Drew studies me for some time. “I understand. But think about moving Annie and Mia. Anybody you or your father care about is a target.”

“You’re right. I will.”

He gives me his professional smile. “I’ve got to get over to my office.”

I look back at the table, where Keisha lies peacefully, at least for the moment. “Please keep a close eye on that girl, Drew.”

“I intend to. I’ve told the nurses to call me if any family members show up. But if she gets any worse, I may have to send her up to University in a chopper.”

“I understand.”

He gives me a fraternal flick of his head in farewell, then heads for the big double doors.

John Kaiser is standing with Annie and Mia when I come out into the waiting room. As soon as he catches sight of me, he tells the girls he needs a minute with me in private. I tell them that Keisha is resting quietly and that Drew has done everything possible for her, that now all we can do is wait. Then I give Annie a hug and follow Kaiser into an alcove where three vending machines stand humming.

“Did she say who attacked her?” he asks.

“She said it was a white woman—older, she thought—but she couldn’t give any real description. Black leather jacket was all she remembered. Sounds like the motorcycle gang, doesn’t it? The VK?”

“That’s the obvious assumption. I’d like to know where Wilma Deen is. She was present the night her brother was murdered, and she vanished right after Snake did. That tells me she’s capable of something like this.”

“I hope it was her. I don’t want to think this was payback for Tim and me killing those two VK guys.”

“You realize they could have hit you the same way, Penn. Or Annie.”

“No, they couldn’t,” I think aloud. “We have protection. She didn’t. That’s why they hit Keisha.”

The FBI agent considers this. “Your father’s trial starts in four days. Could be the VK are sending him and Quentin another message with this attack. Maybe somebody’s getting nervous.”

“Snake?”

“Who else? But why, I don’t know. Only your father knows that.”

I wave my hand, too upset even to discuss that issue. “Still no leads on Snake’s whereabouts?”

“You think I’ve been holding out on you? We’ve got nothing, Penn. Forrest and Snake had a long time to prepare for an emergency exit. And Forrest knew what he was doing. I’ve reached the point where I think the only thing that’s going to give us Snake Knox is luck. And he’s been a lucky son of a bitch all his life.”