unlikely now. Drumm's had his miracle. His luck has run out.'
'Finding the body is crucial. That's the only clear proof that your man is telling the truth. Do you know where it is? If you do, don't tell me. Just tell me if you know.'
'No. He's told me the state, the nearby town, the general location, but he's also said that he hid it so well he may have trouble finding it.'
'Is it in Texas?'
'Missouri.'
Matthew shook his head. He took a long drink and said, 'What if this guy is just another lying con, Keith. I see a dozen a day. They lie about everything. They lie out of habit. They lie when the truth would be of far greater help to themselves. They lie on the witness stand and they lie to their own lawyers. And the longer they stay in prison, the more they lie.'
'He has her class ring, Matthew. Wears it on a cheap little chain around his neck. He stalked the girl; he was obsessed with her. He showed me the ring. I held it and inspected it.'
'You're sure it's real?'
'If you saw it, you would say it's real.'
Another long drink. Matthew glanced at his watch.
'You gotta go?'
'Five minutes. Is this guy willing to go to Texas and proclaim the truth?'
'I don't know. He says that if he leaves this jurisdiction, he violates his parole.'
'He's not lying about that. But if he's dying, why does he really care?'
'I asked him that. His answer was vague. Plus, the guy has no money, no way to get down there. He has zero credibility. No one will give him the time of day.'
'Why did you call the lawyer?'
'Because I'm desperate, Matthew. I believe this guy, and I believe Drumm's innocent. Maybe Drumm's lawyer will know what to do. I don't know.'
There was a gap in the conversation. Matthew nodded and spoke to two other lawyers at the next table. He glanced at his watch again.
'One last question,' Keith said. 'Just a hypothetical one. What if I convinced this guy to hustle down to Texas, as soon as possible, and start telling his story?'
'You just said he can't get there.'
'Yes, but what if I take him?'
'No, hell no, Keith. You'd be aiding in the violation of his parole agreement. Absolutely not.'
'How serious is that?'
'I'm not sure, but it could get you embarrassed, maybe even defrocked for all you know. I doubt if you would serve time, but it would be painful enough.'
'How is he supposed to get down there?'
'I thought you said he hasn't decided to go.'
'But if he does?'
'Take it one step at a time, Keith.' The third glance at his watch. 'Look, I gotta run. Let's meet somewhere for a quick lunch and finish this conversation.'
'Good idea.'
'There's a deli down the street at the corner of Seventh. It's called Eppie's. We can get a booth in the back and have a quiet chat.'
'I know the place.'
'See you at noon.' – The same ex-con with the permanent scowl was working the front desk at Anchor House. He was quite busy with a crossword and did not appreciate the interruption. Boyette was not there, he said curtly. Keith pressed gently. 'Is he at work?'
'He's at the hospital. Took him in last night.'
'What happened?'
'Fits and seizures is all I know. Dude's really messed up, in more ways than one.'
'Which hospital?'
'I didn't drive the ambulance.' And with that, he returned to his crossword and the conversation was over.
Keith found his patient on the third floor of St. Francis Hospital, in a semiprivate room next to the window. A flimsy curtain separated the two beds. As a minister making his rounds, and a familiar face at that, Keith told the nurse that Mr. Boyette had visited his church and needed to see him. Nothing more was needed.
Boyette was awake and had an IV tube taped to his left hand. He smiled when he saw Keith and offered a limp right hand for a quick shake. 'Thanks for coming, Pastor,' he said with a weak, scratchy voice.
'How do you feel, Travis?'
Five seconds passed. He raised his left hand slightly and said, 'Some pretty good drugs. I feel better.'
'What happened?' Keith asked, though he thought he knew.
Boyette looked at the window, though he could see nothing but a gray sky. Ten seconds passed. 'After you left, Pastor, I got real upset. The headaches hit hard and wouldn't go away. Then I blacked out, and they brought me here. Said I was shaking and jerking.'
'I'm sorry, Travis.'
'Most of it's your fault, Pastor. You did it. You got me all stressed-out.'
'I'm very sorry, but please remember that you came to see me, Travis. You wanted my help. You told me about Donte Drumm and Nicole Yarber, two people I'd never heard of. You said what you said. I didn't initiate our contact.'
'True.' He closed his eyes. His breathing was heavy and labored.
There was a long pause. Keith leaned over, and almost in a whisper said, 'Are you there, Travis?'
'Yes.'
'Then listen to me. I have a plan. You want to hear it?'
'Sure.'
'First, we make a video of you telling your story. You admit what you did to Nicole. You explain that Donte had nothing to do with her abduction and death. You tell everything, Travis. And you tell where she's buried. Give as much detail as possible so that, with some luck, they might be able to find her. We do the video now. Here in the hospital. And once I have it, I'll zip it down to Texas, to Donte's lawyers, to the prosecutor, the judge, the police, the appeals courts, the governor, and every newspaper and television station down there so they will know. Everybody will know. I'll do this electronically so they'll have it in a matter of minutes. Then, for the second part of my plan, you give me the ring. I'll photograph it and send the pictures to all the folks I just mentioned, also by Internet. I'll send the ring by overnight delivery to Donte's lawyers and they'll have the physical evidence. What about it, Travis? You can tell your story and never leave this hospital bed.'
The eyes never opened.
'Are you there, Travis?'
A grunt. 'Uh-huh.'
'It'll work, Travis. We can't waste any more time.'
'It is a waste of time.'
'What is there to lose? Just the life of an innocent man.'
'You called me a liar last night.'
'That's because you lied.'
'Did you find my arrest record in Slone?'
'We did.'
'So I wasn't lying.'
'Not about that. And you're not lying about Donte Drumm.'
'Thank you. I'm going to sleep now.'
'Come on, Travis. It'll take less than fifteen minutes to make the video. I can even do it now with my cell phone, if you want.'
'You're hurting my head again, Pastor. I feel a seizure. You need to leave now, and please don't come
