I rake my hands down my face. I can hear Sloan’s breaths speed up as she begins to realize what Ryan and Tillie are telling us.
“But what about the three of us?” I ask Ryan. “It’s our word against his. We know he orchestrated that entire thing. He admitted to it out loud.”
Ryan nods. “He admitted it to you, Luke,” he says. “I never heard him say it, so I won’t be able to testify against him. I wasn’t in the room with the two of you. And…” Ryan pauses.
Tillie leans forward and says, “He’s claiming the two of you set him up.”
I sit up straight. “Are you fucking kidding me? What jury is going to believe that shit?”
This is ridiculous. They’re in here saying absurd shit and upsetting Sloan. I shouldn’t have let Ryan talk to me about this in front of her.
“I know this sounds crazy,” Ryan says. “We all know how guilty he is. But to a jury…how do you think it’s going to look that Asa’s fiancé was knowingly sleeping with the undercover cop who was trying to have him arrested? How do you think it’s going to look to a jury when it’s Asa’s fiancé and that undercover cop’s word against his?”
Sloan’s hand slips from mine and she covers her face. My chest is starting to ache with all of this.
“You knew I was pursuing her, Ryan. If I knew it would jeopardize the case…” I was about to say I wouldn’t have done it, but I shut my mouth. Because I would have done it. I did do it. I pursued her, no matter the consequences, and now it’s putting us in a huge fucking bind.
“Depending on the judge,” Tillie says, “he might throw the case out before it even goes to trial. Most cases of self-defense are ruled justified homicide if there’s a witness to corroborate the defendant’s story.”
“There’s no one to corroborate his story, though” I say.
Both Ryan and Tillie look at Sloan. Ryan nudges his head at her. “Sloan’s story will most likely corroborate his claim of self-defense.”
“How?” Sloan says, flabbergasted.
Ryan stands up and walks around the bed, leaning against the wall nearest Sloan.
“Was the victim attacking you?” he asks.
Sloan nods.
“Was he holding a gun?”
Sloan nods again.
“Was he impersonating an officer?”
Another nod.
“Did you scream for help?”
She doesn’t nod this time. A tear just pours down her cheek. “Twice,” she whispers.
“And how did you feel when Asa walked into the room?” Ryan asks. “A jury is going to ask you these questions under oath.”
A sob breaks from her chest. “Relieved,” she whispers through tears. “Terrified. And relieved.”
Ryan nods. “That’s enough to back up his claims, Sloan. He rescued you from an attacker. That’s hardly murder in the eyes of a jury, no matter how evil we all know he is. His whole character isn’t what will be on trial. Only that one action.”
“But…” Sloan wipes tears from her eyes. “He didn’t have to shoot him. He could have stopped him without killing him.”
Ryan nods in agreement. “I know he could have. We all do. But the jury won’t know Asa like we do. And they’ll put you up on the stand and tear you apart, Sloan. They’ll make Asa look like the victim, because you’re his fiancé. Yet you were knowingly having an affair with the undercover cop who was developing a case against him. That will lend sympathy to Asa’s case and your testimony against Asa will lose any and all credibility in the eyes of the jury.”
“But,” she stands up, wiping at her eyes. “What about your case against Asa? Won’t that back up my claims? Won’t that have any bearing on the potential murder charge?”
Ryan’s eyes meet mine. He releases a rush of air and then walks back to the couch. “That’s another reason why we’re here,” he says. “Young doesn’t want to move forward with any charges in our investigation. None of our reports were complete because our investigation was still ongoing. Young is afraid if we press charges and this goes to trial, the department will be ripped to shreds in the press. It doesn’t look good that one of our cops was involved in an affair with our main subject’s fiancé. The fact that we broke cover to fake agents. They’re afraid the chances of Asa actually being charged with anything are far less than the chances of us ruining the department’s reputation. Young is requesting the case be closed and no charges be filed. He says it’s not worth the risk.”