“I mean that; he’s got a lot of work to do between now and the trial, and I don’t want him disturbed. He’s an elderly man; he only has so much energy to devote to this, and I want Allison to get the benefit of all of it.”

Wheaton nodded. “How much are you getting paid to defend her?”

“We haven’t discussed a fee.”

She smiled. “Uh-huh.”

“It just hasn’t come up,” Stone said lamely.

“Is that how you would operate in New York?”

Stone shook his head. “Of course not, but we’re not in New York. She’s a fellow American in trouble in a foreign place, and I’m glad to help her if I can. Anyway, I’m not necessarily a very good buy as an attorney in St. Marks, since I don’t really know the ropes of the local legal system.”

“What is the local legal system like?”

“Bizarre, and I hope you’ll bring that out in your piece.” He told her about the preliminary hearing and what he had learned about how the court operated.

She laughed out loud. “That’s the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard!”

“Please make that clear on television. To tell you the truth, I think there’s more than one piece in this for you. If you’re here for the trial, that ought to be an eye-opener, and I’d certainly be glad to have a camera waiting outside the courtroom.”

“Any chance we could get a camera inside the courtroom?”

“You can try; go see the judge. I’d be happy for him to know that the American press is taking an interest.”

“Jake, you want to take care of that tomorrow?”

“Sure,” Burrows replied. It was the first time he had spoken. “Look, Stone, while I, and I’m sure Chris, have some sympathy for the lady’s plight, we’re not here to fight your battles for you; you have to understand that.”

“Sure I do, but if just doing your job happens to work to Allison’s benefit, that’s okay with me.”

“We understand that,” Wheaton said.

The menus arrived, and they ordered dinner. When the food arrived, Chris Wheaton took another tack.

“I used to work local news in New York,” she said. “I remember when you were on the force.”

“You mean you remember when I left the force, don’t you?” Stone said, cracking a crab claw.

“That’s what I mean. Your name still pops up now and then.”

“Does it?”

“You haven’t exactly been press-shy, have you, Stone?”

Stone laughed ruefully. “I’ve never sought coverage, but sometimes coverage has been thrust upon me by your colleagues in the media.”

She found that funny. “Still, your occasional flash of fame must have brought you a lot of cases as a lawyer.”