from Duvall, he was the last person who wanted Duvall dead. But there was something else here, too. Cade represented a part of the past that a lot of people wanted to forget. Suing Spencer Duvall would have brought back bad memories for a lot of people, no matter how hard the courts tried to keep the focus on Duvallâs alleged malpractice and away from the evidence that convicted Cade in the first place. The media alone would retry the case. He wondered if Jack Cade looked at it from that angle.
âWhat do you think would have happened if you could have sued Duvall?â Louis asked.
Cade just looked at him.
âThe evidence would have been reexamined, Cade,â Louis said. âOther people, the newspapers, would retry it all over again, outside of the courtroom. Things would come out that have nothing to do with Duvallâs ability or intent. Hell, other lawyers would step forward with new technology, raise questions. It would have been a circus.â
âTold you, it doesnât matter now.â
âNot to you, but maybe it did to someone else.â
Cade looked up at him. âWho?â
âThe person who really killed Kitty Jagger?â
Cade gave a snort, shaking his head. âNow youâre saying you believe me, that I didnât do it?â
Louis hesitated. âLetâs just say I believe that if someone thought Duvall could be sued, theyâd be worried about what might come out.â
The Haitian man raised his voice and Cade looked over at him.
âWho did you tell that you planned to sue Duvall?â Louis asked.
âEveryone from here to Raiford for the last year.â
âDid you see a lawyer?â
Cade shook his head, his eyes still on the Haitian. âNo money.â
âThen weâll have to go another direction,â Louis said. âWe have to talk about Kitty Jagger.â
Cade looked back quickly. âFuck that, man.â
âItâs a believable defense for the mess youâre in now,â Louis said.
Cade was silent. The Haitian man was ranting, his girlfriendâs crying growing louder.
âYouâll have to tell me everything that happened twenty years ago,â Louis said.
Cade sucked in a slow, long breath that expanded his chest under the orange jumpsuit.
âThe only thing Iâm going to say is that I was set up.â
Louis didnât reply.
Cade raked at his hair with both hands, glancing again at the Haitian. Suddenly, he spun toward the man. âHey, shut the fuck up!â he yelled.
The Haitian man and his girlfriend froze, staring at Cade.
Louis tapped on the plexiglass.
âCade, forget them. Look at me.â
Cadeâs eyes shot back to him.
âNow tell me about Kitty Jagger,â Louis said.
Cade shook his head slowly. âItâs over, man.â
âHow did you lose the garden tool?â
âLook, I told you I donât know nothing about it.â
âWho else had access to your tools?â
âI said I didnât do it, man.â
âBut someoneââ
âI told you!â Cade spat out. âI told you I donât know who killed that girl!â
Louisâs eyes flicked up to the deputy watching Cadeâs back, then he looked back at Cade.
âShe had a name, Cade. Her name was Kitty.â
Louis was amazed to see a small smile tip Cadeâs lips.
âKitty,â he said slowly. He cut Kittyâs name into two sharp syllables, holding each between his teeth before spitting them out.
Louis felt something tighten inside his chest.
âI didnât kill Kitty,â Cade said. âKitty killed me, man.â
Cade sat back in his chair, staring at Louis. His eyes had gone opaque in the florescent lights. The Haitian man had started up again, his voice ricocheting off the concrete walls.
Louis rubbed the bridge of his nose. Suddenly, the room seemed to close in on him, the stale stench, the clang of a door, the
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