Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2021-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

June 3, 2003

Kathi waits in a conference room inside the district attorney’s office. With her is Lieutenant John Lucas. They both have paper coffee cups sitting in front of them, but they’ve long since drained the contents.

They’ve been waiting longer than they expected.

Kathi arrived in San Joaquin County today for the start of Eric’s trial, only to find out that the DA and Eric’s defense lawyer were in a meeting.

It’s been almost a year since the judge agreed to bind the case over for trial, but, as Kathi has learned time and again, the wheels of justice move slowly. She’s had to wait for her opportunity to testify in front of the actual jury that will decide Eric’s fate.

She felt good after her testimony at the preliminary hearing. She was able to lay out everything that happened and everything she did to investigate the real Eric Wright. Her former husband’s mood changed as she spoke. The glint in his eye changed to a glower as he realized just how responsible she was for his arrest.

She was glad she could finally wipe that smirk off his face.

When she was told to wait in the conference room with Lucas, Kathi assumed the DA, Thomas McGowan, wanted to chat with her about her testimony. But now, as she waits for the DA to return, doubt begins to consume her. It might be that Eric Wright’s luck hasn’t run out after all.

The longer she waits, the more worried she becomes, and the more certain she is that he’s going to cut a deal.

When McGowan enters the room, he is apologetic for making them wait.

“First of all,” he says, “I just want to say that you’ve both done a phenomenal job. This case is two decades old, and Eric Wright wouldn’t be in custody today if not for you.” He looks at Lucas and says, “Top-notch police work, John.” Then he turns his attention to Kathi. “You should be very proud, Ms. Spiars. This man would have gotten away with this crime if not for your tenacity and perseverance. You never gave up. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero.”

“I sense a but coming,” Kathi says.

The DA takes a deep breath. “But,” he says, “the case isn’t strong. The preliminary hearing last year exposed the holes in it, and there’s nothing we’ve been able to do in the last year to patch those holes. I’m going to let Mr. Wright plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in lieu of a trial.”

Kathi doesn’t think that sounds so bad. “He’ll still go to jail, won’t he?”

“Yes, but the maximum sentence is six years. He could be out in two with good behavior.”

Now Kathi feels sick. Only two years? For killing a person? For all the pain he’s caused so many people?

Two measly years behind bars before he gets to go free again?

McGowan explains the problems with the case. There’s no doubt that Eric Wright is a bad person: a compulsive liar, a deadbeat who ran out on his children, a fraud who fooled people into believing he was someone he wasn’t.

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