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His grandfather had survived the Holocaust； his grandmother had not。 Goodman promised to contact Wiesenberg； and felt confident he too would testify。
By noon； Adam was tired of the office。 He unlocked his door and heard no sounds on the floor。 The other lawyers were gone。 He left the building。
He drove west； over the river into Arkansas； past the truck stops and dog track in West Memphis； and finally through the congestion and into the farm country。 He passed the hamlets of Earle and Parkin and Wynne； where the hills began。 He stopped for a Coke at a country grocery where three old men in faded overalls sat on the porch swatting flies and suffering in the heat。 He lowered the convertible top and sped away。
Two hours later he stopped again； this time in the town of Mountain View to get a sandwich and ask directions。 Calico Rock was not far up the road； he was told； just follow the White River。 It was a lovely road； winding through the foothills of the Ozarks； through heavy woods and across mountain streams。 The White River snaked its way along to the left； and it was dotted with trout fishermen in jon boats。
Calico Rock was a small town on a bluff above the river。 Three trout docks lined the east bank near the bridge。 Adam parked by the river and walked to the first one； an outfitter called Calico Marina。 The building floated on pontoons； and was held close to the bank by thick cables。 A row of empty rental boats was strung together next to the pier。 The pungent smell of gasoline and oil emanated from a solitary gas pump。 A sign listed the rates for boats； guides； gear； and fishing licenses。
Adam walked onto the covered dock and admired the river a few feet away。 A young man with dirty hands emerged from a back room and asked if he could be of assistance。 He examined Adam from top to bottom； and apparently decided that he was no fisherman。
〃I'm looking for Wyn Lettner。〃
The name Ron was stitched above the shirt pocket and slightly covered with a smudge of grease。 Ron walked back to his room and yelled； 〃Mr。 Lettner！〃 in the direction of a screen door that led to a small shop。 Ron disappeared。
Wyn Lettner was a huge man； well over six feet tall with a large frame that was quite overloaded。 Garner had described him as a beer drinker； and Adam remembered this as he glanced at the large stomach。 He was in his late sixties； with thinning gray hair tucked neatly under an EVINRUDE cap。 There were at least three newspaper photographs of Special Agent Lettner indexed away somewhere in Adam's files； and in each he was the standard G…Man … dark suit； white shirt； narrow tie； military haircut。 And he was much trimmer in those days。
〃Yes sir；〃 he said loudly as he walked through the screen door； wiping crumbs from his lips。 〃I'm Wyn Lettner。〃 He had a deep voice and a pleasant smile。
Adam pushed forward a hand； and said； 〃I'm Adam Hall。 Nice to meet you。〃
Lettner took his hand and shook it furiously。 His forearms were massive and his biceps bulged。 〃Yes sir；〃 he boomed。 〃What can I do for you？〃
Thankfully the dock was deserted； with the exception of Ron； who was out of sight but making noises with a tool in his room。 Adam fidgeted a bit； and said； 〃Well； I'm a lawyer； and I represent Sam Cayhall。〃
The smile grew and revealed two rows of strong yellow teeth。 〃Got your work cut out for you； don't you？〃 he said with a laugh and slapped Adam on the back。
〃I guess so；〃 Adam said awkwardly as he waited for another assault。 〃I'd like to talk about Sam。〃
Lettner was suddenly serious。 He stroked his chin with a beefy hand and studied Adam with narrow eyes。 〃I saw it in the papers； son。 I know Sam's your grandfather。 Must be tough on you。 Gonna get tougher； too。〃 Then he smiled again。 〃Tougher on Sam as well。〃 His eyes twinkled as if he'd just delivered a side…splitting punch line and he wanted Adam to double over with laughter。
Adam missed the humor。 〃Sam has less than a month； you know；〃 he said； certain that Lettner had also read about the execution date。
A heavy hand was suddenly on Adam's shoulder and was shoving him in the direction of the shop。 〃Step in here； son。 We'll talk about Sam。 You wanna beer？〃
〃No。 Thanks。〃 They entered a narrow room with fishing gear hanging from the walls and ceilings； with rickety wooden shelves covered with food … crackers； sardines； canned sausages； bread； pork and beans； cupcakes … all the necessities for a day on the river。 A soft drink cooler sat in one corner。
〃Take a seat；〃 Lettner said； waving to a corner near the cash register。 Adam sat in a shaky wooden chair as Lettner fished through an ice chest and found a bottle of beer。 〃Sure you don't want one？〃
〃Maybe later。〃 It was almost five o'clock。
He twisted the top； drained at least a third of the bottle with the first gulp； smacked his lips； then sat in a beaten leather captain's chair which had no doubt been removed from a customized van。 〃Are they finally gonna get old Sam？〃 he asked。
〃They're trying awfully hard。〃
〃What're the odds？〃
〃Not good。 We have the usual assortment of last minute appeals； but the clock's ticking。〃
〃Sam's not a bad guy；〃 Lettner said with a trace of remorse； then washed it away with another long drink。 The floor creaked quietly as the dock shifted with the river。
〃How long were you in Mississippi？〃 Adam asked。
〃Five years。 Hoover called me after the three civil rights workers disappeared。 Nineteen sixtyfour。 We set up a special unit and went to work。 After Kramer； the Klan sort of ran out of gas。〃
〃And you were in charge of what？〃
〃Mr。 Hoover was very specific。 He told me to infiltrate the Klan at all costs。 He wanted it busted up。 To be truthful； we were slow getting started in Mississippi。 Bunch of reasons for it。 Hoover hated the Kennedys and they were pushing him hard； so he dragged his feet。 But when those three boys disappeared； we got off our asses。 Nineteen sixty…four was a helluva year in Mississippi。〃
〃I was born that year。〃
〃Yeah； paper said you were born in Clanton。〃
Adam nodded。 〃I didn't know it for a long time。 My parents told me I was born in Memphis。〃
The door jingled and Ron entered the shop。 He looked at them； then studied the crackers and sardines。 They watched him and waited。 He glanced at Adam as if to say； 〃Keep talking。 I'm not listening。〃
〃What do you want？〃 Lettner snapped at him。
He grabbed a can of Vienna sausage with his dirty hand and showed it to them。 Lettner nodded and waved at the door。 Ron ambled toward it； checking the cupcakes and potato chips as he went。
〃He's nosy as hell；〃 Lettner said after he was gone。 〃I talked to Garner Goodman a few times。 It was years ago。 Now； that's a weird bird。〃
〃He's my boss。 He gave me your name； said you'd talk to me。〃
〃Talk about what？〃 Lettner asked； then took another drink。
〃The Kramer case。〃
〃The Kramer case is closed。 The only thing left is Sam and his date with the gas chamber。〃
〃Do you want him executed？〃
Voices followed footsteps； then the door opened again。 A man and a boy entered and Lettner got to his feet。 They needed food and supplies； and for ten minutes they shopped and talked and deci