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DOWN RIVER“Why?”“Look what he’s done to us.”“Do you know what he wants to talk about?”His lips barely moved. “Does it matter?”“So, what’s going to happen with Dolf? What’s next?”“I talked to Parks about that. The district attorney will go for an indictment.Unfortunately for Dolf, the grand jury is sitting this week. The D.A. won’twaste time. He’ll get the indictment. The dumb bastard confessed. Once thegrand jury returns the indictment, he’ll be arraigned. Then they’ll figure outwhether or not the death penalty is on the table.”I felt a familiar chill. “Rule twenty-four hearing,” I said flatly. “To determineif a capital charge is appropriate.”“You remember.”He couldn’t meet my gaze. I knew the steps from the inside. It had beenone of the worst days of my life, listening for long hours as the lawyers arguedover whether or not I’d get the needle if convicted. I shook the memory off,looked down, and saw my father’s hand settle on a sheaf of pages on the seatnext to him. “What’s that?” I gestured.He picked up the pages, made a sound in his throat, and handed them tome. “It’s a petition,” he said. “Sponsored by the chamber of commerce. Theygave it to me today. Four of them. Representatives, they called themselves, likeI haven’t known them all for thirty years and more.”I riffled the pages, saw hundreds of names, most of which I knew. “Peoplethat want you to sell?”“Six hundred and seventy-seven names. Friends and neighbors.”I handed the pages back. “Any thoughts on that?”“People are entitled to their opinions. None of it changes mine.”He was not going to discuss it further. I thought of the debt he had to repayin a few short days. I wanted to talk about it, but couldn’t do it in front ofMiriam. It would embarrass him.“How are you, Miriam?” I asked.She tried a smile. “Ready to go home.”“Go on,” I said to my father. “I’ll stay.”“Be patient with her,” he said. “She’s too proud for the load she’s carrying.”251