“I don’t want her to go to jail. She killed a woman, Rhoda. She was holding the knife. I’m doing all I can. There’s only so much I can do.”

“When is the trial?”

“It’s a hearing. Day after tomorrow. In the morning.”

“Can you put it off? Until Robert gets back or until I think of something. My daddy has lawyers. Maybe I can get one of them to help.”

“I’m doing everything I can, Rhoda. Everything that can be done is being done.”

I called Klane back and told her what Edmund had said. “But don’t get worried,” I said. “I know lots of lawyers. I’ll call some of them. Edmund isn’t the only lawyer in the world.”

“I won’t go into a jail, Rhoda. That’s it. I won’t go in there.”

“Where can I call you later? I have to talk to people, then I’ll call you back.”

“I’ll be home. I was supposed to go by Miss McVee’s and clean up today but I don’t think I can make it. I’ll be here.”

“I’ll call you later. Don’t worry, Klane. This isn’t the end of this.”

“It’s the end for me. If I got to go into jail. How’s the baby? Is he doing okay?”

“He’s fine. He’s awake nearly all the time now. He’s lots better. I think he’s doing fine.”

“You give him a kiss for me. You tell him Klane sent a kiss for his little head.”

I called Edmund back but his wife said he had gone to Monroe for the day. Then I dressed and took some aspirins for my hangover and called Charles William. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I’m sorry all that happened.”

“Don’t worry about that. Something terrible’s going on. They’re putting my maid in jail. I don’t know what to do. I have to talk to someone. Are you up?”

“I am now. Come on out. Can you leave? Come out here.”

“I’ll be there in a minute. Put some coffee on. It’s Patricia’s old house?”

“Yes. But don’t be afraid of it. It’s ours now.”

“I’ll be there in a minute. Oh, God, everything happens. It’s because I left. If I’d stayed in Alexandria this wouldn’t have happened. They wouldn’t have dared do this if I was there.”

“Come on out. We’ll call Derry. She’ll know what to do.”