Matthew Burns joined the Schroeder family for a late breakfast of pancakes and sausage. The boys ate quickly and returned to their video games. Dana made more coffee and began clearing the table. They discussed the press conference, Robbie's brilliant presentation of the case, and Roberta's poignant remarks. Matthew was curious about Slone, the fires and violence, but Keith had seen little of it. He had felt the tension, smelled the smoke, heard the police helicopter hovering overhead, but he had not seen much of the town.

With fresh coffee, the three sat at the table and talked about Keith's improbable journey and the whereabouts of Travis Boyette. Keith, though, was growing weary of the details. He had other issues, and Matthew was prepared for the conversation.

"So, Counselor, how much trouble could I be in?" Keith asked.

"The law is not real clear. There is no specific prohibition against aiding a convicted felon in his efforts to violate the terms of his parole. But it's still against the law. The applicable code section deals with obstruction of justice, which is a huge net for a lot of behavior that would otherwise be difficult to classify. By driving Boyette out of this jurisdiction, and with the knowledge that it was a violation of his parole, you violated the law."

"How serious?"

Matthew shrugged, grimaced, stirred his coffee with a spoon. "It's a felony, but not a serious one. And it's not the type of violation that we get excited about."

"We?" Dana asked.

"As in prosecutors. The district attorney would have jurisdiction, a different office. I'm with the city."

"A felony?" Keith asked.

"Probably. It appears that your trip to Texas has gone unnoticed here in Topeka. You managed to avoid the cameras, and I have yet to see your name in print."

"But you know about it, Matthew," Dana said.

"I do, and I suppose that, technically, I'm expected to inform the police, to turn you in. But it doesn't work that way. We can process only so much crime. We're forced to pick and choose. This is not a violation that any prosecutor would want to deal with."

"But Boyette is a famous guy right now," Dana said. "It's just a matter of time before a reporter here picks up on the story. He jumped parole, took off to Texas, and we've seen his face for three days now."

"Yes, but who can link Keith to Boyette?"

"Several folks in Texas," Keith said.

"True, but I doubt if they care what happens here. And these folks are on our side, right?"

"I guess."

"So, who can make the link? Did anyone see you with Boyette?"

"What about the guy at the halfway house?" Dana asked.

"It's possible," Keith said. "I went there several times looking for Boyette. I signed the register, and there was a guy at the desk, Rudy, I think, who knew my name."

"But he didn't see you drive away with Boyette late Wednesday night?"

"No one saw us. It was after midnight."

Matthew shrugged, satisfied. All three worked on their coffee for a moment, then Keith said, "I can make the link, Matthew. I knew I was violating the law when I left with Boyette because you made things very clear. I made a choice. At the time, I knew I was doing the right thing. I have no regrets now, so long as Boyette is found before he hurts anyone else. But if he's not found, and if someone gets hurt, then I'll have a ton of regrets. I am not going to live with a possible criminal violation hanging over my head. We plan to deal with it now."

Dana and Keith were both looking at Matthew, who said, "That's sort of what I figured."

"I'm not running from this," Keith said. "And we can't live with the threat of an officer knocking on the door. Let's get it over with."

Matthew shook his head and said, "Okay, but you'll need a lawyer."

"What about you?" Dana asked.

"A defense lawyer, as in criminal defense. Me? I'm now on the other side of the street, and, frankly, I can help more over there."

"Could Keith possibly go to jail?" she asked.

"Get right to the point, don't you?" Keith said, with a smile. Dana was not smiling. Her eyes were moist.

Matthew stretched his arms above his head, then leaned forward on his elbows. "Here's my worst-case scenario. I'm not predicting this; it's just the worst case. If you admit your role in taking him to Texas, get ready for some coverage. Then, if Boyette rapes another woman, all hell breaks loose. I can see the DA playing hardball with you, but I cannot, under any scenario, see you going to jail. You may have to plead guilty, get probation, pay a small fine, but I doubt it."

"I'd stand in court, in front of a judge, and plead guilty?"

"That's what usually happens."

Keith took Dana's hand on the table. There was a long moment of reflection, then she said, "What would you do, Matthew?"

"Hire a lawyer, and pray Boyette is either dead or too ill to attack someone."

At noon, the forty-one white members of the Slone High football team met in the parking lot of a small elementary school on the edge of town. There, they quickly boarded a chartered bus and left town. Their equipment was in a rental van behind the bus. An hour later, they arrived at Mount Pleasant, population fifteen thousand. From there, the bus followed a police car to the high school football field. The players dressed quickly and hustled to the field for their pregame routines. It was odd, warming up with no lights and no fans. Security was tight; police cars blocked ev............