“I gave him my honest opinion. You’re right about the weekly paper issue. He can’t cover this story week to week, not like he could with a whole media group behind him. This thing is going to unfold by the minute.”

She walks up and lays a cool hand on my cheek. “I haven’t forgotten about your father. If for some reason Shad doesn’t cave because of the photo, I’ll take his case apart piece by piece in the paper.”

“That sounds a little biased.”

“This is war,” she says. “And he started it.”

I sigh heavily. “I’d better call Dad and tell him about the grand jury, before anyone else does.”

“Do you mind if I stay?”

“No,” I reply, but part of me is angry. If Henry had been willing to leave with her a few moments ago, Caitlin would not be staying for this.

I try Dad’s private office line first, but Melba picks up and tells me he came in for an hour, then went home to lie down after lunch. When I call home, Mom says he hasn’t been there since he left for the office after his court hearing. With my pulse accelerating, I try Dad’s cell phone, knowing that he almost never answers it. This time, though, he picks up on the fourth ring.

“Hello, Penn,” he says in an almost buoyant voice.

I look at Caitlin and shrug. “Dad? Where are you?”

“Just taking a drive. I couldn’t concentrate at the office, and I didn’t want to sit at home with your mother asking me questions all day. I needed some time to think.”

I’ll bet. “Are you okay? You having chest pains or anything?”

“I took a nitro earlier, but I’m fine now. Really.”

“Exactly where are you?”

“Sitting in the mall parking lot. I went to the bookstore, just looking. They didn’t have anything. You know me.”

“You probably spent a hundred bucks.”

“Close,” he says with a chuckle. “What is it, son? You must have some news.”

“All bad, I’m afraid. Shad Johnson took your case to the grand jury a couple of hours ago. They indicted you for murder.”

The silence that follows seems to roar like an approaching wind. “Dad? Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” More silence, but this time it doesn’t last as long. “I guess I knew this would happen. I figured it would take a few days, though. If not weeks.”

“Me, too. I know it seems bad, but we’ll deal with it. I just didn’t want you to hear it anywhere else.”

“Thanks. Will the news be all over town?”