CATHY WAS AT the shop again when District Attorney Bill Rosenberg made his second appearance. The look on the man’s face confirmed Danny’s worst fears. DNA didn’t lie. Larry Murphy was the guilty party. With a sick feeling, Danny realized he’d been responsible for sending an innocent man to prison.
“It’s my fault. Kevin and my sister had an argument, and I blew it all up out of proportion. I’ll never forgive myself,” he admitted.
“Mr. Callaway, don’t take it to heart. The evidence pointed at Green. If it makes you feel any better, I’m as much to blame. I should’ve dug deeper and gotten to the truth.”
No, Rosenberg had done a good job. He wasn’t the person who’d held a vendetta against Kevin.
After the man had left, guilt swirled inside of Danny like a dust storm. He’d have no peace unless he made amends. Maybe facing Kevin would help. Kevin would be released soon. Danny was almost tempted to wait until then, but forced himself not to. He deserved the punishment of witnessing firsthand what his vindictiveness had caused.
The next morning, while Cathy was working, he drove the thirty miles to the prison. In a sick fog, he underwent an embarrassing body search. He listened to the guard call Kevin on the phone.
The dreaded moment arrived. As Danny gazed through the glass partition, he almost didn’t recognize the person on the other side. He should have realized Kevin would have changed, but his imagination had not supplied the details. An unblinking, stone-like visage stared back at him.
Nine prison years had lent a pasty sheen to Kevin’s complexion and added extra lines around his eyes and mouth. The once-sandy straight hair was tinged with gray and shortened to a crew cut. Kevin was no longer an angry teenager, but a hard, embittered man.
One thing had not changed. Those cold, sea green eyes bore without forgiveness into Danny’s own, refusing to grant what he needed most: absolution. He didn’t blame Kevin. If the situation were reversed, he’d react the same.
“I’m sorry for not trusting you. I’m sorry I put you in here. I’d do anything to take it back,” he said to the unblinking statue.
Kevin was quiet. When he did speak, the response was jarring. Danny had no defense against Kevin’s accusations. Every word was true. Shame and remorse rose inside of him. There was nothing he could do to give Kevin back his lost years.
“Would money help? I’ve got plenty. Name your price,” Danny finally said in desperation.
“You won’t get off that easy.”
A chill raced up and down Danny’s spine. For a moment it seemed Kevin was actually guilty.
After that, Kevin clammed up. Danny sat and waited until visiting time was over. Then, head bent, he stumbled out of the room.