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said.
    “Hi, um … my name is Leon Brooks. I’m calling for the … AC … LU.”
    “Yes, that’s us. What can I do for you?”
    “Well, I got your phone number from a church bulletin here in Dodge County, and I may need some legal help. I was wanting to know exactly what services you provide.”
    “Okay, my name is Howard Goldstein. I am an attorney for the ACLU. We are a charitable organization whose mission is the help people in need of legal help including minorities if they qualify.”
    “What do you have to do to qualify?”
    “Well, we listen to your situation, and we decide if you would qualify. We have limited resources, so we have to pick and choose which cases we want to take. It is subjective. What is your situation?”
    “Um, is this conversation confidential? I mean I really don’t know who you really are.”
    “I understand your concern, but, yes, this conversation is confidential. I don’t know if you heard of us, but we are a well-known, nation-wide firm. You sound like you are a Negro. Are you a Negro?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Well, we regularly help Negroes, but of course it depends on your case. Just tell me your case.”
    “Okay.” Leon sighed not knowing where to begin. “Well, I was going to be hung tonight. Three white men kidnapped me, and they were going to hang me. They had me handcuffed with a noose around my neck ready to lift me up.”
    “Oh,” Goldstein said.
    “Yeah. Then, what happened was someone came by that was disguised and killed them all.”
    “Whoa!” Goldstein paused. “What happened to you?”
    “I was in handcuffs and leg cuffs. The person gave me the keys, and so I unhand cuffed myself. The person ran off. I walked back home or actually kind of ran back home.”
    “When did this happen?”
    “This happened last night, right around eleven o’clock, and then I finally made it home. I’m in a neighbor’s house calling you. And I’m not sure what to do. Is this something you’d be interested in?”
    “Definitely”
    “How much is it going to cost?”
    “It’s not going to cost you anything. We’re going to do it for free. This is what we do. This is exactly the type of case we want.”
    “Great, so what do I do?”
    “That is an excellent question. I have to think about it. By the way, I’m sorry to hear what you’ve been through.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate that. I’m not use to white people being nice to me.”
    “Well, I hope I can help you.” Goldstein paused for a couple of minutes.
    “Mr. Goldstein, are you there?”
    “Yes, I’m thinking.” Goldstein paused some more. “Okay, I have to ask you some more questions.”
    “Okay.”
    “Has anyone discovered the bodies yet?”
    “I don’t think so, but the police are camped out at my house waiting for me.”
    “Why?”
    Leon spoke to his father. “Why did the police come to our house in the first place?”
    “Well, I called them earlier in the night to report you missing and see if they would try to find you.”
    Leon relayed the message to Goldstein.
    “So the police knew that you were missing, and they probably also know the other guys are missing,” said Goldstein. “Is that right?”
    “Yes, I believe so,” said Leon.
    “Did you say you were from Dodge County?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh no, isn’t that the hometown of Atwood Baker, the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “He’s bad news. We think he is the head of the Klan for the whole state of Texas.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. How are the cops down there? Can you tell if they work with the Klan?”
    “Oh yes. We’re pretty sure that they are part of the Klan. They kind of try to pretend that they are not, but we can tell.”
    “Hmmm. This is a difficult situation because the law doesn’t mean anything to them, but this is common.”
    “Well, what should we do?” asked Leon.
    Goldstein sighed. “I would have someone drive you over to the police station right away. Don’t go to your