Read The Confession for Free Online Page B

last night and she said the town is buzzing.”
    The mother was still in Slone. The father was working in Oklahoma, maybe separated. An older brother was in Slone. A younger sister had moved to California.
    “We’re trying to stop the execution, Joey, and we need your help.”
    “Who’s we?”
    “I’m working for Robbie Flak.”
    Joey almost spit. “Is that nut still around?”
    “Of course he is. He’ll always be around. He’s represented Donté from day one, and I’m sure he’ll be in Huntsville Thursday night at the bitter end. That is, if we can’t stop the execution.”
    “The paper said the appeals have run out. There’s nothing left to do.”
    “Maybe, but you never quit. A man’s life is at stake, how can you quit?”
    Another pull on the straw. Pryor hoped the guy was one of those passive drunks who take the booze and sort of melt into the furnishings, as opposed to the hell-raisers who knock back two drinks and try to clear out the bar.
    Joey smacked his lips and said, “I guess you’re convinced he’s innocent, right?”
    “I am. Always have been.”
    “Based on what?”
    “Based on the complete lack of physical evidence; based on the fact that he had an alibi, he was somewhere else; based on the fact that his confession is as bogus as a three-dollar bill; based on the fact that he’s passed at least four polygraph tests; based on the fact that he has always denied any involvement. And, Joey, for purposes of this discussion, based on the fact that your testimony at trial was completely unbelievable. You didn’t see a green van in the parking lot in the vicinity of Nicole’s car. It was impossible. You left the mall through the entrance to the cinema. She was parked on the west side, on the other side of the mall. You fabricated the testimony to help the cops nail their suspect.”
    There was no eruption, no anger. He took it well, much like a child caught red-handed with a stolen coin and unable to utter words.
    “Keep going,” Joey said.
    “You want to hear it?”
    “I’m sure I’ve heard it before.”
    “Indeed you have. You heard it at trial, eight years ago. Mr. Flak explained it to the jury. You were crazy about Nicole, but she wasn’tcrazy about you. Typical high school drama. You dated off and on, no sex, a rather stormy relationship, and at some point you suspected that she was seeing someone else. Turned out this was Donté Drumm, which, of course, in Slone and in a lot of other small towns, could lead to real problems. No one knew for sure, but the gossip was out of control. Maybe she tried to break it off with him. He denies this. He denies everything. Then she disappeared, and you saw the opportunity to nail the guy. Nail him you did. You sent him to death row, and now you’re about to be responsible for killing him.”
    “So, I’m gettin’ all the blame here?”
    “Yes, sir. Your testimony placed him at the scene of the crime, or at least the jury thought so. It was almost laughable because it was so inconsistent, but the jury was anxious to believe you. You didn’t see a green van. You lied. You fabricated. You also called Detective Kerber with the anonymous tip, and the rest is history.”
    “I did not call Kerber.”
    “Of course you did. We have the experts to prove it. You didn’t even try to disguise your voice. According to our analysis, you had been drinking but weren’t drunk. There was a slight slur in a few of your words. You want to see the report?”
    “No. It was never admitted in court.”
    “That’s because we didn’t know about your phone call until after the trial, and that’s because the cops and prosecutors concealed it, which should have led to a reversal, which, of course, is pretty rare here in Texas.”
    The waitress arrived with a platter of sizzling quesadillas, all for Joey. Pryor took his taco salad and asked for more tea. After a few generous bites, Joey said, “So who killed her?”
    “Who knows? There’s no proof she’s