“Would you like me to read it to you?”
“I’ll read it later,” she said.
Stone put his copy into his pocket. Apparently Hewitt had not been as sanguine as he about the outcome of the trial, since he had written the appeal in advance. He looked at his watch: half past nine. “I have some important telephoning to do,” he said to Allison. “You’re going to have to stay here tonight; would you like me to bring you some things?”
“Thank you,” she said. “A cotton dress, some underwear, and my cosmetics case.”
Stone stood up. “Thomas is outside, I’m sure; he’ll drive me. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He left the cell and walked down the hall to the front desk, where he found Hilary Kramer and Jim Forrester waiting.
“Is she all right?” Kramer asked.
“Yes, she just fainted; she’s having some dinner now.”
“I don’t blame her for fainting,” Kramer said. “I would have, too, under the circumstances.”
Jim Forrester looked almost as pale under his tan as Allison. “When do you expect to hear about the appeal?” he asked.
“Probably not until tomorrow.”
“Any way to gauge her chances?”
“None that I know of. I’m about to make some phone calls to muster as much support as possible.” He looked at Forrester. “Jim, you look awful; are you feeling all right?”
“I’m okay. I guess I wasn’t expecting a conviction; you don’t get much of this sort of thing in the travel-writing business.”
“Speaking of travel writing, do you think you could call some of your travel editors and get them to send telegrams of protest to the prime minister first thing in the morning? If he thinks hanging Allison is going to hurt his tourist trade, maybe that’ll help.”
“I’ll call a couple of people tonight,” Forrester replied.
“Good, now I’ve got to run back to the marina, make some calls, and get some things for Allison.”
“Stone,” Kramer said, “give me one good quote for my piece.”
“The defense is absolutely shocked at this outrageous verdict. In the United States this case would have been dismissed out of hand, and now we face the prospect of St. Marks executing an innocent American woman who has already been devastated by the entirely natural death of her husband. If this happens, no American will ever be safe in St. Marks again. I urge every American who cares about justice to wire or fax the prime minister of St. Marks in protest.”
“Great!” Kramer replied.
“Hilary, I know it’s late, but this piece isn’t going to do Allison any good if it runs the day after tomorrow. Is there any way you can get it into tomorrow’s edition?”
“I may have to break some legs, but I’ll get it done.”
“Thanks; I have to go now.”
Thomas was waiting at the door. “How is she?”
“Much better; she’s eating, anyway. Can you run me to the marina, then let me borrow your car to get back here?”
“Of course; let’s go.”
As they pulled up at the marina, Stone saw the fast motor yacht that Allison had previously chartered pulling into a berth.
“What’s that doing back?” Thoma
s asked.
“It’s been in Guadeloupe waiting for a call from Allison to pick her up. Would you tell them that Mrs. Chapman has been delayed and to stick around until tomorrow? I hope she’ll be here to go aboard.”
“Sure.” Thomas handed over his car keys, then walked off toward the big motor yacht.