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I hurry back to the conference room to ensure the table is clean of any paperwork that might have been left behind from previous meetings. Then I rush to the break room and start a pot of coffee. I think we are both going to need it.
When I return to the lobby, Zach is standing in front of the window, gripping the computer like a newborn baby.
“You ready?”
He startles, turns, then follows me into the station.
“We’ll be in the same room we were in earlier today.” I gesture him inside where he takes a seat in the same chair he’d chosen hours earlier. He slides the computer onto the table.
“Can I get you some coffee before we begin?”
“No. God no. I’ve had… I don’t know how many pots today.”
“Okay,” I pause, look him over. “Where’s Dennis, your attorney?”
“I didn’t call him.”
“Are you sure that’s a wise decision?”
“Yes. I don’t care. I don’t… I have to get this off my chest.”
“Okay then.” I slide into the chair across from him, open up my notebook, and click my pen. “What’s going on?”
“I have something to tell you.” Zach drags in a shaky breath. “Before Alyssa and I met, she was with this guy for a few years. She actually dumped him to be with me.”
“Who?”
“His name is Travis McCain.”
I jot down the name.
“He’s in jail now. I checked. Got arrested for his third DWI.”
“What jail?”
“Houston Central.”
“How long as he been there?”
“Two weeks, the guy I spoke to said.”
So I can immediately cross him off the suspect list.
“Anyway…” Zach jabs his fingers through his hair, leaving a mess of tangles standing on end. “He had a child, a little girl. One night, when Alyssa had too much to drink, she told me that he was abusive to both her and his child.”
“What kind of abuse?”
“Physical. But I guess it got pretty bad with the little girl.”
“Did Alyssa tell anyone?”
“No, and she felt horribly guilty for that. Back then she was using pretty heavy. But after she cleaned up, she really regretted not turning him in. It ate at her, you know?”
“Why didn’t she turn him in, ever? She could have called the police even years later, requesting a welfare visit?”
Zach looks down. “I asked her not to. I didn’t want to get involved with any of it. I told her it wasn’t our business anymore.”
“Okay… so what does this have to do with the computer you’re holding?”
