Chapter 64

“Dammit, Roscoe, your people know better than to pull stunts like that, arresting the victims and letting the perpetrators go. What were they thinking?”

“We don’t like that sort of thing here in this county,” the sheriff said. “If fags are allowed to hold hands in public, where’s it going to stop?”

“What you like, Roscoe, doesn’t matter,” Angus said. “You were elected to enforce the law, not your Pentecostal prejudices. For that matter, Roscoe, you may be sheriff, but as district attorney, I decide what gets prosecuted in this county, as well as what doesn’t. You heard Mr. Barnett. He’s in a position to cause a great deal of trouble for your people.”

“I’m not afraid of a city lawyer.”

“Well, you’d better be afraid of this one.”

“Why?”

“Because he doesn’t take prisoners.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Roscoe said.

“Remember that big case in Atlanta a couple of years ago where the district attorney, a couple of cops, and a big-shot television preacher were busted?”