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rassment； but it worked。 Finally； we'd call the poor guy or catch him alone somewhere； and offer him some money。 We'd promise to leave him alone； and it always worked。 Usually； they were nervous wrecks by this time； they couldn't wait to cooperate。 I saw them cry； son； if you can believe it。 Actually cry when they finally came to the altar and confessed their sins。〃 Lettner laughed in the direction of his line； which was quite inactive。
Adam sipped his beer。 Perhaps if they drank it all it would eventually loosen his tongue。
〃Had this guy one time； I'll never forget him。 We caught him in bed with his black mistress； which was not unusual。 I mean； these guys would go out burning crosses and shooting into black homes； then sneak around like crazy to meet their black girlfriends。 Never could understand why the black women put up with it。 Anyway； he had a little hunting lodge deep in the woods； and he used it for a love nest。 He met her there one afternoon for a quickie； and when he was finished and ready to go； he opened the front door and we took his picture。 Got her picture too； and then we talked to him。 He was a deacon or an elder in some country church； a real pillar； you know； and we talked to him like he was a dog。 We ran her off and sat him down inside the little lodge there； and before long he was crying。 As it turned out； he was one of our best witnesses。 But he later went to jail。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Well； it seems that while he was sneaking around with his girlfriend； his wife was doing the same thing with a black kid who worked on their farm。 Lady got pregnant； baby was half and half； so our informant goes to the hospital and kills mother and child。 He spent fifteen years at Parchman。〃
〃Good。〃
〃We didn't get a lot of convictions back in those days； but harassed them to a point where they were afraid to do much。 The violence had slowed considerably until Dogan decided to go after the Jews。 That caught us off guard； I have to admit。 We had no clue。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because he got smart。 He learned the hard way that his own people would talk to us； so he decided to operate with a small； quiet unit。〃
〃Unit？ As in more than one person？〃
〃Something like that。〃
〃As in Sam and who else？〃
Lettner snorted and chuckled at once； and decided the fish had moved elsewhere。 He placed his rod and reel in the boat； and yanked on the starter cord。 They were off； racing once again downstream。 Adam left his feet over the side； and his leather moccasins and bare ankles were soon wet。 He sipped the beer。 The sun was finally beginning to disappear behind the hills； and he enjoyed the beauty of the river。
The next stop was a stretch of still water below a bluff with a rope hanging from it。 Lettner cast and reeled； all to no effect； and assumed the role of interrogator。 He asked a hundred questions about Adam and his family … the flight westward； the new identities； the suicide。 He explained that while Sam was in jail they checked out his family and knew he had a son who had just left town； but since Eddie appeared to be harmless they did not pursue the investigation。 Instead； they spent their time watching Sam's brothers and cousins。 He was intrigued by Adam's youth； and how he was raised with virtually no knowledge of kinfolks。
Adam asked a few questions； but the answers were vague and immediately twisted into more questions about his past。 Adam was sparring with a man who'd spent twenty…five years asking questions。
The third and final hot spot was not far from Calico Rock； and they fished until it was dark。 After five beers； Adam mustered the courage to wet a hook。 Lettner was a patient instructor； and within minutes Adam had caught an impressive trout。 For a brief interlude； they forgot about Sam and the Klan and other nightmares from the past； and they simply fished。 They drank and fished。
Mrs。 Lettner's first name was Irene； and she weled her husband and his unexpected guest with grace and nonchalance。 Wyn had explained； as Ron drove them home； that Irene was accustomed to drop…ins。 She certainly seemed to be unruffled as they staggered through the front door and handed her a string of trout。
The Lettner home was a cottage on the river a mile north of town。 The rear porch was screened to protect it from insects； and not far below it was a splendid view of the river。 They sat in wicker rockers on the porch； and opened another round of brew as Irene fried the fish。
Putting food on the table was a new experience for Adam； and he ate the fish he'd caught with great gusto。 It always tastes better； Wyn assured him as he chomped and drank； when you catch it yourself。 About halfway through the meal； Wyn switched to Scotch。 Adam declined。 He wanted a simple glass of water； but machismo drove him to continue with the beer。 He couldn't wimp out at this point。 Lettner would certainly chastise him。
Irene sipped wine and told stories about Mississippi。 She had been threatened on several occasions； and their children refused to visit them。 They were both from Ohio； and their families worried constantly about their safety。 Those were the days； she said more than once with a certain longing for excitement。 She was extremely proud of her husband and his performance during the war for civil rights。
She left them after dinner and disappeared somewhere in the cottage。 It was almost ten o'clock； and Adam was ready for sleep。 Wyn rose to his feet while holding onto a wooden beam； and excused himself for a visit to the bathroom。 He returned in due course with two fresh Scotches in tall glasses。 He handed one to Adam； and returned to his rocker。
They rocked and sipped in silence for a moment； then Lettner said； 〃So you're convinced Sam had some help。〃
〃Of course he had some help。〃 Adam was very much aware that his tongue was thick and his words were slow。 Lettner's speech was remarkably articulate。
〃And what makes you so certain？〃
Adam lowered the heavy glass and vowed not to take another drink。 〃The FBI searched Sam's house after the bombing； right？〃
〃Right。 〃
〃Sam was in jail in Greenville； and you guys got a warrant。〃
〃I was there； son。 We went in with a dozen agents and spent three days。〃
〃And found nothing。〃
〃You could say that。〃
〃No trace of dynamite。 No trace of blasting caps； fuses； detonators。 No trace of any device or substance used in any of the bombings。 Correct？〃
〃That's correct。 So what's your point？〃
〃Sam had no knowledge of explosives； nor did he have a history of using them。〃
〃No； I'd say he had quite a history of using them。 Kramer was the sixth bombing； as I recall。 Those crazy bastards were bombing like hell； son； and we couldn't stop them。 You weren't there。 I was in the middle of it。 We had harassed the Klan and infiltrated to a point where they were afraid to move； then all of a sudden another war erupted and bombs were falling everywhere。 We listened where we were supposed to listen。 We twisted familiar arms until they broke。 And we were clueless。 Our informants were clueless。
It was like another branch of the Klan had suddenly invaded Mississippi without telling the old one。〃
〃Did you know about Sam？〃
〃His name wa