Page 49 of Motion to Dismiss

“No, not any father.” I shake my head, but I don’t elaborate. “Thank you, as always.”

“You’re welcome, as always. You still having the occasional nightmare about it? Or ones about Peter Hansel?”

Yes.

“No.” I shake my head. “Haven’t had any issues with either of those in a very long time.”

“Good.”

“You don’t look happy about getting a new trial, Dad.”

“How can I?” He sighs. “Look, I hate being locked away here, don’t get me wrong, but giving me hope for something that may never happen is worse than just leaving me to die in this place…”

“I made you a fucking promise.” I narrow my eyes at him. “When have I ever broken one?”

“Never.”

“Exactly.” I pull out his case file. “Now, back to what I was saying. We have three options as of today.”

I flip open the file.

“One, we have grounds for a new trial. Two, I get Peter Hansel to admit he did a choke-ass job representing you and ignored evidence, and I use that to get your conviction overturned. Three, which is the worst-case scenario to me, we put on one hell of a show and make damn sure that parole panel lets you out.”

“You should’ve started with option two.” He smiles. “I was beginning to think I dreamt that whole thing up.”

“What whole thing?”

“The tape Rachel sent me—I can’t stop listening to it.” He reaches into his pocket and sets a flash drive on the table. “I was wondering why you didn’t come in here raving about it. It’s real, right?”

“Rachel is still upset with me about things, so maybe…”

Confused, I pick up the flash drive.

From Rachel is written along the side.

I slip it into my laptop and find a single audio file named Minute 3:13.

I open it and slide straight to that minute.

“For the record, I can assure you that I gave my all to Mr. Tate’s case—” Mr. Hansel’s voice comes through loud and clear. “And there was nothing I missed at the crime scene—no panties or pajamas in a drawer—nothing. Clear?”

“Crystal. Thank you for your time, Mr. Hansel.”

I hit pause.

Then I play it again.

And again.

“See?” My father beams. “Is this real?”

I swallow and hit play three more times, stunned that no matter how many times I listen, the other voice isn’t Rachel’s.

It’s Scarlett’s.

Scarlett.

And somehow, hearing her voice makes my final decision about her father’s case even clearer than ever.