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

“That was awesome,” Joe said. “We’ve never done it outside before.”


“It’s even more awesome in broad daylight,” Charles said.


“No shit!” Joe said. “Won’t the neighbors see?”


“No,” Charles said. “Take a good look around tomorrow. You’ll see that the lattice screens at each end of the deck are situated so that they block even the upstairs view from the houses on either side, the deck itself is ten feet above the sand, and there’s a three-foot screen along the beach side. Nobody walking by on the beach can see anything lower than the upstairs windows.”


He got up, offered me his hand, and said, “Ready to call it a day?” I let him pull me up and said, “Right behind you.”


“Lock up when you come upstairs, guys,” Charles said, and we went upstairs, followed by Lance, who appeared from his pallet in the kitchen when he heard our voices.


Chapter 80