Two weeks after Philip d'Autremont is acquitted of his wife's murder, it's time for him and his partner and lawyer, Charles Barnett, to start building their life together. But it turns out that not everyone in Atlanta is as ready to leave the trial in the past as Charles and Philip, and a surprise attack leaves Charles in the hospital and Philip's arm in a sling.<br><br>With thoughts of their own mortality fresh in their minds, Charles and Philip make a decision that will change their lives forever. Future plans and home renovations take their minds off the attacks, but the danger isn't over yet: the people behind the attacks are still at large, and they weren't acting alone.

Tribulation

Mr. Authority looked at me and said, “Sir, can you tell us what happened?”


I said, “We were out for our usual early morning run with the dog when I heard a shot and my friend went down, and as I stopped to look at him, a second shot hit me in the arm. The force of it spun me around, and I almost fell on top of him.” Charles was being hovered over by two of the EMT personnel and was moaning softly. I hurt like hell too, but the adrenaline was still flowing, and that tended to block the pain somewhat.


Mr. Authority asked a few more stupid questions; then one of the cops said in a loud voice, “Somebody get this mutt out of the way.”


I looked over at him and said, “Look, asshole, he’s not a mutt, he’s a pedigreed Irish Setter, and someone is coming to take care of him.”


The cop shot back, “I’ve got a gun that can take care of him.”


Chapter 18