While attending a party, Tessa sees the shadows of two people arguing behind an upstairs curtain, followed by a gunshot and the body of Carmina falling to the ground below. Grisham arrests Anton Rose for the murder of his girlfriend based on Tessa's account. Carmina's brothers demand that Tessa testify that she saw Anton shoot their sister. Anton's mother, the swashbuckling Mary Rose, threatens to kill Tessa if she does. Col. Montoya hopes that Tessa testifies and Mary carries out her murderous threat so he can arrest Mary for murder and seize both her and Tessa's land.
—David Bassler