Sycamore Row - John Grisham

Hailey, wife of Carl Lee, mother of Tonya, who was now thirteen years old and doing
well. He knocked on the front door of the Sappington house and waited as he heard feet
shuffling hurriedly inside. Finally, the door cracked and Lettie peeked through it.
Willie said, “Mornin’ Miss Lang. Sheriff Walls sent me over.”
The door opened wider and she managed a smile. “That you, Willie?” she said.
“Would you like to come in?”
He entered and found the children in the den watching television, obviously skipping
school. He followed Lettie to the kitchen where Phedra fixed him a cup of coffee. He
chatted with the women, made some notes about the threatening calls, noticed the
phone was now off the hook, and said he would hang around for a while. He was
parked in the driveway and would stay there in case they needed him, and to show a
presence. Sheriff Walls sends his regrets. Simeon was in a cell by himself, pretty banged
up, and still sleeping off his booze. Hastings did not know the Rostons and had not
spoken with them, but he understood they were at home surrounded by family and
friends. Lettie handed him a letter she had written during the early morning and asked
if he could make sure it was delivered to the Rostons. “Just our way of saying how awful
we feel,” she said.
Willie promised to have it in their hands before noon.
They topped off his coffee and he went outside. The temperature was still below
freezing, but the heater worked well in his patrol car. Throughout the morning, he
sipped coffee, watched the street, saw nothing, and tried to stay awake.
An early news show on the Tupelo station ran the story at 7:00 a.m. Stillman Rush
was in the shower and missed it, but an associate did not. Phone calls were made;
details verified; and an hour later Stillman called Wade Lanier in Jackson with the
tragic but also promising news. Lightning had struck. No juror in Ford County would
ever have a shot at Simeon Lang, but his wife had just become an easy target.