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

I looked at him and said, “First, one question: Charles?”


“Yes, my partner, Charles. How is he?”


“As I understand it, they’re going to pin his leg back together, and he might or might not be in traction for a while, but he’ll certainly be in a cast for several weeks.”


“Richard,” I said, “we’ll have to find some place to live temporarily; he can’t climb two flights of stairs in the town house to get to the bedroom.”


Richard said, “I’ve already talked to Gran. I don’t know if you know this, but her house in Buckhead has an elevator—she had it installed a few years ago when she started having to use a cane. She’s already having his old room set up so that the two of you can stay there for the duration.”


I turned my attention to the doctor and said, “What about me, Doc? When can I get out of here?”


He said, “Very soon. We need to take a few more X-rays with that temporary cast in place, just to be sure.”


Chapter 19