Summary

In Chapter 6, Judge Rafe Oswalt had an unremarkable career as a circuit judge for seventeen years and was intrigued by the Banning murder. He had spoken to Wilbanks, whom he admired, about the trial. He had also spoken to Miles Truitt, the district attorney. There was a crowd in the courtroom on the day that Pete was to appear before the judge. Whites filled the floor seats while blacks were forced to sit in the balcony. Pete entered a plea of not guilty.

Dexter’s funeral is described as an event full of agony and grief. It was compounded by the fact that the casket was open, displaying Dexter’s face, which had to be corrected to conceal the gunshot wound. Despite the work, Dexter appeared to still be looking in horror at the gun. In the balcony, Hop was annoyed by...