Think Twice

“This young man was forced by an overzealous prosecutor to testify falsely in a murder trial. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office threatened him with criminal prosecution, even though they knew that they were demanding he lie. But the corruption goes deeper than one rogue prosecutor. The Clark County DA, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, have colluded to keep innocent people incarcerated. They know, for example, that not only did they force my client to testify falsely but that Joseph Turant, who has been imprisoned for four years for the murder of Jordan Kravat, is innocent. If they didn’t know it at the time of his trial, they know it for certain now.”

She paused, fixed her glasses, turned her eyes back toward the camera.

“There are at least six other murder cases nationwide where innocent people are currently languishing in prison — and the FBI knows it. The latest involves the murder of Cecelia Callister and her son Clay Staples — a case where the innocent man currently being railroaded is my client Greg Downing. And I stress this — the FBI knows he didn’t do it.”

There was a sudden burst from the reporters at the press conference. This was how it always happened. Most people are followers, staying in check until one of them breaks the fence. Then they all flow in...

“Where’s your evidence?”

“Why would the FBI do this?”

“Are you saying the FBI is intentionally imprisoning innocent people? Why?”

Sadie Fisher held up her hand and waited until everyone was quiet. When order was somewhat restored, she continued. “It is my belief that most of these prosecutors originally tried these cases in good faith. They believed that they had the right perpetrators, and that the convictions would be righteous. Not here in Clark County, however. Here, they were so blinded by the idea of convicting a man who they believed had significant ties to organized crime, that they ran afoul of all rules and ethics. They used Bo Storm to gild the lily, to make sure a strong case was a slam dunk.”

Sadie Fisher raised her hand again, preempting the next explosion of questions.

“But now, as I stand here today, the FBI knows that those incarcerated for these murders are innocent. They are doing nothing about it. They are dragging their heels—”

“Why?” a reporter shouted. “Tell us why.”

There were murmurs of agreement from the press corps. Sadie looked out at the sea of reporters. She had strung them along long enough.

“They are dragging their heels,” she repeated, “for two reasons. One” — she raised her index finger — “overturning and admitting error in those murder convictions will cause tremendous embarrassment and damage careers. Yes, I find this disgusting and so do you, but we all know it’s often the reason for prosecutorial cover-up, but—”

“Any evidence?”

“But two,” she continued, making a peace sign with her fingers now, “the bigger reason for their silence is...”

Sadie paused now, making sure that the world was listening.

“Damn,” Terese said to Myron, “she’s good.”

Myron nodded.

When Sadie was ready, she dropped the bomb: “... is because there is a serial killer on the loose.”

Myron expected yet another outburst from the press; instead, there was dead silence.

“The FBI now knows that a serial killer is responsible for the murders of Jordan Kravat, Walter Stone, Tracy Keating, Cecelia Callister, and Clay Staples — and several more that are still unknown — and that the people in prison or being held for these murders — Joseph Turant, Dan Barry, Robert Lestrano, and Greg Downing — were framed.”

“Wow,” Terese said under her breath. “She’s taking no prisoners.”

Myron’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Win: Watching?

Myron: Yes

Win: PT is not going to be pleased.

Myron gave the message a thumbs-up.

A bubble with dancing dots played for a few seconds.

Win: When you get back, we need to talk.

Myron read the message again. He didn’t like it. Once again, it wasn’t like Win to be coy or cagey — or if you say that enough, do you just have to accept that maybe he is? Before Myron could think of a response, Terese nudged him back to Sadie and the press conference.

“In fact,” Sadie Fisher continued, “we believe that real estate mogul Ronald Prine, who was murdered only two days ago, was also a victim of the Setup Serial Killer—”

“Setup Serial Killer?” Terese repeated.

“Too wordy a nickname,” Myron agreed.

“—and,” Sadie continued, “that the young woman arrested just last night, Jacqueline Newton, is the killer’s latest frame job.”

“I guess she just did our work for us,” Myron said.

Terese nodded, her eyes glued to the screen.

“In closing,” Sadie said, “I would like to address the FBI and its current director, Harry Borque, directly.”