All I want to do is READ

“In breaking news, the conviction of Roxie Schmidt for the murder of her four-year-old son has been reversed after DNA evidence found at the scene was re-tested as a part of a grant given to the state by the Justice Department to help clean up the corruption in the crime lab. The DNA came back as a match to Reginald Flowers. Flowers was convicted of murdering five boys in the area.”

“Ms. Schmidt, through her attorneys, expressed her joy that DNA proved her innocence. She hopes to fight for other parents who have been wrongly convicted.”

“The detectives at the heart of her conviction, Julio Ballesteros and Cooper Anderson, have found themselves on the wrong side of the law recently. The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into allegations that they coerced witnesses and fabricated evidence in a number of cases from two-thousand-seven through two-thousand-twelve.”

“We tried to reach Ballesteros and Anderson for comment, but neither would return our calls.”

“Cooper Anderson is currently running for re-election to the State House of Representatives. We’ll keep you updated as the investigation progresses.”

Blaine sat transfixed as the news anchor recounted the charges against his brother. This was the third network, and the third time he’d heard the allegation, and he still couldn’t believe it was true. He knew Cooper. Sure he teased Blaine while they were growing up, and quite often talked Blaine into taking the fall for him. But he only did that because he knew Blaine wouldn’t get punished as strictly as he would have, and Cooper always made it up to him by taking him to get ice cream or to the park whenever Blaine wanted. That’s what brothers did for each other. Right? But the Cooper Blaine knew would never coerce confessions or fabricate evidence. He’d wanted to be a police detective ever since he started watching reruns of Columbo with Blaine after Blaine had been assaulted when he was thirteen. Blaine liked that he could zone in and out of the show and not miss much of the plot. Cooper had been drawn to the over-dramatic acting.

Guys!!! I’ve been sitting on this fic for over a year now and I finally finished it! Shout out to @kurtbigbang for the initiative! But I have to thank the ever-wonderful @larinia713 for being my beta again. She is a champion of words and you should all go follow her. AND LOOK AT THIS ART! @captainsarasmiles is fantastic and I am forever grateful.