Keith Morrison

Eventually, Nancy found a new safe house, a small two-bedroom furnished apartment for her and the girls and the security detail.

And they all crowded in to wait for the all-clear.

Though Emily was not allowed to return to college, Madison still had to finish her junior year of high school.

The security people installed cameras inside and outside of the apartment so that they could monitor everything that moved.

And crowded into that little place, they all began to feel like family.

Nancy and the girls gave their minders nicknames.

A female officer who always wore a lacoste baseball hat became known as Gator.

A male officer who reminded Nancy of the actor Russell Crowe was dubbed Maximus.

Though Nancy and the girls were in hiding, Nancy's husband, Chris, was free to live his life as if nothing had changed.

He continued to work at the bank.

He acted as custodial parent for Wendy's kids.

For the life of her, Nancy couldn't understand why he had not been arrested.

But...

federal agents have their own way of doing things.

Those long, hot summer months when Chris Latham was allowed to roam free were extremely valuable.

Next, on Murder and Magnolias.

Murder and Magnolias is a production of Dateline and NBC News.

Tim Beecham is the producer.

Brian Drew is the audio editor.

Thomas Kemmon is assistant audio editor.