The Taurus is parked sixty yards from the terminal. I can see it from the doors. Exiting the terminal with a group of LSU fraternity guys, I fall in with them until they stop near a Blazer thirty yards from the door, then break for the Taurus at a flat-out sprint. To my surprise, the wind cuts through my jacket with a cold bite. Maybe fall has come to Mississippi at last.

Laying Kelly’s pistol on the seat beside me, I retrieve the keys, crank the engine, and force myself to drive normally as I leave the lot. In ten minutes I’m on Highway 61. Natchez lies eighty miles to the north, but much of the road is two-lane blacktop and heavily traveled by log trucks. The trip can be agonizingly slow during the day.

I reach under the seat for the cell phone, switch it on, and dial the Natchez Examiner. Caitlin has been handling the transportation of my out-of-town witnesses. Huey Moak and Lester Hinson are scheduled to arrive in Baton Rouge tonight, and we’d planned to have one of the Argus men pick them up.

“Penn?” Caitlin asks, after a minute of hold music.

“Yes. Remember, your phone’s tapped.”

“What’s going on? I’ve been freaking out here.”

“Have you asked any of the Argus guys to pick up the witnesses yet?”

“Not yet. I can call them now.”

“Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Just don’t. Don’t even mention it. I’ll be there soon, and I’ll handle it. Hang tight until then. Stay inside the newspaper building if you can.”

“Penn, Kelly was acting a little strange before he left. Like I might not see him again.”

You might not. “Things are pretty fluid right now. I’m on my way.”

“Listen. An hour ago my receptionist told me I had a call from the editor of the Rocky Mountain News. When I got to the phone, he told me he was sending a reporter down to cover your trial, and he wanted to know if the guy could use our office facilities.”

“And?”

“He said the reporter’s name was Bookbinder. Henry Bookbinder.”

Bookbinder. Stone’s dead partner. And the Rocky Mountain News is based in Denver. I want to scream with joy, but I just say, “Did he say when this reporter would arrive?”

“Only that he’d be here in time to cover the trial. And there’s something else.”

“What?”

“CNN, Court TV, and some others have been pressing Judge Franklin to allow the trial to be televised.”

“Cameras aren’t allowed in Mississippi courtrooms.”

“I know, but this is a civil case. Apparently if both parties agree, the judge could allow it.”

“But why would Leo agree? Portman would tear him a new one if he did.”