Drew nods, but I see more than a trace of judgment in his eyes. “If you’re waiting for her to sit in a courtroom with Snake Knox and tell a jury that he raped her and murdered her husband, you’re going to be waiting a long time. That’s my feeling, anyway. But you’re right to call the FBI. We’ve had enough innocent people hurt lately.”

“Speaking of that, how’s Keisha doing?”

He shakes his head. “I shipped her up to UMC in an ambulance this morning.”

The weight of this news, on top of Cleotha Booker, is almost too much.

“One more thing,” says my old friend. “Annie is having a significant anxiety reaction. She’s trying to cope, but down deep I think she’s regressing to the state she was in after Caitlin was killed. I think death is the trigger, Penn. She simply can’t deal with loss, not even the aura of it. Which shouldn’t surprise us, given how she lost her mother, and others in her life.”

“Drew . . . goddamn it. Tell me what to do.”

He lays a hand on my shoulder and looks into my eyes. “Forget about going back to the courthouse. Annie needs you here, within reach. You understand? Mia alone is not enough.”

“I understand. I’ll stay.”

“And you’ll call the FBI?”

“The second you leave.”

“Okay. I’ll check back in about three hours.”

When Tim pulls the door shut after Drew, I take out my cell phone and, ignoring the latest texts from Rusty Duncan, speed-dial John Kaiser.

“Penn,” he answers. “What’s up?”

“John, listen. Are you in Natchez right now?”

“Yeah. What’s going on? I heard you left the courtroom.”

“Buddy . . . I’ve got an eyewitness who can testify to Snake Knox committing rape and murder. The victim was her husband.”

First there’s only silence. Then Kaiser says, “Who the hell are you talking about?”

“I can’t tell you that unless you promise to go very easy with this woman. She does not want me to call the Bureau. In fact, she’s told me she would recant everything if I did.”

“Are you sure she’s on the level?”

“John, if she ever decides to testify, she’ll be God’s gift to whatever prosecutor gets Snake’s case.”

“If she didn’t want you to call me, why did you?”

“Her life’s in danger. I think her mother-in-law was assaulted last night. She’s probably close to death now, if not dead already.”

“Good God. Where’s this woman now?”

I hesitate, then decide to trust him. “At my Washington Street house. But you may not be able to talk to her for a while. Drew just sedated her. This is the witness you’ve been looking for from the beginning, John. Don’t blow it by rushing her, okay? If you come, come alone.”