My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite, #1)(85)

“Let me call you back. I want to watch the news conference.”

“How do I look?”

“Still fishing for compliments?”

“You know it. All right, call me back.”

She disconnected and hit “Play.” Dan said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I suspect the Court of Appeals will act swiftly given the miscarriage of justice. After it does, we’ll have to wait and see what the prosecutor decides.”

“How does it feel to be a free man?” Vanpelt asked House.

House flipped his ponytail off his shoulder. “Well, it’s like my attorney said, I’m not free just yet, but . . .” He smiled. “It feels good.”

“What’s the first thing you’ll do now that you are free?”

“The same as all of you; step outside and let the snow and wind hit me in the face.”

“Are you angry about what transpired?”

House’s smile waned. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘angry.’?”

“So you’ve forgiven those responsible for putting you in jail?” Vanpelt asked.

“I wouldn’t say that either. All I can do is correct my past mistakes and try not to repeat them. That’s what I intend to do.”

An off-camera reporter asked, “Do you have any idea what motivated whoever was responsible for fabricating evidence to convict you?”

Dan leaned to the microphones. “We’re not going to comment on the evidence—”

“Ignorance,” House said, talking over him. “Ignorance and arrogance. They thought they could get away with it.”

Vanpelt drew Dan’s attention with another question. “Mr. O’Leary, will you seek the involvement of the Department of Justice to investigate, as Judge Meyers intimated?”

“I’ll confer with my client and make that decision.”

But House again leaned forward. “I’m not looking to the Department of Justice to punish anyone.”

“Is there anything you’d like to say to Detective Crosswhite?” Vanpelt asked.

House gave her a tight-lipped grin. “I don’t think words can express how I feel at the moment,” he said. “But I hope to thank her in person someday.”

Tracy felt another chill pass through her, as if a spider had crawled along her spine.

“What would you like now?” a reporter asked.

House’s grin widened. “A cheeseburger.”

The television cut back to Vanpelt outside the jail. She was straining to keep a grip on her umbrella, the wind also causing a rustling sound as it blew across the microphone. “As I said, that news conference was recorded earlier this afternoon, after which Edmund House left this jail behind me a free man.”

The news anchor said, “Maria, it seems remarkable that a man who has spent twenty years behind bars for a crime that it now appears he did not commit could forgive so readily. What happens now to those who were potentially involved?”

Vanpelt had a finger pressed to the earpiece. She shouted to be heard over the wind. “Mark, I spoke with a law professor at the University of Washington this afternoon who told me that, regardless of whether or not Edmund House ever pursues civil charges for the violation of his civil rights, the Department of Justice could decide to step in and pursue criminal charges against those involved. It could also take over the investigation as to what happened to Sarah Crosswhite. So it appears that this story is far from over. This hearing may have raised far more questions than it answered. But tonight, Edmund House is a free man and, as you heard him say, in search of a good cheeseburger.”

The anchor said, “Maria, we’re going to let you go find shelter before the wind blows you away, but has there been any word from Detective Crosswhite?”

Vanpelt braced as another gust of wind swept over her. After it had passed, she said, “I spoke to Detective Crosswhite during a recess in today’s proceedings and asked if she felt vindicated by the Court’s ruling. She said the hearing wasn’t about vindication. It was about finding out what happened to her sister. At the moment, that appears to be a lingering question that unfortunately may never be answered.”

Tracy’s cell rang. She checked caller ID. Kins.

“I just e-mailed the list to you,” Kins said. “It’s long but it’s manageable. Is this the truck with the rear light out?”

“It’s a truck with a rear light out. Could very well be more than one around here.”

“We’re getting news reports they freed House.”

“Shocked the hell out of everyone, Kins. We all figured Judge Meyers would take the matter under advisement and issue written findings. But if he didn’t rule today, it might not have been until after the weekend. He wasn’t about to let Edmund House stay in jail.”

“Sounds like the evidence was pretty overwhelming.”

“Dan did a great job.”

“So why do you sound so subdued?”

“Just tired, and thinking about everything. My sister and my mom and dad. It’s a lot to digest this quickly.”

“Think about how House must feel.”

“What do you mean?”

“Twenty years in Walla Walla’s a long time for him to find himself suddenly walking the streets a free man. I read an article once about Vietnam veterans being sent home from the war without any time to decompress. One day they’re in the jungle watching people die, the next they’re back home, walking the streets of Anywhere, USA. Many of them couldn’t handle it.”