“Christ,” Gus said.
“You were involved with a married woman,” I said. “If she came forward and told Gus you were with her, then her husband was going to find out? Is that it?”
Dane nodded. I felt a wave of both relief and guilt. I knew Gus felt the same. It was so simple. Dane took a breath. I think he was relieved too. Because when he started talking again, it was as if a dam burst inside of him. His story came flooding out.
“I loved her,” Dane said. “I got sober for her. Then when all this crap went down with Ellie … she got scared. We both got scared. Then … she found out she was pregnant. We were at her place that night. Her husband was out of town. She was gonna tell him. But then there was the baby. And we were pretty sure it was his, not mine. It all just got so messy.”
“And you became the main suspect in a murder investigation,” I said. “Oh Dane. That’s why you lied? Why you failed your poly?”
“She was gonna come forward,” he said. “If you’d arrested me, she was gonna come forward.”
“But one lie wasn’t enough for probable cause,” Gus said bitterly. “So she didn’t have to.”
“Yeah,” Dane said.
“Will you give us a name?” I asked. “Dane, please. Give her a chance to do the right thing. After twenty-two years, surely it doesn’t matter anymore. Her baby is grown. Is she still married to her husband?”
Dane shook his head. “I don’t know. She left Waynetown. Her husband took some job in Dayton or somewhere.”
“Why in God’s name didn’t you just say that on the stand, Dane?” I asked.
“You’ve never believed anything I had to say,” he answered, staring at Gus.
“I believe you now,” Gus answered.
“I can put you back on the stand,” I said. “You can tell your story.”
“No,” Dane said. “You think any of this makes me trust either of you? Plus, Jamie’s lawyer will find a way to twist my words. He won’t quit.”
“You could have told me back then,” Gus said. “You could have let me talk to her. If she was credible, this would have ended things. It would have been over.”
“Yeah?” Dane asked. “Bullshit. You gonna sit there and lie to me now? You had your mind made up. I wasn’t gonna drag her into this and ruin her life, too.”
Gus had no answer for him. I knew Dane was right. Gus knew he was right. Twenty-two years ago, Gus probably wouldn’t have believed him.
“Let us talk to her now,” I said. “She might feel differently. Her life might be different. Please. I know you don’t want Jamie Simmons to walk. You were mad at Ellie Luke. But you didn’t want her dead. I know you didn’t.”
Dane squeezed his eyes shut.
“She … I don’t know.”
“Yes,” I said. “You do. It’s time to close the book on this. It’s time everyone knew the truth. It wasn’t you. You didn’t kill Ellie. Let me prove it for you. If your girlfriend back then really loved you, she’d want the same for you.”
“She said that,” he said, letting out a bitter laugh. “But I wouldn’t let her. When I knew you weren’t going to arrest me, I let her go.”
“Who is she, Dane?” I asked.
“Holly,” he whispered in a voice so low I almost didn’t hear it. “Holly Logue. And I have nothing more to say to you.” He rose from his chair. Gus moved away from the door and let him pass. As Dane opened the door, Judge Saul’s bailiff stood there, ready to call me back in.
“Five minutes,” I told him.
“You have two,” the bailiff warned me, then left Gus and me alone.
“Gus,” I said.
“Christ,” he muttered. “What a damn waste. If he’d have just told me, I could have cleared him.”
“Gus,” I repeated. “I need you, okay? Whatever happened twenty-two years ago doesn’t matter. I need you now. You have to find Holly Logue and convince her to testify. What I told Dane was the truth. If this trial ends right now, Jamie Simmons is going to walk. They’re going to think Dane’s guilty.”
