“Tracy’s prints were found on the box. I don’t know why yet, as Paul wouldn’t say. As for Quentin,” Coulter paused. “The governor is well aware of what’s going on. He has agreed to a full pardon and immediate release of Quinten, providing the DNA test comes back a match to the unidentified blood found along with Quinten’s eight years ago.”
“Won’t they wait for Paul’s trial first before releasing him? I want to believe that he’ll just walk free with his record clean, but I don’t want to get my hopes up, even though that’s easier said than done.”
Coulter took hold of her hand. “Saige, everything Paul has told us so far has shown that he’s telling the truth. He couldn’t tell us anything about the first murder. He says his memory about the first one is hazy—that it had been a crime of passion and he just reacted. He woke up covered in blood and had some images in his head of it, but that is it. That really isn’t unusual for a serial killer. Something set off the chain of events before that first kill. But he told us everything else, Saige.” Coulter took her other hand. “Did you know that he went to the same school as two of the girls?”
“What?” Saige said, shocked. “Why wasn’t that looked into at the time?”
“I honestly don’t know. The fact was he wasn’t around during the investigation, so I’m guessing the officers who questioned the people of the town weren’t even told about Paul.”
“I have to say that I never saw that coming with Paul,” Saige said.
Coulter stood and squeezed Saige on the arm. “I’ll call the minute I know something about Quinten.”
Saige nodded. “Thank you.”
Day 16
6:30pm
* * *
Saige paced restlessly in the living room with her cell phone in hand. Coulter was certain the DNA results would be back today and so far she hadn’t heard anything. The temptation to call him was getting stronger, but she really didn’t want to bother him if he was busy.
Turning at the end of the living room for what felt like the millionth time, Saige stopped dead when she found Coulter leaning against the doorjamb. She waited as he walked toward her not giving anything away with the blank expression on his face.
As he approached his lips twitched and finally he smiled. “The governor has ordered his release and his record expunged.”
Saige blinked.
“Really?” she whispered.
Coulter nodded. “Really.”
The next minute she was wrapped around the detective with great, big sobs wracking her body. Saige knew that he tried to soothe her but, no matter what he said or did, her tears wouldn’t stop.
Even when a commotion outside of the room startled her, she lifted her head but rested it against Coulter’s large chest.
“You have to watch this,” Christina shouted, running into the room with Alex and her husband following closely behind.
Christina switched the television on and flicked the channels until she found what she was looking for.
The image was of Governor Stewart Sheffield at a press conference, and then he started to talk…
“I can confirm that Quinten James Peterson will be released from Harlington with all charges dropped and his record expunged later this week.
“His release comes after the arrest of Paul Lewis, who has confessed to murdering the five college girls and the kidnapping and subsequent torture of Saige Lockwood, which Quinten Peterson was wrongfully convicted of eight years ago. In addition, Paul Lewis has confessed to the murder of Jocelyn Peterson, Quinten Peterson’s ex-wife and two recent murders—Fern Jordan, who worked for Quinten Peterson’s defense attorney, and Tracy Adams, a one-time friend of Mr. Lewis.
“Mr. Lewis has been questioned extensively and is aware of things that only the killer would know. When he was arrested he had in his possession a jewelry box, which contained souvenirs taken from the victims. DNA evidence confirms that the jewelry belonged to all of the victims and contained Mr. Lewis’s fingerprints. His DNA is a match to the one sample found in the shack eight years ago, which had remained unidentified until now.
“At this time, we would like to extend our sincere apology to Mr. Peterson and his family and we are grateful that we were able to locate and apprehend the real killer before an innocent man lost his life.”
Saige turned to Coulter. “He’s being released this week?”
Coulter leaned close and whispered, “We have to be at the prison at four in the morning to pick him up.” He smiled down at her. “Tell Alex when he’s alone.”
Saige nodded.
“When?” Alex asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” Coulter replied.
Saige glanced up at him. “They’re just going to forget everything that has happened?”
Coulter offered a wry smile. “No, they aren’t going to forget. It would appear that a lot was kept hidden in regards to Quinten’s case and the governor has asked for a formal inquest to be done. He is up for reelection, but this makes the law look like idiots, so he wants answers. As do I.”
Saige frowned as she watched Alex slip from the room.
“I’ll pick you up around one-thirty in the morning,” Coulter whispered as he gave her one last hug. “Be strong.”