyone. Nobody would believe me. Ritter let them think the worst of me. All this time. Are you going to tell them the truth?”
“Mr. Fischer,” Sam said. “You were never charged with Ellie’s killing. I don’t know what you think it is we can do for you. My only interest is in getting justice for that girl.”
“I should sue you,” he said, rising from his chair. “I should sue you both. Sue the county. Maybe even Ellie’s family. You all have destroyed my life. Made me live under this cloud. You have no idea what it took for me to get sober. To stay sober. They’ve painted me as this devil. I lost everything. Do you understand that? Everything. I didn’t do anything wrong. Nobody believed me because you people didn’t care. That detective told them he thought I killed her. My aunt and uncle believed that. Ellie’s sister believed that. Even now, they’re out there protecting Jamie Simmons. They’d rather believe the worst of me than face the fact they got it wrong. They don’t care about Ellie. They don’t care about justice. None of you do.”
“I assure you,” I said. “That’s not true. I’m truly sorry we can’t discuss this at greater length with you.”
“I don’t know why I came here,” he said. “I don’t know why I thought either of you would be more decent than the last sheriff. The last prosecutor. Gus Ritter is still wearing a badge. We’re not finished. Know that. I’m getting a lawyer.”
“You don’t need one,” I said. “You’re not under suspicion anymore, Mr. Fischer.”
The bravado was back. Fischer puffed his chest out, daring Sam to make a move on him.
“You’ve said your piece,” Sam said. “Now I’d like you to walk out of this office, Mr. Fischer.”
Fischer jerked his chin at Sam. A challenge. To his credit, Sam stayed rigid, letting him pass. Fischer stormed down the hall. He knocked a plant off Caro’s desk as he passed it.
“That mother—” Sam started. I put a hand on his arm.
“Let it go,” I said. “He’s in the wrong, but he’s not wrong that he’s probably been treated terribly by Ellie’s family all these years. Let’s not do anything to make this thing even worse than it is.”
