Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Blaise
NOW
I shower and change into jeans and a sweater before heading out to return to my childhood home for the first time since my dad died of a heart attack seven years ago. That’s the only time I’ve been home since I left for college, a stance that’s caused significant friction in my family. They’ve asked for years why I stayed away until they quit asking and stopped reaching out. I still talk to them, but we’re not close. I have nieces and nephews I barely know. That’s how I wanted it, for reasons that made sense to me for all this time, but now… If everything comes out, will it drive us further apart or bring us closer together?
I don’t know how that’ll go, and the not knowing only adds to my anxiety as I drive across the bridge into Hope.
Every nerve in my body is on full alert as I take the familiar roads to home, traversing the same route I did on that long-ago night after witnessing the crime that changed everything.
I park behind my mother’s silver Toyota Camry and take a moment to look at the two-story Colonial home where I was raised. It’s been painted a darker shade of grey, and the shutters are now black. They were red when I lived there.
Mom comes out of the house, smiling with excitement that’s been sorely lacking in her since Dad died. She’s visited me often in the city, but I know she’s yearned for me to come home.
I hug her on the sidewalk.
“It’s so good to have you here, my sweet girl.”
“It’s good to be home.”
As I walk inside with her, the familiar scents of candles and the cleaning products she favors spark a million memories of good times and bad. There was far more good than bad, but the bad eclipsed everything else, which is another thing I feel guilty about. I hurt my parents and siblings by turning my back on them and this place where we lived as a family.
On the wall of the living room, our four senior pictures are framed in a square with Teagan and Arlo on top, and me and Junie on the bottom. I’m the only one who isn’t smiling. My senior year was a nightmare to be endured not celebrated.
I recall my mother being annoyed that I’d refused to smile for the photographer. Honestly, Blaise, she’d said at the time, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you these days.
I haven’t thought of that in years.
She leads the way into the kitchen, which has been updated. I’ve seen the photos, so I’m prepared for the change. What still strikes me as too painful to believe is that my dad isn’t here anymore.
I take a seat at the table while she bustles around getting me a tall glass of iced tea with lemon, just the way I like it. She brings plates with chicken salad sandwiches, a bag of chips and my favorite sweet gherkin pickles. “Thanks, Mom. This looks delicious.”
“It’s so, so nice to have you over for lunch, Blaise. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
What remains unspoken between us is the same thing that’s been unspoken all this time—why I left and never came back, except for the one time I absolutely had to. After my dad died, I mourned the loss of the many years of holidays and other occasions I should’ve spent with him and the others. It just seemed easier at the time to stay away.
Now, I’m not so sure that was the right thing to do.
I give my mom credit. She shows amazing restraint by not immediately grilling me about why hearing Ryder is running for Congress brought me running home when nothing else has, except my father’s death, for fourteen years.
She fills me in on all the family news while we eat. Teagan’s pregnancy has been the most difficult one yet, Arlo’s four-year-old daughter—a niece I’ve never met—is playing soccer and Junie landed a marketing job she’s excited about.
After an hour of chitchat about family, friends and neighbors, we finally run out of things to talk about.
I wipe my mouth with a paper napkin as I work up the courage to tell her the truth. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I came running when you told me what you did the other day.”
“About Ryder running for Congress. I can’t for the life of me imagine why that would be the thing to bring you home when nothing else but losing Dad has, even your siblings having babies.”
I hear the hurt her in her words, loud and clear. “I had a good reason.”
Again she shows restraint by waiting for me to say it.
“Do you remember when Ryder was charged with raping Neisy Sutton?”
“I do, and as I recall it never went anywhere.”
“Because of a lack of evidence.”
“It was such a relief when it was thrown out. Ryder was a good kid who didn’t deserve what that girl did to him.”
“Yes, he did.”
“What?”
“I saw it, Mom.”
She sits back in her chair. “You saw what?”
“I saw him rape her.”
“Oh Blaise. Oh my goodness.” She pauses and then directs a penetrating stare my way. “This is why.”
“Why what?”
“Why you changed overnight from a happy, well-adjusted teenager to a sullen, withdrawn shell of your former self.”
“Yes.”
“And Sienna! Your friendship with her ended so abruptly. Was she part of this?”
“In a way.”
“Was she with you?”
“She was the reason I was there. She thought Cam was cheating on her and wanted to spy on the party we weren’t invited to.”
“So she saw it, too?”
“Yes, but no one can know that. She wasn’t willing to help Neisy or come forward. She’s the one who made me keep quiet—or else.”
“Or else what?”
“Everyone would hate me, including my own brother.”
“Oh, Blaise… Honey…” Her voice is laced with agony. “ Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because! I wasn’t supposed to be there, and I was afraid of getting in trouble. I never wanted to cause problems like Teagan did.”
“I would’ve moved heaven and earth to help you.”
“You would’ve made me report it, and Sienna was right. Everyone would’ve hated me, including Arlo. At seventeen, that would’ve been worse than living with the truth, or so I told myself.” I look down at the table, which is nicked and scarred from years of homework and projects and family dinners. “In fact, living with the truth stuck inside me was hell. I’ve thought of it every day. Every single day.”
“I’m so sorry you’ve been through such an ordeal.”
“I don’t deserve your sympathy. I disobeyed your rules and did the exact wrong thing when I saw someone in need. I’ve been so ashamed of myself.”
“You were a kid, Blaise.”
“I was seventeen. Old enough to know better.”
“You witnessed something traumatic. Your best friend demanded you stay quiet and told you everyone would hate you. I don’t think you should be so hard on yourself.”
“Too late.”
“So when I told you he’s running for Congress…”
“I couldn’t take it anymore. I reported it to Houston Rafferty yesterday.”
“Oh God,” she said with a deep sigh.
“Oh God, what?”
“Arlo quit his job to run the campaign.”
“No. When?” This is devastating news. Arlo has a family to support.
“Last week.”
I drop my head into my hands. “He’ll never forgive me.”
“Yes, he will.”
“He won’t, Mom.” I take a breath and release it slowly as the ramifications cycle through my mind at lightning speed. They’re even bigger now than they were then. “But I’m not taking it back. I simply cannot live with this for another minute. Whatever happens now is out of my hands.”
Houston
NOW
I wait all day to hear something from the AG’s office. Josh Spurling finally calls at four thirty. “I met with the AG, and he has questions.”
“Okay…”
“Is the victim willing to cooperate?”
If I say no, this whole thing probably goes away right now. So I decide to hedge in the hope that Denise will come around. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve reached out to her, and I’m waiting to hear. In the absence of her cooperation, we have a sworn statement from her that was taken several weeks after the incident.”
“That’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. He also wants to know if the witness is willing to sit for a sworn statement before he decides whether to pursue this.”
“I’ve mentioned that possibility to her, and she said she’ll do whatever is needed.”
“He asked if there were other witnesses.”
“She would only speak for herself. That was a hard line.”
“So there were others.”
“She didn’t confirm or deny that but was adamant she’s speaking only for herself.”
“It would make for an easier sell if there were multiple witnesses.”
“I understand, but this is what we have. I think it’s safe to describe it as a take-it-or-leave-it situation.”
“Understood. Let me talk to him and get back to you. In the meantime, let’s get your witness in here for the sworn statement this week.”
We agree to talk again in the morning.
I call Blaise. “Hey, it’s Houston.”
“Hi.”
“I wanted to let you know that I’ve spoken to the AG’s office, and they’ve requested the sworn statement I mentioned before.”
“What would that entail?”
“You’d be sworn in like you’d be if you were testifying in court, and then walked through the sequence of events, also like what would happen in court when you testify. Basically you’d tell them the same story you told me, but you’d do so under oath this time in the presence of a court stenographer. I should also add that if it’s later determined you lied about any of it, you could face perjury charges.”
“I’m not lying about any of it, and I’ll make the statement. Just tell me when and where.”
“I’ll find out in the morning and let you know.”
“Would you be there?”
“If you’d like me to be.”
“I think I would.”
“Then consider it done.”
“Thank you for your support, Houston. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m just doing my job, but I understand how difficult this is for you.”
“It’s not about me. It’s about Denise and what was done to her.”
“It’s also about you and what this will do to your life.”
“My life has been a mess since the night I witnessed a crime and failed to do the right thing. I want to fix this, no matter what it costs me personally.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow with the details about the statement.”
“All right. Thank you again.”
“No problem.”
Shortly after I end the call with her, my brother, Dallas, calls. “Hey, do you want to play cards tonight? We’re getting together at Ryder’s around eight.”
I close my eyes for a beat. “I can’t tonight, but thanks for the invite.”
“Haven’t seen you since soccer practice, bro.” We coach his kids’ team together. “What gives?”
“Nothing. Just busy.”
“Let’s do something this weekend.”
“Sounds good.”
After he signs off, I sit staring into space for a long time wondering how this bomb Blaise dropped in my lap will screw up my own life. Will my brother still want to hang out with me if I help to convict his longtime friend—and now boss—on rape charges? Those charges will send shock waves through two towns and multiple families. Not to mention the legal exposure for Dallas and the other men who signed the affidavit that Denise always said was complete bullshit.
Ryder married a woman he met in college named Caroline. After he left the military, they moved back to Hope where they live with their three young kids. He still holds an annual fundraiser on Thanksgiving weekend in honor of Louisa, who’s been gone fourteen years. I try to reconcile that version of Ryder with the version that Blaise described to me, and the one I read about in Denise’s sworn statement.
Her statement and Blaise’s are nearly identical in their description of what transpired that night.
That’s how I know Blaise is telling the truth. She’d have no way to know what Denise reported at the time.
I’m wrapping up my day when my personal cell rings with a call from Denise. I take the call and hold my breath, waiting to hear what she has to say.
“Hi, Houston.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I um… I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said when you were here.”
I can barely move. My heart beats fast and my palms are sweating.
“If it’s not too late, I’d like to change my mind about testifying.”
“It’s not too late.” I’m not sure whether to be relieved or terrified. “The AG will appreciate your participation.”
“What will the timeline look like?”
“That’s up to the prosecutor. I’ll update him on this development right away and get back to you when I know more.”
“I want you to know… Your involvement makes all the difference in my willingness to be part of this. You were the only friend I had there, and I’ve never forgotten your kindness to me.”
“I’ll do everything I can to make this as easy as possible for you, knowing nothing about it will be easy.”
“No, it won’t, but the thought of him going on like nothing ever happened, and running for Congress of all things, haunts me. Now that Blaise has come forward, I won’t be alone in accusing him like I was last time.”
“I think you’re very courageous, but I thought that long before any of this happened. It’s not easy to be the new kid in a group that grew up together. You always handled yourself with dignity, and I admired that then—and I still do.”
“Thank you, Houston. There’re two other things I wanted to mention.”
“Okay.”
“Do you remember the first time around when that group of Ryder’s friends signed the affidavit swearing I’d slept with them?”
“I do.” Years later, I’d gotten Dallas to admit it was a goddamned lie and had wanted to beat the shit out of him for being part of that. “What about it?”
“They were lying about me to protect Ryder. I want them to pay for that. I know one of them was your own brother, so if you want me to deal directly with the AG on that, I’ll understand.”
I experience a second of panic on Dallas’s behalf. “I’ll pass it on to the AG. They’ll want to speak to you about it. What’s the other thing?”
“The night of the attack, I lost my Honda car key in the clearing where it happened. I forgot to mention that when I first reported it, but the key may still be there. I never went back to look for it. I’m not sure if that would help, so I figured I’d mention it.”
I make a note about the key. “It can’t hurt. I’ll see if I can find it, and I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you, Houston.”
I end that call and immediately reach out to Josh Spurling.
“Hey, it’s Houston. I got your text about the date and time for the witness statement, and I have another update. The victim is fully onboard.”
“Well, that’s a game changer.”
“She has a caveat.”
“What’s that?”
“After the original charges were filed, Ryder Elliott’s brother and a number of their friends signed an affidavit claiming Denise, the victim, had slept with all of them in the last year. That was a lie, and in the absence of hard evidence, it most likely swayed the judge who initially heard the complaint. Denise wants that addressed.”
Josh’s deep sigh speaks volumes.
“In the interest of full disclosure, one of the people who signed was my brother.”
“That could get messy, Houston.”
“I know, which is why I won’t have anything more to do with that part of it. If your office wants to pursue that, I can’t be involved, but Denise made it clear. Dealing with that is a condition of her cooperation.”
“Understood. I’ll speak to the AG today and let you know next steps.”
“Blaise Merrick and I will be there at ten the day after tomorrow for her sworn statement.”
“See you then.”
I call Blaise. “Can you come by the station tomorrow afternoon? I want to go over your statement again to prepare you for the AG the next day.”
“What time do you want me there?”
“Would two be okay?”
“I’ll see you then.”
I appreciate that she’s clearly invested in seeing this through, no matter the consequences for herself. While I don’t condone what she did by not reporting what she saw for fourteen years, I understand the psychology behind being a teenager from a close-knit town fearing the fallout of doing the right thing.
We like to think we’d always do what’s right.
Life isn’t that simple.
Blaise knows that better than anyone.