The Encore of Us novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Both Our Names

The county attorney's lobby had a metal detector, a row of plastic chairs, and a receptionist behind glass.

Anders walked to the glass and put both hands on the counter, carefully, because of his side.

"My name is Anders Brandvold," he said. "I'm here to confess to a death."

Four people in the plastic chairs looked up.

"I'm here to take back a plea," I said, and I stepped up beside him.

"Linnea."

"I'm the one who stood up in a courtroom and said I did it. I'd like to say I didn't."

"I pushed him," Anders said.

"He was holding my wrist."

"I put my hands on my father's chest and I shoved."

"I lied to a judge for seven years."

We spoke over each other, louder and louder, and the receptionist's eyes went round.

A man in a gray suit with his sleeves rolled to the elbow came through a side door and stopped.

He took one look at the two of us, and the line of people in the chairs, and the guard half rising from his stool.

"Oh, good," he said dryly. "Both at once."

"Are you the county attorney?" Anders asked.

"I'm her deputy. She's on her way down. Come with me before somebody films this."

He walked us through a hall of beige doors to a small conference room and shut the door.

The county attorney was already seated at the head of the table with a thick manila file open in front of her.

She was a narrow woman in her fifties with reading glasses on a chain.

"Sit," she said.

We sat.

"Mr. Brandvold, you called me from a hospital bed on Thursday."

"Before you tell me, I'm going to read you your rights, and I'd like you to think about it."

"I have thought about it."

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