Ben spent three hours with Alex before he finally left the jail through the staff entrance. Once their emotions had leveled off, Alex and Ben spent time talking about how to deal with the reality of their circumstances. They laughed about Marquette, the public defender, who could probably save them a hundred grand if Alex could just come to grips with the idea of spending a decade in prison. They agreed that Ben needed to level with both Lars and Jake, especially Lars. The man deserved to be told his daughter was jammed up on a bogus murder charge. Alex had been dumbfounded to hear Ben’s news of her father—excited that he had spoken but frustrated she wasn’t part of the moment.
Before he left, Corporal Reynolds told Ben to call ahead before his next visit and promised to make sure the on-duty staff was dialed in on the new arrangements. He also let Ben know that Alex would be reassigned to a more secure unit with a private cell. As a cop’s wife, she rated increased security. When he left, Ben noticed that the attitude of all the guards had improved. The experience stood out as a single bright spot since the arrest, and he knew he had Tia to thank for it.
At Newberg Convalescent, Ben walked into Lars’s private room and wondered how to break the news. Easy, he thought. Tell the truth.
“Hey, Lars. It’s me, Ben.” The old man’s eyes fluttered open. Ben had never seen Lars look more gaunt and worn. What does he know? What does he think has happened?
Ben pulled a chair near the bed. “Lars, I need to talk with you about Alex. I need to tell you some things.” Lars turned his head to face his son-in-law with a look that said, It’s about damn time.
Ben laid out the story of Alex’s arrest and the case against her. He told Lars that he knew beyond any doubt Alex was innocent and the only possible explanation was she had been framed. He spoke with conviction. The two men, the two cops, held eye contact with one another, and Ben felt a rekindling of the kinship they had lost years earlier.
“Lars, I don’t know who would do this to her. The guy that got killed, Louis, they were friends. He was a good guy. But from what I can tell, he was just a guy with a coffee shop. Nothing else. None of it makes any sense. I can only figure—”
In a sudden and quick movement Ben would have associated with a man a good bit healthier, Lars grabbed Ben by his shirt. The grip was weak but meaningful. Lars opened his eyes wide and poised his mouth to speak. No words came, but Ben waited. The withered hand still gripped his shirt and Ben took hold of it.
“Take it easy, Dad. Don’t get excited. Stay calm. We got plenty of time.” Ben realized he hadn’t called his father-in-law Dad since high school and saw that it had registered with Lars as well. The old man closed his eyes and steadied himself. Finally the sounds came. The pitch of the voice was strained.
“Harrr-leeee.”
“Lars, who is Harley? You’ve got to tell me more. Does it … does he have something to do with Alex? With Alex getting arrested?”
Lars tapped lightly on Ben’s chest.
“Harr-Leeee. Ben. Har-leeee.”
Tears streamed from the old man’s eyes as the grunting tones continued. “Allllll-lex. I’m soooorry.” Ben watched as the man sobbed, rocking his head back and forth.
Alex was right. Lars Norgaard had the answer. The answer lay trapped in his mind, and the old man was fighting like hell to get it out.