Mark Egan was defending Lt. Col. Kevin Parks, who had been convicted of murder years ago. Perry was on the appellate court and upheld the conviction, but wasn't sure of the man's guilt. He was now helping Egan, who had a new witness. The witness changed his mind right before going on the stand. Egan went to the Mason hotel room that night to talk about it. He and Perry were going to have dinner with the man to try and find out what changed his mind. Egan and Perry were talking when Joy walked out, "mom, I've finished my homework."

Della took the work, "I'll check it for you."

"Oh, Mark," Perry said, "this is our daughter, Joy."

The fifteen-year-old smiled, "hi," she said.

"Hi," Mark smiled back.

Della handed the work back to her daughter, "looks good," she said. They had decided to hire someone to homeschool Joy after what had happened at the boarding school. "Dinner should be up soon."

Joy left to put her work away, "bye, daddy," she called back.

"Bye, sweetheart," Perry said.

"What time do you think you'll be back?" Della asked.

"Don't wait up," Perry said as he stood.

"That late, huh?"

Perry kissed his wife, "love you."

"Love you too," Della said as the two men left.

That night at dinner, Joy could tell her mother was distracted. "I was thinking about going shopping tomorrow," Joy said.

"Okay," Della responded as she stared into space.

"Yeah, I need a few things for work," she didn't have a job.

"Sure," Della said.

"Like lingerie," Joy said, "my Johns are all tired of the old stuff."

"Mmm-hmm," Della responded.

"Mother!" Joy yelled.

Della jumped, "what?"

"I literally sat here saying I was a prostitute in need of new lingerie and you didn't bat an eye."

Della was confused, "what?"

"Why are you so out of it? Is it this case?"

"Let me ask you something. If you had decided after years to testify in order to help overturn a conviction and free an innocent man, what would make you change your mind at the last second?"

"If someone threatened my family. I wouldn't risk their lives to save someone else's."

"That's what we were thinking. Without his testimony, the conviction will be upheld."

"Is he guilty?"

"Your father isn't so sure."

"Well, daddy will figure it out. He always does."

"I suppose so. Now, about this whole prostitute thing?"

"Mom, relax," Joy chuckled, "I was just trying to get your attention."

Della rolled her eyes and laughed, "I must be slipping if I didn't notice."

"If you're slipping, then I'm going to have a lot of fun."

Della gently swatted her daughter on the arm and smiled. She let Joy stay up late that night because the girl had worked ahead on her school work. Perry was home earlier than they expected. He looked troubled. "What's wrong?" Della asked.

"He's dead," Perry said.

"Who?"

"McCarren," Perry answered.

Della gasped, "what happened?"

"He was told he had a message to call his wife. He left the table and we heard gunshots."

"Now what?"

"We go to bed and figure it out tomorrow. I've already called Paul. He'll be here at around lunch."

Joy hugged and kissed her mother good-night. She then went over and hugged her father, "I'm sorry about Mr. McCarren, daddy."

"Thank you, sweetheart."

Joy kissed his cheek, "you'll still figure it all out," she smiled before going to bed.

Della walked over to her husband, "she's right, you know."

"About what?"

"You always do figure out the truth. Even when it seems so far away at the beginning."

The next day, it was discovered that Parks had been found with the gun that had killed McCarren. His fingerprints were all over it. Della, Joy, and Perry joined Paul for lunch. Afterward, Perry and Paul went off on their own while Della and Joy returned to the room. Joy did some schoolwork while Della did some searching for Perry. Once again, Perry returned late that night. Joy was up doing some reading while Della was asleep on the couch. "Hi, daddy," Joy whispered, "I tried to get mom to go to bed."

Perry smiled, "I have no doubt." He walked over to his wife and nudged her, "Della, come on, honey, wake up." Della groaned, but didn't open her eyes, "you're back will be killing you tomorrow if you stay here all night."

"Too late," she mumbled.

Perry looked at his daughter, "will you go turn down our bed and get her pajamas out?" The teen nodded and went to her parent's room. "Come on, sleepy, I'll get you to bed." Perry helped his wife sit up before pulling her to her feet. She winced from the discomfort in her back. "You should have listened to our daughter and gone to bed."

"Why? She doesn't listen to me."

"Real mature, mom," Joy said as she returned. "The bed's turned down and her pajamas are laid out for her."

"Thanks, sweetheart, good night," Perry said.

"Night, daddy," she looked at her mother, "night, trouble."

"Ha ha," Della said, "night."

Perry held onto his wife and helped her get ready for bed. He smiled when he heard her sigh with relief as her back hit the mattress. Both were quick to fall asleep.

The next day, Della did some research for Perry and took it to him while court was in recess. "How's your back?" he asked after she gave him the files and reports.

"Fine," she said, "it was a bit stiff this morning, but I've been able to loosen it up."

Perry gave her another task and she left. He wasn't entirely sure that he believed his wife. Della returned to the room and started the search Perry had given her. "He gave you something else?" Joy asked.

"Yes, why?"

"That means you weren't exactly honest about your back."

"My back is fine."

"Really?" Joy walked over to the desk and knocked her mother's pen to the floor before walking away.

"Joy," Della called.

"Yeah," the girl turned and smiled.

"Pick that up, please."

"Because you can't?"

"No, because you knocked it on the floor."

Joy rolled her eyes and sighed. She picked up the pen and placed it on the desk. "I'll be in my room if you need me." The girl left and Della got back to work.

Colonel Parks was cleared for both the murder he had been wrongfully convicted of and the murder of Mr. McCrea. After seeing Parks off, the Masons' returned to their hotel room for their things. "Della, could you bring me that other suitcase in the closet?"

Della looked at him, "what happened to your chivalry?"

Perry smiled, "it's still here, but it will go faster if you help me."

Della looked at him for a moment, "sure," she said.

"Besides, it's empty."

Della hesitantly bent down to lift the suitcase. She hissed and placed a hand on the doorway while the other went to her back. "Perry, could you give me a hand?"

He was already watching her, "and why do you need a hand?"

Della sighed in irritation, "just help me."

Perry walked over and helped his wife straighten up. "Do you need a few more days before traveling?"

"No," she answered, "but I see that our daughter is a blabbermouth. When did she tell you?"

"She waited up for me the other night. You were already in bed. Now, why don't you go sit and I'll finish?"

Della sat in the chair in the bedroom while Perry finished packing. A few hours later, they were on their way home.