Overkill(72)

“Valid point.” But she remained unconvinced. “Let me ease into it with him.”

“There’s no time for easing, Kate. You heard Dr. Gilbreath say that even with medication Rebecca’s condition is precarious. It could quickly go south, and once again I’ll be faced with an impossible decision. It might be less conflicting for me, and for Doug, too, if we knew ahead of time that you were ready-set-go to bust Clarke’s ass the instant Rebecca’s heart stops.”

She thought about it for a moment longer then took her phone from her bag and went into her contacts. “That’s the number I have on file for Calvin Parsons. But you have to promise me that you won’t try to coerce him into seeing us.”

“I promise.” He placed the call. A woman answered. Zach asked who he was speaking to, and she said, “Melinda Parsons.”

“Hello, Mrs. Parsons. This is Zach Bridger.”

He got the usual reaction: a pause followed by a stunned “Oh.”

“I’d like to speak with your husband, please.”

“About what?”

“About the night that changed both our lives for the worse.”

There was a hesitation, then, “I don’t think his attorney would agree to that.”

“Neither would mine. I was hoping to keep the conversation just between us.”

“I don’t see that happening,” she said. “Not without attorneys present.”

“There will be an attorney present. Her name is Kate Lennon.”

“Kathryn Lennon? She represents the other side,” she exclaimed. “Cal shouldn’t talk with you. Goodbye.”

“Wait. Please.” Zach looked over at Kate, who gave a stern shake of her head and made a motion for him to end the call. Which he ignored. “Mrs. Parsons, you don’t know me, and most of what you think you know is horseshit dreamed up by people who are paid to shred reputations in a public, global forum. But I’ll swear on anything you hold sacred that it will benefit your husband to meet with us.”

After a considerably long silence, she said, “Cal isn’t here, but I’m available to talk to you.”

Zach’s breath whooshed out. “That’s great. What would be a good time?”

“How soon can you be here?”

“On our way.”

After confirming the street address, they lost no time driving halfway across Atlanta to take advantage of her willingness before something occurred that would prevent the interview. Even as Zach pressed the doorbell, he feared Parsons’s wife would have changed her mind, or that Parsons had changed it for her.

As they waited for her to answer the door, Kate whispered, “Remember, I’m not here in any official capacity.”

“Right. You’re arm candy.”

The young woman who opened the door was strikingly pretty in a natural and wholesome way. She had long, curly blond hair and a sprinkling of amber freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her girl-next-door attractiveness was marred only by her red-rimmed, watery eyes.

“Mrs. Parsons? I’m Zach Bridger. This is Kate Lennon.”

“I’m Melinda.” She shook hands with them.

Kate, who also must’ve noticed her weepy eyes, said, “Are you sure this is a good time?”

“Yes. Please come in.”

Kate looked at Zach, who raised his eyebrows. He was as puzzled by the tearfulness as Kate obviously was. Placing his hand on the small of her back, he nudged her across the threshold. Once inside, he thanked Melinda for seeing them.

She gave him a feeble smile. “I certainly wasn’t expecting a telephone call from Zach Bridger today, but I’m glad you sought me out. I didn’t know who to talk to about this.”

“About what?” Kate said.

“Let’s sit down.” She led them into a sunny, homey living room and motioned them onto the couch. “Would you like something to drink?”

Both thanked her but declined.

Melinda sat down in a chair facing them and addressed Zach. “Let me start by saying how sorry I am about what happened to your wife. Your ex-wife, that is. I’m sorry for how the whole thing also affected you.”

“Thank you.”

“How is she doing?”

“Not good, I’m afraid.”

She shook her head sadly. “Cal will carry his guilt over it to his grave.”

Zach held nothing against this young woman, who seemed genuinely regretful over Rebecca’s fate and the negative impact it had had on him. However, he didn’t feel that charitable toward her husband, and questioned the sincerity of the guilt he carried.

Sensing his reservation, Melinda divided a look between him and Kate, landing on Kate. “Do you think justice was served?”

Kate didn’t blink. “No, I don’t. I came to the case after Eban Clarke’s trial, but I’ve read the transcript of it. I believe that Theo Simpson and your husband perjured themselves.”

“Oh, I know they did.” Their astonishment over the declaration didn’t escape her. “That surprises you.” She gave them a gentle smile. “Before I married Cal, he admitted how out of control and sordid his life had become while in Eban’s orbit. It culminated that night with Rebecca Pratt. Cal confessed that he lied on the witness stand about her attempt to say the safe word.”