Page 44 of Motion to Dismiss

“Not so fast, James. We’ll get there slowly, alright?”

“Alright.” I tried not to flinch as he pressed his thumb against my bottom lip.

“It’s something that you can’t tell anyone else about, okay?” His smile was the stuff of nightmares. “Promise me that first.”

“I promise.”

“Good boy.” He sat on the edge of his bed. “Before I let you see it, let me see you first.”

“Huh?” I hadn’t prepared for this part.

“Take off your pants and let me see you.” He was damn near salivating. “Then place your boxers in that middle drawer over there for me, okay?”

I looked toward the middle drawer and spotted something I’d missed while watching him all this time.

It was only cracked open a bit, but I could see what looked like other underwear inside.

What the…

“Go on.” He slid a hand into his boxers. “Get undressed and let me see you.”

“Wipe my fingerprints off the metal, ditch the clothes, wipe my fingerprints off the metal,” I muttered.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said, leaning back. “I can shut my eyes until you tell me you’re ready for me to look.”

I waited until he shut his eyes and counted down from five.

Then I walked over to him and took out the gun, positioning it like I had so many times before.

“Okay, Mr. Raider,” I said, pressing the barrel against his head. “You can look at me now.”

“What the hell are you—” His eyes fluttered open, and I pulled the trigger.

He dropped to the floor within seconds, and the world was instantly a safer place.

I wiped my fingerprints off the trigger and placed the gun next to him.

Then I walked to the drawer he’d mentioned and pulled it open.

Dozens of girls’ panties and young boys’ boxers stared back at me. Some had name tags in his handwriting.

Others had dates.

I made sure to leave the drawer hanging wide open so the officers could see his depravity, so they could see that he deserved to die.

But someone must’ve shut it.

And those same someones connected my father’s old gun, his old, worn boots that left bloody prints down to the basement, and the overalls I’d stuffed into the corner to him instead of me.

And my life—and my relationship with justice—has been fucked ever since.

FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE (N.)

IN CRIMINAL LAW, THE DOCTRINE THAT EVIDENCE DISCOVERED DUE TO INFORMATION FOUND THROUGH ILLEGAL SEARCH OR OTHER UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEANS (SUCH AS A FORCED CONFESSION) MAY NOT BE INTRODUCED BY A PROSECUTOR.

SCARLETT

My mother squeals like a fangirl as we walk into the special post-show for Peter Hansel’s biggest fans.