“Bottom line, I guess I’ve been waiting for somebody to come along who’s willing to go to war with the Knox family. My DA sure isn’t hungry to take them on. Most people from Natchez don’t care what happens on my side of the river at all. But after what you did back in October with that dogfighting ring, I figure you might be the guy.”

I nod, weighing the possible outcomes of my earlier plan. “Putting legal pressure on the Knoxes sounds like a good idea to me. Especially since they’d be facing mandatory drug sentences. How soon could you do it?”

“And keep the element of surprise? Twenty-four hours. Maybe thirty-six. It depends on a lot of variables.”

Given that Dad has jumped bail, this doesn’t seem fast enough. As I look into Sheriff Dennis’s earnest eyes, another thought strikes me—something that’s been simmering in my mind ever since I visited Pithy Nolan, and she reminded me of Judge Leo Marston. Back in 1968, J. Edgar Hoover refused a request by one of his agents to tap Judge Marston’s phone, even though he was a murder suspect. As a result, Special Agent Dwight Stone broke into Marston’s home and planted bugs in every part of it, including an outdoor gazebo. Then Stone did something he called “shaking the tree,” which, roughly translated, means scaring the hell out of the suspect. Within hours, Stone got a recording of Judge Marston discussing the murder with Ray Presley—under the gazebo.

“Walker, do you know a judge who will give you a warrant to tap Brody Royal’s cell phone?”

The sheriff whistles long and low.

“Plus his son-in-law, Randall Regan.”

“Jesus, man. I don’t know. The requirements to start a tap are pretty stringent. And Brody’s a heavy hitter in this state.”

“Any chance?”

“Well … I know one judge who’s no fan of his.”

My mother’s voice calls from my front door. “Penn? What are you doing?”

“Talking to the Concordia sheriff! Go back inside.”

Walker looks over and sees Annie standing beside my mother, a suitcase in her hand.

“You guys going on a trip?” he asks.

I give him a look stripped of all affect. “I’m not going to lose my daughter the way you lost your cousin.”

The sheriff’s face closes like a curtain. “Will I be able to reach you tomorrow morning?”

“Call my cell.”

“Okay. You take care of your family. I’ll proceed on all fronts.”

“Thanks, Walker. Thanks for taking a stand. Henry was working on his own for too long, and we all share the blame for that.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t thank me. If I’d manned up this morning, Henry might not have gotten stabbed. Brody Royal and the Knoxes have had their way in my parish for too damn long. It’s time to shut ’em down.”