Page 65 of Matlock
Keys opened it, scanned the contents, his expression darkening as he read whatever Tony had given him.
Tony said something I couldn’t hear, then pointed at something in the file, and Keys nodded once before turning and walking back to his motorcycle.
A moment later, the engine roared to life, and he was gone.
Tony came back inside, closing the door behind him.
“What was that?” I asked.
Tony didn’t answer. He walked past me, his focus on Sadie.
“Sadie,” he said, his voice hard. “We need to talk.”
Sadie looked up at him, her face pale. “About what?”
“About what you’re going to say on the stand.”
“Tony—” I started, but he held up a hand, cutting me off.
“Simon, sit down.”
“Don’t tell me to sit down in my own fucking house,” I snapped.
“Sit. Down.” His voice was steel. His eyes hardened as he glared at me, anger radiating off him. I glared back at him, but I sat.
Mom and Dad exchanged a glance, and Dad stood, moving to stand beside Sadie. “Mr. Gallagher, I don’t think—”
“With all due respect, Mr. Nelson,” Tony interrupted, “this is a legal matter. And if your daughter wants to keep your son out of prison, she’s going to need to listen to me.”
Sadie’s hands twisted in her lap. “What do you want me to say?”
“The truth,” Tony said. “I want you to turn yourself in.”
“Fuck no!” I shouted, jumping from my spot.
Tony’s eyes cut to me, sharp and unyielding. “Simon, you’re looking at a murder conviction. And unless we can prove that Alan Sanders was a violent, dangerous man who posed a threat to Sadie, the jury is going to see you as a jealous killer who murdered a man in cold blood.”
“That’s not what happened,” I said.
“I know that. You know that,” he growled, pointing at my chest. “But the jury doesn’t fucking know that.” Tony turned back to Sadie. “I need you to tell them. I need you to tell them what Alan did to you. I need you to tell them why you killed him.”
Sadie’s breath hitched. “I... I can’t.”
“You can,” Tony said. “And you will.”
“Stop,” Mom said, her voice sharp. “You’re scaring her.”
“Good,” Tony said. “She should be scared. Because if she doesn’t confess, Simon is going to spend the rest of his life in prison.”
“That’s enough,” Dad snapped, his voice rising. “You don’t get to come into our home and bully our daughter—”
“This isn’t your home,” Tony said, his voice cold. “And I’m not bullying her. I’m trying to save your son.”
The room fell silent.
Sadie looked up at Tony, tears streaming down her face. “I killed him,” she whispered. “I killed Alan.”
“Sadie,” I hissed.
