She had never been so sure of anything. Local man, headed down the wrong road, had already been in trouble with the law. He had been arrested on first-degree burglary charges and had served 18 months in prison for attempted sexual assault. Cotton had insisted that the relationship resulting in the assault charge was consensual and that he was being unfairly targeted by police because he liked to date white women. When Thompson picked him out of the lineup, everyone was sure they had the right man.
Cotton is tall and handsome, with baby-smooth chocolate skin and a warm, engaging smile.
Confronted by Thompson, his normal calm failed him. He was petrified. But he said nothing, betrayed no emotion. Cotton's actions and past hadn't helped his case. He was nervous.