The meeting was arranged by Judge Elias Henry, and while he did not have the authority to order people around on a Friday night, his powers of persuasion1 were more than enough. Paul Koffee and Drew Kerber arrived in the judge's chambers2 promptly3 at 8:00 p.m. Joe Radford followed them in, and the three sat together on one side of the judge's worktable. Robbie had been there for thirty minutes, along with Carlos, and the atmosphere was already toxic4. There were no greetings, no handshakes, no pleasantries. A moment later Mayor Rooney arrived and sat by himself, away from the table.
Judge Henry, as always in a dark suit, white shirt, and orange tie, began solemnly. "Everyone is here. Mr. Flak has some information."
Robbie was seated directly across from Kerber, Koffee, and Radford, all three still and subdued5 as if waiting for a death sentence. Robbie started by saying, "We left Slone this morning around five and drove to Newton County, Missouri. Travis Boyette was with us. The trip took just under six hours. With Boyette giving directions, we worked our way through a remote section of the county, along back roads, then dirt trails, then to a place known locally as Roop's Mountain. Secluded6, remote, overgrown. Boyette struggled to remember it at times, but eventually led us to the place where he claims he buried Nicole Yarber." Robbie nodded at Carlos, who punched a key on his laptop. At the far end of the room, on a whiteboard, a photo of the overgrown clearing appeared. Robbie continued, "We found the site and began to dig." The next photo was of Aaron Rey and Fred Pryor with shovels7. "When Boyette was here in Slone in the fall of 1998, he worked for a company called R. S. McGuire and Sons out of Fort Smith. He kept a large metal box, one that was once used for hydraulic8 tools, in the back of his truck, and he used it to bury her." Next photo: the top of the orange toolbox. "The soil was not hard, and within ten, maybe fifteen minutes we found this." Next photo: the top half of the toolbox with "R. S. McGuire and Sons" stenciled9 on it. "As you can see, the toolbox opened from the top with a latch10 to the side. The latch was secured by a combination lock, which Boyette claimed he bought at a hardware store in Springdale, Arkansas. Boyette remembered the combination and unlocked it." Next photo: Boyette kneeling at the grave, handling the lock. The color drained from Koffee's face, and Kerber had perspiration11 on his forehead. "When we opened the box, this is what we found." Next photo: the skeleton. "Before we opened it, Boyette told us there would be a wad of clothing next to her head." Next photo: the clothing next to the skull12. "He also told us that rolled up in the clothing we would find Nicole's driver's license13 and a credit card. He was right." Next photo: a close-up of the MasterCard, also stained but with her name easily readable. "Boyette told us he killed her by choking her with her black leather belt with a silver buckle14." Next photo: a length of black leather, partially15 decomposed16, but with the silver buckle. "I have a complete set of these photos for you boys to take home and look at all night. At this point, we called the sheriff of Newton County and surrendered the site." Next photo: the sheriff and three of his deputies gawking at the skeletal remains17. "The site was soon crawling with police and investigators18, and the decision was made to leave her remains in the box and take it to the satellite crime lab there in Joplin. That's where it is now. I gave the authorities a copy of Nicole's dental X-rays, a copy of the same set you boys inadvertently handed over when you were playing games with discovery before the trial. I have talked to the crime lab, and the case has priority. They expect to finish the preliminary identification tonight. We are expecting a phone call any moment. They will examine everything in the toolbox and hopefully find evidence for DNA20 testing. This is a long shot, but DNA is not crucial. It's pretty clear who was buried in the box, and there's no doubt who did the killing21. Boyette has a lethal22 brain tumor--that's one reason he came forward--and he's subject to violent seizures23. He collapsed24 at the site and was taken to a hospital in Joplin. Somehow, he managed to leave the hospital without being detected, and as of now no one knows where he is. He's considered a suspect, but he was not under arrest when he disappeared."
Robbie stared at Koffee and Kerber as he delivered his narrative25, but they were unable to maintain eye contact. Koffee was pinching the bridge of his nose, while Kerber picked his cuticles26. There were three identical black binders27 in the center of the table, and Robbie gently slid them over, one each for Koffee, Kerber, and Radford. Robbie continued, "In these, you each have a complete set of the photos, along with a few other goodies--Boyette's arrest record here in Slone, which proves he was here at the time of the murder. In fact, you boys actually had him in jail at the same time Donte Drumm was locked up. There is also a copy of his extensive criminal record and history of incarcerations. His affidavit28 is included, but you don't really need to read it. It's a detailed29 account of the abduction, sexual assaults, murder, and burial; the same story you have no doubt seen a dozen times now on television. There's also an affidavit signed yesterday by Joey Gamble in which he says he lied at the trial. Any questions?"
Silence.
He continued, "I have chosen to proceed in this manner out of respect for Nicole's family. I doubt if any of you have the backbone30 to meet with Reeva tonight and tell her the truth, but at least you have that option. It would be a shame for her to hear it secondhand. Someone needs to tell her tonight. Comments? Anything?"
Silence.
The mayor cleared his throat and asked, softly, "When will this go public?"
"I have asked the authorities in Missouri to sit on it until tomorrow. At nine in the morning, I'm holding a press conference."
"God, Robbie, is that really necessary?" the mayor blurted31.
"It's Mr. Flak to you, Mr. Mayor, and, yes, it is quite necessary. The truth must be told. It's been buried for nine years by the police and the prosecutor33, so, yes, it is time to tell the truth. The lies will finally be exposed. After nine years and the execution of an innocent man, the world will finally know that Donte's confession34 was bogus, and I'll explain the brutal35 methods used by Detective Kerber to obtain it. I plan to go into great detail describing the lies used at trial--Joey Gamble's and the jailhouse snitch Kerber and Koffee rounded up and cut a deal with--and I'll describe all the dirty tactics used at trial. I'll probably have the opportunity to remind everyone that Mr. Koffee was sleeping with the judge during the trial, just in case anyone has forgotten. I wish the bloodhound were still alive--what was his name?"
"Yogi," Carlos said.
"How could I forget? I wish ol' Yogi were still alive so I could show him to the world and call him a stupid son of a bitch again. I figure it might be a long press conference. You boys are invited. Questions? Comments?"
Paul Koffee's mouth opened slightly as if words were being formed, but words failed him. Robbie was far from finished. "And just so you boys will know what's coming in the next few days, I'll file at least two lawsuits36 Monday morning, one here in state court, naming you as defendants37, along with the city, county, and half the state. Another one will be filed in federal court, a civil-rights action with a long list of allegations. You will be named in that one also. I might file another one or two, if I can find a cause of action. I plan to contact the Justice Department and request an investigation39. For you, Koffee, I plan to file a complaint with the state bar association for ethics40 violations41, not that I expect the state bar to show much of an interest, but you will get chewed up in the process. You might want to start thinking about a resignation. For you, Kerber, early retirement42 is now a real option. You should be fired, but I doubt the mayor and the city council have the balls to do that. Chief, you were the assistant chief when this investigation got off track. You will be named as a defendant38, too. But don't take it personally. I'm suing everybody."
The chief slowly stood up and walked toward the door. "You're leaving, Mr. Radford?" the judge asked, in a tone that left no doubt such an abrupt43 exit would be frowned upon.
"My job does not require me to sit and listen to pompous44 assholes like Robbie Flak," the chief replied.
"The meeting is not over," Judge Henry said sternly.
"I'd stay if I were you," the mayor said, and the chief decided45 to stay. He assumed a position by the door.
Robbie stared at Kerber and Koffee, then said, "So last night you had a little party by the lake to celebrate; now I guess the party is over."
"We always thought Drumm had an accomplice," Koffee managed to blurt32 out, though his words trailed off under the weight of their own absurdity46. Kerber nodded quickly, ready to pounce47 on any new theory that might save them.
"Good God, Paul," Judge Henry roared in disbelief. Robbie was laughing. The mayor's jaw48 had dropped in shock.
"Great!" Robbie yelled. "Wonderful, brilliant. Suddenly a new theory, one that has never been mentioned before. One with absolutely no relation to the truth. Let the lying begin! We have a Web site, Koffee, and my sidekick Carlos here is going to keep a tally49 of the lies. Lies from the two of you, from the governor, the courts, maybe even dear Judge Vivian Grale, if we can find her. You have lied for nine years in order to kill an innocent man, and now that we know the truth, now that your lies will be exposed, you insist on doing precisely50 what you have always done. Lie! You make me want to puke, Koffee."
"Judge, can we leave now?" Koffee asked.
"Just a moment."
A cell phone rang and Carlos grabbed it. "It's the crime lab, Robbie." Robbie reached over, took the phone. The conversation was brief, and there were no surprises. When it ended, Robbie said, "Positive ID, it's Nicole."
The room was quiet as they thought about the girl. Judge Henry eventually said, "I am concerned about her family, gentlemen. How do we break the news?"
Drew Kerber was perspiring51 and appeared to be on the brink52 of an attack of some variety. He was not thinking about Nicole's family. He had a wife, a houseful of kids, lots of debts, and a reputation. Paul Koffee could not even begin to imagine a conversation with Reeva about this little twist to their story. No, he would not do it. He would rather run like a coward than deal with that woman. Admitting they had prosecuted53 and executed the wrong man was, at that moment, far beyond the limits of his imagination.
There were no volunteers. Robbie said, "Obviously, Judge, I'm not the guy. I have my own little trip to make, over to the Drumm home to deliver the news."
"Mr. Kerber?" the judge asked.
He shook his head no.
"Mr. Koffee?"
He shook his head no.
"Very well. I will call her mother myself and break the news."
"How late can you wait, Judge?" the mayor asked. "If this hits the streets tonight, then God help us."
"Who is in the loop, Robbie?" the judge asked.
"My office, the seven of us in this room, the authorities in Missouri. We also took a TV crew with us, but they won't air anything until I say so. It's a small world right now."
"I'll wait two hours," Judge Henry said. "This meeting is adjourned54."
Roberta Drumm was at home with Andrea and a few friends. The kitchen table and counters were covered with food--casseroles, platters of fried chicken, cakes, and pies, enough food to feed a hundred. Robbie had forgotten to eat dinner, so he snacked as he and Martha waited for the friends to leave. Roberta was thoroughly55 drained. After a day receiving guests at the funeral home, and crying with most of them, she was emotionally and physically56 spent.
And so Robbie made things much worse by delivering the news. He had no choice. He began with the journey to Missouri and finished with the meeting in Judge Henry's office. He and Martha helped Andrea put Roberta in bed. She was conscious, but barely. Knowing that Donte was about to be exonerated57, and before he was buried, was simply too much.
The sirens were quiet until ten minutes after 11:00 p.m. Three quick 911 calls got them started. The first reported a fire in a shopping center north of town. Evidently, someone tossed a Molotov cocktail58 through the front window of a clothing store, and a passing motorist saw flames. The second call, anonymous59, reported a burning school bus parked behind the junior high. And the third, and most ominous60, was from a fire alarm system at a feed store. Its owner was Wallis Pike, Reeva's husband. The police and guardsmen, already on high alert, stepped up their patrols and surveillance, and for the third straight night Slone endured the sirens and the smoke.
Long after the boys were asleep, Keith and Dana sat in the dark den19 and sipped61 wine from coffee cups. As Keith told his story, the details poured out, and he remembered facts and sounds and smells for the first time. The little things surprised him--the sound of Boyette heaving in the grass beside the interstate, the lethargy of the state trooper as he went about the task of writing the speeding ticket, the stacks of paperwork on the long table in Robbie's conference room, the looks of fear on the faces of his staff, the antiseptic smell of the holding room in the death house, the ringing in Keith's ears as he watched Donte die, the lurching of the airplane as they flew over Texas, and on and on. Dana peppered him with questions, random62 and insightful. She was as intrigued63 by the adventure as Keith, and at times incredulous.
When the bottle was empty, Keith stretched out on the sofa and fell into a deep sleep.
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1
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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toxic
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| adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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shovels
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| n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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hydraulic
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| adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的 | |
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stenciled
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| v.用模板印（文字或图案）( stencil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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decomposed
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| 已分解的，已腐烂的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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investigators
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| n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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DNA
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| (缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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lethal
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| adj.致死的；毁灭性的 | |
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seizures
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| n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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cuticles
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| n.（手指甲或脚趾甲根部的）外皮( cuticle的名词复数 ) | |
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binders
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| n.（司机行话）刹车器；（书籍的）装订机( binder的名词复数 )；（购买不动产时包括预付订金在内的）保证书；割捆机；活页封面 | |
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affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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31
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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blurt
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| vt.突然说出，脱口说出 | |
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prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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lawsuits
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| n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
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defendants
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| 被告( defendant的名词复数 ) | |
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defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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violations
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| 违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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50
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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51
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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52
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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53
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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54
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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56
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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57
exonerated
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| v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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