Chapter 14 - What Mercer KnewRuiz was furious.
“You were specifically told not to engage witnesses independently.”
“I didn’t.”
“You answered the phone.”
“I can’t control who calls me.”
“You can control whether you walk into an abandoned church.”
“That’s why I called you.”
She stared at him.
“Progress.”
Investigators surrounded the building before Mercer was approached.
He surrendered without resistance.
There was no dramatic gunfight.
No chase.
Just a frightened man sitting alone in an old church basement with three phones and eighty-seven dollars in cash.
Mercer asked to speak only with prosecutors.
By morning, he had an attorney.
By afternoon, he had begun cooperating.
His story was ugly because it was believable.
MidState initially paid small bribes for towing referrals.
Crowe participated first.
Mercer joined later.
Then Dwyer discovered the scheme.
Levi asked Ruiz, “Why didn’t he stop it?”
She slid the transcript across the table.
Because Dwyer decided controlling the corruption was more profitable than exposing it.
He forced Dennis Jenkins to give Blue Lantern a stake in the company.
In exchange, complaints disappeared.
Audits were redirected.
Supervisors received promotions.
Officers who cooperated were protected.
Officers who objected were transferred or discredited.
“Tom the dispatcher,” Levi said.
Ruiz nodded.
“Mercer says the theft allegation was fabricated.”
Levi kept reading.
Then he reached Terrence.
According to Mercer, Terrence’s arrest had become dangerous because Renee asked questions.
Dwyer ordered the complaint buried.
Not because of Levi’s career.
That had been the story he told everyone.
The real reason was that Terrence’s case could expose the towing arrangement.
Levi closed the file.
“He used me.”
“Yes.”
“He convinced me silence protected my career because it protected his money.”
Ruiz nodded.
“There’s more.”
Mercer claimed Dwyer began grooming Levi for promotion partly because Levi’s reputation for integrity provided cover.
Levi looked up slowly.
“That’s speculation.”
“Probably.”
“No. Write that clearly.”
Ruiz studied him.
“You’re defending him?”
“I’m defending evidence.”
Even now.
Especially now.
Ruiz nodded.
“Fair.”
That evening Levi visited Terrence again.
He handed him a copy of the state’s motion to review his conviction.
Terrence read the first page.
“They can vacate it?”
“The prosecutor’s office is considering a joint petition.”
“Considering.”
“Yes.”
Terrence laughed.
“Eleven years to consider whether they lied.”
Levi sat on the workbench.
“I’m sorry.”
Terrence kept reading.
“I know.”
“No. I haven’t said it right.”
Terrence looked up.
Levi forced himself not to sound like a commander.
Not to explain.
“I’m sorry I believed Frank instead of you. I’m sorry I treated neutrality like morality. I’m sorry you asked me to be your brother and I answered like a cop.”
Terrence’s eyes filled, though his expression did not change.
Levi continued.
“I can’t give you eleven years back.”
“No.”
“I can’t make Mom forget watching us stop speaking.”
“No.”
“I can’t make Renee hear me admit she was right.”
Terrence folded the papers.
“No.”
Levi’s voice broke slightly.
“But I believe you.”
Terrence looked away.
For several seconds, the only sound was a pneumatic tool somewhere in the rear garage.
Finally Terrence said, “You know what’s messed up?”
“What?”
“That’s all I wanted then.”
Levi nodded.
Terrence looked at his brother’s healing eyebrow.
“And it took somebody doing it to you.”
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Levi accepted the sentence.
Because there was no defense.
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