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said, “is it true that approximately onemonth before the crime you and your brother attended a Fourth of July party?”
    â€œThat is correct,” Nellie said, a worried look crossing her face.
    Myers glanced at Nick, obviously unsure of what was coming. Nick kept his eyes on his sister, but Joe could see Nick’s fist was clenched.
    â€œAnd I believe,” Daggett said to Nellie, “Karen Lee was also at this party, wasn’t she?”
    â€œYes, she was,” Nellie said quietly.
    Frank noticed Karen Lee sitting nearby. She was nervously fingering her silky hair.
    â€œTell me,” Daggett said, standing near Nellie. “At this party, did you happen to witness an argument between your brother and Miss Lee?”
    â€œObjection,” Myers said. “This has no—”
    â€œOverruled,” the judge cut in. “Miss Rodriguez, answer the question, please.”
    â€œYes,” Nellie said. “I witnessed an argument between my brother and Miss Lee at this party.”
    â€œWhat was this argument about?” Daggett asked.
    â€œKaren had broken off her engagement to my brother a month before this party, and he was still upset about it,” Nellie explained, shifting in her chair.
    â€œI understand there were some real fireworks that night,” Daggett said with a sly smile. “And Idon’t mean in the sky. Tell me, did your brother become angry during this argument?”
    â€œPeople often get angry during arguments,” Nellie said, struggling to stay composed.
    â€œJust answer the question, please,” Daggett insisted.
    â€œYes, he became angry,” Nellie admitted.
    â€œDid he yell at Miss Lee?” Daggett asked.
    â€œYes, he raised his voice a bit,” Nellie said. Joe could see that she was growing irritated with the prosecutor.
    â€œAnd did he make an especially threatening comment to Miss Lee?” Daggett asked, fixing her cold eyes on Nellie. “A comment that was overheard by a number of the people present?”
    â€œYes,” Nellie snapped, “but it was merely a figure of speech. He didn’t mean—”
    â€œWhat was that comment?” Daggett said firmly.
    Nellie hesitated—as if she was afraid to answer, Frank thought.
    â€œI will remind you,” Daggett told Nellie, “that you have sworn to tell the whole truth up here. Failure to do so would be a criminal act.”
    Nellie took a deep breath, then answered the question. “My brother said, ‘Karen, sometimes you make me so mad I want to kill you.’ ”
    Cries and whispers resounded throughout the room. As the judge banged his gavel for order, Frank glanced at the jury box. Just about everymember of the jury was staring harshly at Nick Rodriguez.
    â€œNo further questions,” Daggett said, returning to her table with a satisfied expression.
    â€œYeah, Daggett’s good,” Frank said after a sigh. “So much for Nellie’s excellent impression.”
    Knowing they had better get back to work, the Hardys left the courthouse and walked to a small park across the street. The day had warmed a bit, but a gray pall darkened the sky, as if reflecting the trial’s grim turn of events.
    â€œI doubt Nick really meant what he said at that party,” Joe said as he and Frank sat on a bench, “but Daggett sure made it seem as if he did. And it doesn’t help that this information came from the mouth of Nick’s own twin sister.”
    â€œAt this point,” Frank said, “it may not be enough for us to come up with evidence suggesting someone else might have done the crime. After what just happened, to get Nick off, I think we need to prove someone else did it. And soon.”
    Joe looked around, considering this statement. There were other courthouses in the area. Big, impressive buildings where people came to argue every imaginable legal matter—crimes, lawsuits, divorces, child