Something wrong? Tremaine asked. Rayfield stared straight ahead. This is a big mistake. Were taking all the risks here.

You think I dont know that?

If we get the letter that Harms filed, along with Riders letter, maybe we can forget about Harms.

Tremaine looked sharply over at him. What the hell are you talking about?

Harms wrote that letter because he wanted out of prison. He killed the little girl, but he really didntmurderher, right? Well, hes out of prison. He and his brother are probably in Mexico right now waiting on a plane to South America. Thats exactly what Id be doing.

Tremaine shook his head. We cant be sure of that.

What else is he going to do, Vic? Write another letter to the Court and say, what? Your Honor, I wrote you before with this crazy story I cant prove, but something happened to my appeal, and my lawyer and the clerk who got it are now dead. So I escaped from prison, Im on the run and I want my day in court. Thats bullshit, Vic. Hes not going to do that. Hes going to run like hell. Heisrunning like hell.

Tremaine considered this. Maybe. But on the off chance that he isnt as smart as you think he is, Im going to do everything I can to blow him away. And his brother. I dont like Rufus Harms. Ive never liked the guy. Im getting my ass shot up in Nam and hes back in the States safe and sound, three squares a day. We shouldve just let him rot in the stockade, but we didnt, Tremaine added bitterly.

Too late for that now.

Well, Im going to do him a big favor. When I find him, his next cell is going to be seven feet long, four feet wide and made of pine. And he aint getting a damn flag on it. Tremaine punched the gas even more. Rayfield shook his head and settled back down in his seat. He checked his watch and then looked down the road. They were almost at Riders office. *����*����* Sara and Fiske sat on the leather couch while the Harms brothers stood in front of them.

Why dont we just tie them up and get the hell out of here? Josh said to his brother. Fiske jumped in. I think youre going to find were on the same side.

Josh scowled at him. Now, dont go taking this the wrong way, but youre full of shit.

Hes right, Sara said. Were here to help you. Josh snorted but didnt bother to respond.

John Fiske? Rufus said. He studied Fiskes features, remembering where hed seen similar ones. That clerk they killed was family, wasnt he? Brother?

Fiske nodded. Yes. Who killed him?

Josh broke in: Dont tell them nothing, Rufus. We dont know who they are or what they want.

We came here to talk to Sam Rider, Sara said. Josh looked over at her. Well, unless youre gonna put on a s�ce or something youre gonna have a real hard time doing that.

Fiske and Sara looked at each other and then back at the brothers.

Hes dead? Sara asked. Rufus nodded. He and his wife. Made it look like suicide.

Fiske noted the file clutched in his hand. Is that what you sent to the Court?

You mind if I ask the questions? Rufus said.

Im telling you, Rufus, were your friends.

Sorry, but I dont make friends nowhere near that easy. Whatd you want to talk to Samuel about?

He filed that for you at the Court, didnt he?

I aint answering no questions.

Okay, Ill just tell you what we know and then you can take it from there. Hows that sound?

Im listening.

Rider filed it. My brother got it and took it out of the Courts system. He came to the prison to see you. Then he ended up dead in an alley in Washington. They made it look like a robbery. Now you tell us Rider is dead. Another clerk was killed too. I think its connected to my brothers death, but Im not sure why. Fiske stopped talking and studied the two men. Thats all we know. Now, I think you know a lot more. Like why all this is happening.

You know so much. You with the cops? Josh demanded.

Im helping the detective in charge.

See, Rufus, I told you. We got to get out of here. Cops probably on their way right now.

No, theyre not, Sara said. I saw your name in the papers Michael had, Mr. Harms, but thats all I saw. I dont know why you filed it or what was in it.

Why does a prisoner file something with a court? Rufus asked.

Because you want out, Fiske said. Rufus nodded. But you have to have grounds to do that.

I got me the best grounds of all: the simple truth, Rufus said forcefully.

Tell me what it is, said Fiske. Josh edged toward the door. Rufus, I got a bad feeling about all this. We stand here talking to them and the cops are closing in. Youve already said too much.

They killed his brother, Josh.

You dont know if he really is his brother.

Fiske pulled out his wallet with his drivers license.

Thisll at least prove we have the same last name.

Rufus waved it off. I dont need to see that. You got the same way about you too.

Even if they aint in on it, what the hell can they do to help? Josh asked. Rufus looked over at Fiske and Sara. You both talk real good and quick. You got an answer to that one?

I work at the Supreme Court, Mr. Harms, Sara said. I know all the justices. If you have evidence that shows youre innocent, then I promise you it will be heard. If not by the Supreme Court, then by another court, believe me.

Fiske added, The detective on the case knows something is fishy. If you tell us whats going on, we can go to him and get him to explore that angle.

I know the truth, Rufus said again.

Thats great, Rufus, but the fact is, in a court of law its not the truth unless you can prove it, Fiske said. Sara said, What was in your appeal, then?

Rufus, dont you answer that, dammit! Josh yelled. Rufus ignored him. Something the Army sent me.

Did you kill the little girl, Rufus? Fiske asked.

I did, he said, looking down. At least my hands did. The rest of me didnt know what the hell was going on. Not after what they done to me.

What do you mean by that? Who did what to you?

Rufus, hes looking to trick you, Josh warned.

Messed with my head, thats what, Rufus said. Fiske eyed him sharply. Are you pleading some sort of insanity? Because if you are, you dont have a chance in hell. He watched Rufus intently. But its more than that, isnt it?

Why you say that? Rufus said.

Because my brother took whatever was in that appeal very seriously. Seriously enough that he broke the law by taking it, and lost his life trying to help you. He wouldnt have done that for some twenty-five-year-old insanity plea. Tell me what it was that cost my brother his life.

Josh put one big hand on Fiskes chest and pushed him hard against the back of the couch. Look here, Mr. Smart-ass, Rufus here didnt ask your brother to do jack-shit for him. Your brother was the one that blew this whole thing up sky-high. He had to come check Rufus out cuz hes some old colored man sitting in some old prison for some old crime. So dont sit there singing that song bout your righteous brother.�

Fiske ripped the hand away. Why dont you go to hell, you sonofabitch!

Josh moved the pistol closer to Fiskes face and said menacingly, Why dont I send you there first? I catch up with you later. Hows that sound, whitebread?

Please dont, Sara implored. Please, hes just trying to help.

I dont need no damn help from the likes of you.

Were only trying to get your brother justice in a court of law.

Josh shook his head. I can get me justice in a court all by myself. We done overwhelmed your white asses. Prisons full of us and you just too cheap to build more. So I can get me morn justice in a court. Problem is I cant get me none on the outside, and damn if that aint where I spend most of my time.

This aint the way to handle things, Rufus said.

Oh, so now you know the way to handle everything all of a sudden? said Josh. Fiske was growing more nervous. Josh Harms sounded like he was at the point where maybe even his brother would have no control over him. Should he make a jump for the gun? Josh was probably fifteen years older than he, but the man looked as strong as an oak tree. If Fiske made a grab and got tossed on his head, he would probably be eating several rounds from the 9mm. The screeching of rubber against asphalt made them all look toward the window. Rufus hustled across and cautiously looked out. When he turned back from the window they all could see the fear in his eyes.