His name was Daniel Mercer.<\/p>\n
For almost a year after Dad\u2019s murder, Daniel Mercer had been the person I trusted most.<\/p>\n
He had spoken gently to Matthew.<\/p>\n
He had brought Mom clean clothes before hearings.<\/p>\n
He had told me which reporters to avoid.<\/p>\n
When prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty, Mercer had stood on the courthouse steps and promised to fight.<\/p>\n
Then he had lost.<\/p>\n
I had believed losing destroyed him.<\/p>\n
After sentencing, he withdrew from Mom\u2019s appeal, citing health problems.<\/p>\n
We never saw him again.<\/p>\n
Now his younger face stared from a soot-stained photograph recovered on Ray\u2019s property.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was this taken?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega enlarged the image.<\/p>\n
There was a date stamped along the bottom.<\/p>\n
Eight months before Dad died.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were they doing together?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMercer told us he barely knew Ray before the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat statement appears to have been false.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt anger rising.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else did he lie about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer was seventy-one now and living three counties away.<\/p>\n
Investigators reached him that afternoon.<\/p>\n
He agreed to speak with them.<\/p>\n
Then, forty minutes before the scheduled interview, he suffered what his wife described as severe chest pain and was taken to a hospital.<\/p>\n
Convenient.<\/p>\n
I said so.<\/p>\n
Vega gave me a look.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe verify before judging.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was beginning to hear that sentence in my sleep.<\/p>\n
Investigators obtained Mercer\u2019s archived case files with his consent.<\/p>\n
Most were stored in cardboard boxes in a rented warehouse.<\/p>\n
The contents were chaotic.<\/p>\n
Trial transcripts.<\/p>\n
Witness statements.<\/p>\n
Photographs.<\/p>\n
Invoices.<\/p>\n
Handwritten notes.<\/p>\n
Among them was something Escobedo had never seen.<\/p>\n
A memorandum dated twelve days after Dad\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n
It documented a telephone call from an unnamed witness.<\/p>\n
The caller claimed to have seen Ray\u2019s truck parked behind our house around the estimated time of death.<\/p>\n
Mercer had written beneath it:<\/p>\n
UNRELIABLE. DO NOT PURSUE.<\/p>\n
I stared at the words.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho called?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he investigate?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo record that he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he tell Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n
Escobedo shook his head.<\/p>\n
My hands curled into fists.<\/p>\n
One phone call could have changed everything.<\/p>\n
Ray had testified that he arrived after police were called.<\/p>\n
A witness placing his truck there earlier would have shattered that timeline.<\/p>\n
Mercer buried it.<\/p>\n
There was more.<\/p>\n
An investigator working for the defense had requested permission to examine financial records from Mendoza Auto.<\/p>\n
Mercer canceled the request.<\/p>\n
A forensic consultant questioned whether the blood on Mom\u2019s robe was consistent with the prosecution\u2019s theory.<\/p>\n
Mercer never called him.<\/p>\n
A handwritten note mentioned sedatives.<\/p>\n
No follow-up.<\/p>\n
Another note read:<\/p>\n
T says E feared R. No corroboration.<\/p>\n
T was Teresa.<\/p>\n
E was Ernest.<\/p>\n
R was Ray.<\/p>\n
My mother had told him.<\/p>\n
He knew.<\/p>\n
And he had done nothing.<\/p>\n
At the evidentiary hearing three days later, Mom entered the courtroom wearing county jail clothes.<\/p>\n
No white execution uniform.<\/p>\n
No chains around her waist.<\/p>\n
I watched her take her place beside Escobedo.<\/p>\n
Matthew sat with a victim-services advocate in the front row.<\/p>\n
I sat behind him.<\/p>\n
Ray was not there.<\/p>\n
Mercer appeared by video from the hospital.<\/p>\n
He looked frail.<\/p>\n
His voice did not.<\/p>\n
Vega questioned him first.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mercer, did Teresa Mendoza tell you before trial that she believed Raymond Mendoza was involved in Ernest Mendoza\u2019s death?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer adjusted his glasses.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe made numerous statements while under considerable stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was not my question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you investigate Raymond Mendoza?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomewhat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you investigate his financial dealings with Ernest?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI considered it a distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe physical evidence against Teresa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega placed the memorandum on screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you receive this call?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer stared at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that your handwriting?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you consider the witness unreliable?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t recall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you identify the caller?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t recall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you send an investigator to locate witnesses near the Mendoza residence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t recall.\u201d<\/p>\n
The judge leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mercer, you appear to have forgotten a remarkable amount.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer looked irritated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega produced the photograph.<\/p>\n
Mercer\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
Only slightly.<\/p>\n
Enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you recognize this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are the men?\u201d<\/p>\n
He named Dad.<\/p>\n
Ray.<\/p>\n
Salazar.<\/p>\n
Himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was the occasion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEight months before Mr. Mendoza\u2019s murder, you were photographed with the eventual victim, the man now suspected of killing him, and the police officer connected to disputed evidence in the case you later defended.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer\u2019s mouth tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you say it that way, it sounds sinister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow would you say it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA social gathering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t recall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you tell Valerie Mendoza that you barely knew Ray before the homicide?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer looked toward the camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cI may have misspoken.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt Matthew reach for my hand.<\/p>\n
I held it.<\/p>\n
Vega continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Raymond Mendoza pay you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cLegal fees?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Officer Salazar?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid anyone associated with Mendoza Auto?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega lifted another document.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen explain this.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a bank record.<\/p>\n
Two weeks before Mom\u2019s trial began, Mercer deposited thirty thousand dollars in cash.<\/p>\n
The courtroom stirred.<\/p>\n
Mercer\u2019s lawyer objected.<\/p>\n
The judge overruled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did that money come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer looked suddenly older.<\/p>\n
\u201cI sold a vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat vehicle?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA classic car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega waited.<\/p>\n
Mercer looked down.<\/p>\n
The silence lasted too long.<\/p>\n
Finally he said, \u201cRay.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother shut her eyes.<\/p>\n
The courtroom erupted in whispers.<\/p>\n
The judge ordered silence.<\/p>\n
Vega did not raise her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond Mendoza paid you thirty thousand dollars while you were representing Teresa Mendoza?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unrelated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a vehicle?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have a bill of sale?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRegistration transfer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI assume one existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigators had already checked.<\/p>\n
No such transfer existed.<\/p>\n
Mercer began asking to end the interview.<\/p>\n
The judge refused.<\/p>\n
Vega returned to the missing witness call.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho called you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you, I don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas it Officer Salazar?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond Mendoza?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone from the shop?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer stared at the camera.<\/p>\n
His breathing became shallow.<\/p>\n
His lawyer touched his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
When he opened them, he looked directly into the lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cA woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room became silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never knew her name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Ray\u2019s truck was behind the Mendoza house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the police arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she see Ray?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart slammed against my ribs.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoing what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComing out the back door.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was he carrying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cA towel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew squeezed my hand so hard it hurt.<\/p>\n
Vega\u2019s voice remained steady.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat color?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid the witness?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYellow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our kitchen towels had been yellow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you pursue her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer\u2019s face collapsed inward.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Ray told me she was lying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou discussed a confidential defense lead with the man your client accused?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mercer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom turned toward Escobedo.<\/p>\n
He whispered something to her.<\/p>\n
Vega continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Ray say when you told him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said if I kept digging, I would regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas the thirty thousand dollars connected to that threat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what was it connected to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer\u2019s lawyer objected again.<\/p>\n
The judge allowed the question.<\/p>\n
Mercer began crying.<\/p>\n
Not dramatically.<\/p>\n
Tears simply ran down his cheeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had debts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe offered money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo keep the trial simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words seemed to suck the air from the courtroom.<\/p>\n
Mom stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimple how?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega asked.<\/p>\n
Mercer covered his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t chase Ray. Don\u2019t chase the shop. Don\u2019t chase Salazar.\u201d<\/p>\n
The judge called an immediate recess.<\/p>\n
People stood.<\/p>\n
Reporters rushed for the doors.<\/p>\n
I remained seated.<\/p>\n
Matthew whispered, \u201cDoes this mean Mom comes home?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
She was still technically a convicted murderer.<\/p>\n
But the case against her was collapsing piece by piece.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the hearing resumed, the judge ordered a full review of Mercer\u2019s conduct and all undisclosed evidence.<\/p>\n
Then Vega received a note from an investigator.<\/p>\n
She read it.<\/p>\n
Her face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d the judge asked.<\/p>\n
Vega stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Honor, investigators have located the woman who called Mr. Mercer six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd willing to testify?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vega looked toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe says she will testify only if Valerie Mendoza is present.\u201d<\/p>\n
His name was Daniel Mercer. For almost a year after Dad\u2019s murder, Daniel Mercer had been the person I trusted most. He had spoken gently to Matthew. He had brought … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16910"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16938,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16910\/revisions\/16938"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}