Buckley looked at Musgrove and shook his head。
〃Now； back to this hearing。 Mr。 Buckley； you said you have over twenty witnesses。 How many do you really need？〃
〃Five or six。〃
〃That's much better。 Who are they？〃
〃Floyd Loyd。〃
〃Who's he？〃
〃Supervisor； First District； Ford County。〃
〃What's his testimony？〃
〃He's lived here for fifty years； been in office ten years or so。 In his opinion a fair trial is possible in this county。〃
〃I suppose he's never heard of this case？〃 Noose said sarcastically。
〃I'm not sure。〃
〃Who else？〃
〃Nathan Baker。 Justice of the Peace； Third District； Ford County。〃
〃Same testimony？〃
〃Well； basically； yes。〃
〃Who else？〃
〃Edgar Lee Baldwin； former supervisor； Ford County。〃
〃He was indicted a few years back； wasn't he？〃 Jake asked。
Buckley's face turned redder than Jake had ever seen it。 His huge mouth dropped open and his eyes glazed over。
〃He was not convicted；〃 shot Musgrove。
〃I didn't say he was。 I simply said he was indicted。 FBI； wasn't it？〃
〃Enough； enough；〃 said Noose。 〃What will Mr。 Baldwin tell us？〃
〃He's lived here all his life。 He knows the people of Ford County； and thinks Mr。 Hailey can receive a fair trial here；〃 Musgrove answered。 Buckley remained speechless as he stared at Jake。
〃Who else？〃
〃Sheriff Harry Bryant； Tyler County。〃
〃Sheriff Bryant？ What'll he say？〃
Musgrove was talking for the State now。 〃Your Honor； we have two theories we are submitting in opposition to the motion for a change of venue。 First； we contend a fair trial is possible here in Ford County。 Second； if the court is of the opinion that a fair trial is not possible here； the State contends that the immense publicity has reached every prospective juror in this state。 The same prejudices and opinions； for and against； which exist in this county exist in every county。 Therefore； nothing will be gained by moving the trial。 We have witnesses to support this second theory。〃
〃That's a novel concept； Mr。 Musgrove。 I don't think I've heard it before。〃
〃Neither have I；〃 added Jake。
〃Who else do you have？〃
〃Robert Kelly Williams； district attorney for the Ninth District。〃
〃Where'sthat？〃；
〃Southwestern tip of the state。〃
〃He drove all the way up here to testify that everyone in his neck of the woods has already prejudged the case？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who else？〃
〃Grady Listen； district attorney； Fourteenth District。〃
〃Same testimony？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃Well； Your Honor； we have several more。 But their testimony will pretty much follow the other witnesses'。〃
〃Good； then we can limit your proof to these six witnesses？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I will hear your proof。 I will allow each of you five minutes to conclude your arguments； and I will rule on this motion within two weeks。 Any questions？〃
It hurt to say no to the reporters。 They followed Jake across Washington Street； where he excused himself； offered his no ments； and sought refuge in his office。 Undaunted； a photographer from Newsweek pushed his way inside and asked if Jake would pose for a photograph。 He wanted one of those important ones with a stern look and thick leather books in the background。 Jake straightened his tie and showed the photographer into the conference room； where he posed in court…ordered silence。 The photographer thanked him and left。
〃May I have a few minutes of your time？〃 Ethel asked politely as her boss headed for the stairs。
〃Certainly。〃
〃Why don't you sit down。 We need to talk。〃
She's finally quitting； Jake thought as he took a seat by the front window。
〃What's on your mind？〃
〃Money。〃
〃You're the highest…paid legal secretary in town。 You got a raise three months ago。〃
〃Not my money。 Please listen。 You don't have enough in the bank to pay this month's bills。 June is almost gone； and we've grossed seventeen hundred dollars。〃
Jake closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead。
〃Look at these bills；〃 she said； waving a stack of invoices。 〃Four thousand dollars worth。 How am I supposed to pay these？〃
〃How much is in the bank？〃
〃Nineteen hundred dollars； as of Friday。 Nothing came in this morning。〃
〃Nothing？〃
〃Not a dime。〃
〃What about the settlement on the Liford case？ That's three thousand in fees。〃
Ethel shook her head。 〃Mr。 Brigance； that file has not been closed。 Mr。 Liford has not signed the release。 You were to take it by his house。 Three weeks ago； remember？〃
〃No； I don't remember。 What about Buck Britt's retainer？ That's a thousand dollars。〃
〃His check bounced。 The bank returned it； and it's been on your desk for two weeks。〃
She paused and took a deep breath。 〃You've stopped seeing clients。 You don't return phone calls； and…〃
〃Don't lecture me； Ethel！〃
〃And you're a month behind on everything。〃
〃That's enough。〃
〃Ever since you took the Hailey case。 That's all you think about。 You're obsessed with it。 It's going to break us。〃
〃Us！ How many paychecks have you missed； Ethel？ How many of those bills are past due？ Huh？〃
〃Several。〃
〃But no more than usual； right？〃
〃Yes； but what about next month？ The trial is four weeks away。〃
〃Shut up； Ethel。 Just shut up。 If you can't take the pressure； then quit。 If you can't keep your mouth shut； then you're fired。〃
〃You'd like to fire me； wouldn't you？〃
〃I could care less。〃
She was a tough； hard woman。 Fourteen years with Lu…cien had toughened her skin and hardened her conscience； but she was a woman nonetheless； and at this moment her lip started to quiver； and her eyes watered。 She dropped her head。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she muttered。 〃I'm just worried。〃
〃Worried about what？〃
〃Me and Bud。〃
〃What's wrong with Bud？〃
〃He's a very sick man。〃
〃I know that。〃
〃His blood pressure keeps acting up。 Especially after the phone calls。 He's had three strokes in five years； and he's due for another one。 He's scared； we're both scared。〃
〃How many phone calls？〃
〃Several。 They threaten to burn our house or blow it up。 They always tell us they know where we live； and if Hailey is acquitted； then they'll burn it or stick dynamite under
it while we are asleep。 A couple have threatened to kill us。 It's just not worth it。〃
〃Maybe you should quit。〃
〃And starve？ Bud hasn't worked in ten years； you know that。 Where else would I work？〃
〃Look； Ethel； I've had threats too。 I don't take them seriously。 I promised Carla I'd give up the case before I endangered my family； and you should be forted by that。 You and Bud should relax。 The threats are not serious。 There are a lot of nuts out there。〃
〃That's what worries me。 People are crazy enough to do something。〃
〃Naw； you worry too much。 I'll tell Ozzie to watch your house a bit closer。〃
〃Will you do that？〃
〃Sure。 They've been watching mine。 Take my word； Ethel； there's nothing to worry about。 Probably just some young punks。〃
She wiped her eyes。 〃I'm sorry for crying； and I'm sorry for being so irritable lately。〃
You've been irritable for forty years； Jake thought。 〃That's okay。〃
〃What about these？〃 she asked； pointing to the invoices。
〃I'll get the money。 Don't worry about it。〃
Willie Hastings finished the second shift at 10：00 P。M。 and punched the clock next to Ozzie's office。 He drove straight to the Hailey house。 It was his night to sleep on the couch。 Someone slept on Owen's couch every night； a brother； a cousin； or a friend。 Wednesday was his night。
It was impossible to sleep with the lights on。 Tonya refused to go near the bed unless every light in the house was on。 Those men could be in the dark； waiting for her。 She had seen them many times crawling along the floor toward her bed； and lurking in the closets。 She had heard their voices outside her window； and she had seen their bloodshot eyes peering in； watching her as she got ready for bed。 She heard noises in the attic； like the footsteps of the bulky cowboy boots they had kicked her with。 She knew they were up
there； waiting for everyone to go to sleep so they could e down and take her back to the woods。 Once a week her mother and oldest brother climbed the folding stairs and inspected the attic with a flashlight and a pistol。
Not a single room in the house could be dark w