She shakes her head again, then looks up at me with new eyes. “I was wrong, wasn’t I? You’re not quite as naïve as your daddy, after all.”

“I hope not.”

“Lord, I’d give a month’s salary to see Shadrach’s face when you show him this.”

“A lot of people would. Jewel, do you know anything about Lincoln Turner?”

She cuts her eyes at me. “Not yet. But I’ve been asking around, quiet like. I’ve already seen him twice today, hangin’ round the courthouse like the ghost at the feast. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of him.”

“Thanks. What about Judge Joe Elder? He’s not another Arthel Minor, is he?” Minor is a recently retired hack who in the past colluded with Shad to go after one of my father’s partners.

“No, no. Judge Joe’s a good man, and smart as a whip. But he did grow up over in Ferriday. I’m sure he took his share of abuse from the rednecks over there. He’s no reverse racist or anything, but—” Jewel appears to be blushing. “Joe probably wouldn’t find it hard to believe that your father took advantage of Viola back in the old days. Even though I do. I can see why Shad would want Joe over Judge Franklin.”

“Thank you, Jewel.”

She turns back to my monitor and clucks her tongue three times. “My grandbaby fair worships that Darius Jones. But Lord, Shadrach Johnson … pride surely goeth before destruction.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

She looks up, her eyes showing confusion. Then she shakes her head and says, “My daddy told me politics was dirty business. I guess he was more right than I knew. I’d tell you good luck, but I don’t want any part of this.”

“Thank you, Jewel.” I hold up the autopsy report. “For this.”

She nods once, then hurries through my door, pulling her coat around her like a woman going out to face a storm.

Reaching down to my mouse, I move the cursor to the File menu, and press PRINT.

CHAPTER 39

“THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY is expecting you, Mr. Mayor,” Shad Johnson’s male assistant says. “Go in.”

When I open the door, I freeze. As expected, Shad is waiting behind his enormous desk, but I didn’t expect to find Sheriff Billy Byrd’s bulk wedged into a chair to Shad’s left, watching me with a smirk.

“Come in, Mr. Mayor,” Shad says with apparent deference. “Close the door.”