The Confession

On Monday, Schroeder talks with his lawyer. His best bet is to accept a light punishment for obstructing justice and then hope the escaped Boyette is found. Schroeder is energized by his experiences.

The governor’s team races to frame an answer to growing criticism about his response to the execution, which has risen to the level of “a shit storm” (454). When staffers hear about the fact that the governor has been named in Flak’s $50 million wrongful death lawsuit, they scramble for a response—the next execution is less than two weeks away.

A Houston investigative reporter calls Schroeder to ask why a Kansas Lutheran minister was among those who witnessed Donté’s execution. Schroeder is cautious, but refuses to lie. He explains exactly what he did, and then calls his lawyer, who tells him that any responsible story about his association with Boyette would show that Schroeder was trying to save an innocent man.

Under enormous pressure, District Attorney Koffee resigns and agrees not to contest impending charges. He directs one of his assistants to file capital charges against Boyette as soon as he is apprehended.

In Topeka, Schroeder is stunned to receive a phone call from Boyette. The killer taunts the minister: Boyette was playing up his tumor, which is really just a “benign little fella” (476). Boyette claims that his limping and fainting was a charade. Boyette refuses to tell Schroeder where he is, but ominously admits that he is looking for a woman to harm. What Boyette doesn’t realize, however, is that Schroder’s phone is tapped: Police trace the call to a stolen cell phone in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Donté’s memorial service has been moved from the family’s church to the high school gym to accommodate a crowd of more than 2000 mourners. Flak delivers a eulogy, revealing Donté’s wish that when the truth is finally known and his name finally cleared, his family and friends should meet at his grave and throw a party.

Meanwhile, the Slone City Council, after acrimonious debate, votes 4-3 to fire Detective Kerber.

Schroeder is summoned to meet with the Lutheran bishop in Topeka. Although the bishop commends Schroeder for his actions on behalf of an innocent man, he cannot afford to ignore the fact that Schroeder broke the law. The bishop hints that the synod might vote to defrock Schroeder for pleading guilty.

Nicole’s family has a quiet funeral for their daughter. Reeva now loathes both Koffee and Kerber for misleading her about who killed her daughter. She does not accept responsibility for her life in the public eye.

DA Koffee, his career in ruins, submits his letter of resignation and immediately heads out of town. He has a vague plan to travel out West, maybe Alaska.

At a mall parking lot in Overland Park less than an hour from Topeka, Boyette attempts to kidnap one of the female store clerks at gunpoint. A man waiting to pick up his wife sees Boyette attack the woman and drives his pickup truck into the driver’s side of Boyette’s car. When Boyette jumps from the car, the man hits him with a baseball bat. Police take Boyette to the hospital, not realizing who he is, but when x-rays find a “tumor the size of an egg” (497) in his head, one of the cops makes the connection with the fugitive from “that Texas case” (498).

The governor, notified of Boyette’s arrest, decides against a moratorium on executions in Texas.

Schroeder realizes he will have to resign his pastoral position because of his synod’s fear of negative publicity. As he ponders his options, he receives a phone call from a director of an anti-capital punishment organization in Austin, who asks Schroeder to come to Austin and address the local Unity Lutheran Church.

The week after Thanksgiving, Schroeder heads to Austin. He is given a warm reception. His speech, addressing the moral wrong of capital punishment, is so well received that the church’s board of directors offers Schroeder a position replacing their retiring pastor.

Three days before Christmas, a grand jury in Slone indicts Boyette for rape, kidnapping, and murder. That same day, the ninth anniversary of Donté’s arrest, Flak files a motion to exonerate his client. The court quickly declares Donté “absolutely innocent” (510).

Three days after Christmas, Schroeder pleads guilty to one count of obstructing justice and is given a $1000 fine. When he assures the judge he would do the same thing again if given a chance, the judge responds, “God bless you” (512).

In his last sermon in Topeka, Schroeder announces his resignation. He takes the pastoral position in Austin.

In Missouri, Boyette is sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Paul Koffee is summarily disbarred and moves to Waco and becomes a bail bondsman.

Under considerable public pressure, led by the state’s powerful Black Caucus, the state legislature awards the Drumm family a $1 million settlement, but rejects a two-year ban on executions.

That summer, Adam Flores, a drug dealer convicted without adequate legal representation for killing another drug dealer, is executed without public protest in Huntsville.