Dead to Rights by Jack Patterson (fiction book recommendations .txt) 📕

pair of overalls and a green Florida A&M baseball cap, gnawed on a toothpick.

“Devontae is on the back porch keepin’ an eye on the smoker for me. I’ll take you to him.”

Cal and Kelly followed Stumpy, who moved methodically toward the back door. He put his shoulder into the door and shoved it open. Immediately, Cal noticed the large black smoker puffing the hunger-inducing aroma into the air. He looked off to the side and saw Devontae Ray hunched over in his wheelchair.

“Got some people here to see you,” Stumpy said.

“Never seen ‘em before in my life,” Ray said.

“Hi, Devontae. My name is Cal Murphy and this is my wife, Kelly. We’re with The Seattle Times. And I believe we bumped into you earlier this week.”

Ray eyed them closely. “Whatcha want with me?”

“We’re here because I’m writing a story about Isaiah Drake,” Cal said.

“I’m gonna leave you to your business,” Stumpy said before hobbling back inside.

Ray put his hands on the wheels of his chair, moving himself forward and backward.

“Isaiah Drake? What makes you think I wanna talk about that murderer?”

Cal shrugged. “I think you know more of the story than anyone else does. Am I right?”

“Maybe.”

“Wouldn’t you like to tell your story?”

Ray closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s not easy to think about those things. A woman died that night, and a hero disgraced himself. People ‘round here still hate him and wish the state would’ve executed him a long time ago.”

“Would you be willing to talk, just for a few minutes?”

Ray finally relented. “I guess so.”

They went back inside, trading with Stumpy so he could continue minding the smoker.

Ray wheeled himself to the table next to a large grainy picture of the Marsh Monster.

Cal glanced at the picture and decided it might be best to loosen up Ray by talking about some Pickett County folklore.

“You ever see the Marsh Monster?” Cal asked.

Ray smiled. “Maybe once.” He cocked his head. “You’ve only been here a few days and you already know all about Pickett County’s second most famous resident behind Isaiah Drake?”

Cal nodded. “It’s kinda hard not to. I even heard some story about him murdering two girls in the swamp.”

“Now that’s some scary stuff, right there,” Ray said. “Those two girls’ bodies have never been found.”

“Did you know the girls?”

“Yeah,” he said before letting out a long breath. “They were friends of mine from school.”

“So you knew them well?”

“I dated one of them once. I was pretty torn up about it when it happened.”

Kelly jumped into the conversation. “Does anyone know what happened?”

“Naw, ain’t nobody figured out nothin’. They were just goin’ home from school, and that’s the last time anybody saw them. The bus dropped them off, and they were just walkin’ down a dirt road before they vanished. Poof. Gone into thin air.”

A screen door slammed shut, and Stumpy shuffled back inside.

“Y’all want some sweet tea?” he asked.

Cal and Kelly nodded enthusiastically.

“Devontae?”

Ray shook his head. “I’m good.”

Cal turned his attention back toward Ray. “So, I know that you were on the witness list, but you were never called according to the court reports. Would you mind telling me why the prosecution had you on their list? What did you see?”

Ray took a deep breath. “Here’s what happened. That night—”

“May 7, 2004?” Kelly asked.

Ray nodded. “That’s the one. I was drivin’ around and happened to roll by Susannah Sloan’s house.”

“You knew where she lived?” Cal asked.

“It’s Pickett, man. Everybody knows where everybody lives.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Ray rocked back and forth slightly in his chair. “I was drivin’ by Susannah’s house when I saw Drake jump out of his car.”

“You’re sure it was his?”

“Ain’t nobody in Pickett drivin’ a Rolls-Royce Phantom but Drake.”

“Okay, so then what?”

“He stormed up the steps and into her house. He was actin’ kinda crazy, so I thought I’d stick around and watch and see what happened next. I made the block and parked off to the side of the road, well outta sight. But as soon as I got parked, I saw both of them come out onto the back porch, which I could see from where I was. He had a hoodie on and was shaking a gun at her. She lunged at him and then the gun went off, which seemed to surprise him a little bit by how he was actin’. He glanced around, knelt down next to her body for a bit, and then went back inside the house. I stayed there for a few minutes, watchin’.”

“You didn’t try to help her?” Kelly asked.

“I ain’t no fool. Drake’s got a gun. I ain’t got nothin’. Think I’m just gonna wheel myself over there and help her out? Nah. That ain’t happenin’.”

“What did you do next?” Cal asked.

“I was waitin’ for Drake to leave. Crazy fool with a gun. Who knows what he was gonna do. Once he left the house, he ran down the street and jumped in another car before he took off.”

“Who’s car was it?”

“Jordan Hayward’s.”

“So, Jordan Hayward was there?”

“Yeah. The two of ‘em ran out together.”

Cal’s eyes widened. “So, Jordan Hayward was in the house?”

Ray nodded. “They came runnin’ out together.”

“But you never saw Hayward go in?”

“Nope. Best I can figure it, Hayward went inside while I was makin’ the block.”

“Why didn’t the prosecution ever call you?”

“They said it’s because I was smokin’ some weed, but I ain’t stupid. Jordan Hayward being there presented some problems for them that they didn’t want to explain.”

“And the defense? They could’ve called you as well, but they didn’t.”

“I was told to keep my mouth shut about Hayward’s presence.”

Cal’s eyes widened. “Even when you testified in court?”

“Especially in court.”

“Now are you sure it was Drake who pulled the trigger?”

“Pretty sure. I guess it could’ve been Hayward—and maybe that’s why the state didn’t want me on the stand. Maybe they thought I would’ve created reasonable doubt.”

Kelly took a long gulp of her sweet tea.

“What do you think after all these years? Was it Drake?” she asked.

He nodded. “I think so, but Hayward