Page 38 of The Devoted Husband
The Day Sade Was Released . . .
“I’m gonna cut straight to the chase,” Bennit said. “What on earth would possess you to steal a woman’s blood and have it put into the system as evidence on a case we closed months ago?”
“I’m sorry, Captain, but I’m not sure what you’re talki—”
“Wha—There were no cameras. I checked.”
“You may have checked, but you didn’t do a good job. There was a small camera on the edge of the board that looked like a marker magnet. Because they often use that room for inmates, they go through extra security steps. You would have known that if you were actively involved in the case.”
“Captain—”
“But you weren’t involved, because there is no case. You aren’t a detective for the Memphis Police Department, so how could you have known they increased security cameras to avoid putting someone in the room with inmates around the clock to ensure their and the staff’s safety?”
Jones decided there was no point in denying it anymore. Unfortunately, he’d been caught.
“What does this mean for the case?”
Bennit chuckled. “There is no case. What part of that do you not understand, Jones?”
“Captain, that DNA proved someone in Imani’s family was at both crime scenes. That hair, that blood...Those were no coincidences. Sade was the only person in Vanzette who knew both victims and had a reason to kill them. How can you sit there and tell me there is no case?”
“Because you stole the evidence without a warrant, the validity of the DNA match is being called into question. Even if the DNA was a match, her attorney is arguing that was a lie and that you had someone change the name in the system to Sade’s.”
“That’s bullshit!” Jones yelled as he stood. “The DNA can be run against what’s on file in Memphis for Imani. It will be a 100 percent match for her and a 50 percent match for her sister. She’s the killer, Captain.”
“That may be the case, but unfortunately, because you did your own thing and took matters into your own hands, the prosecutor will not be able to use the DNA sample and match as evidence.”
“Come on,” Jones interrupted to blurt.
“And seeing as that was all the evidence we had against Sade, she will be released from prison, and all charges against her will be dropped. Not only that, but I also have to issue a public apology to her and her family on your behalf and pray this doesn’t create a snowball effect of people that you’ve put away based on DNA asking to have their cases retried. ”
That left Jones speechless, so Bennit continued.
“I convinced the DA not to press charges against you, but I have to fire you. Effective immediately, you are no longer a detective for the Vanzette Police Department. And might I make clear this is not an invitation for you to continue to go after this woman on your own. You fucked up any chance there was of Sade doing time for this. Now live with it.” As Bennit shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he added, “Go empty out your desk and vacate the premises immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” Jones agreed. “I-I’m sorry.”
Remaining silent, Bennit returned his attention to the file on his desk.
As Jones returned to his desk, it felt like all eyes were on him.
His body radiated anger. As much as he tried to maintain a composed outward appearance, his insides were hot and shaking, as if they were boiling on the inside.
This could not have been happening. Yet again, Sade had gotten away with everything.
..and Jones had no one to blame but himself.
Once he had all his belongings, Jones was escorted out of the precinct by his lieutenant. His steps froze at the sight of Dante leaning against his car, wearing a smug grin.
“I told you not to fuck with my wife.”
“All right, that’s enough,” Lieutenant Burns said, shooing Dante away from the vehicle.
Dante shot Jones a wink before he walked away, and Jones had to tighten his grip on the box to keep from dropping it and going after him.