stolen some of your spotlight, then I'm deeply sorry. I know how it hurts you."
"Apology accepted. Has Marsharfsky been to town?"
"I don't know."
"He promised a press conference this week."
"And you came here to talk about his press conference, right?"
"No, I wanted to discuss Hailey, but obviously you're too busy."
"That's right. Plus I have nothing to discuss with you, Mr. Governor."
"I resent that."
"Why? You know it's true.- You'd prosecute your mother for a couple of headlines."
Buckley stood and began pacing back and forth behind his chair. "I wish you were still on this case, Brigance," he said, the volume increasing.
"So do I."
"I'd teach you a few things about prosecuting murderers. I really wanted to clean your plow."
"You haven't been too successful in the past."
"That's why I wanted you on this one, Brigance. I wanted you so bad." His face had returned to the deep red that was so familiar.
"There'll be others, Governor."
"Don't call me that," he shouted.
"It's true, isn't it, Governor. That's why you chase the cameras so hard. Everybody knows it. There goes old Rufus, chasing cameras, running for governor. Sure it's true."
"I'm doing my job. Prosecuting thugs."
"Carl Lee Hailey's no thug."
"Watch me burn him."
"It won't be'that easy."
"Watch me."
"It takes twelve out of twelve."
"No problem."
"Just like your grand jury?"
Buckley froze in his tracks. He squinted his eyes and frowned at Jake. Three huge wrinkles creased neatly across his mammoth forehead. "What do you know about the grand jury?"
"As much as you do. One vote less and you'd have sucked eggs."
"That's not true!"
"Come on, Governor. You're not talking to a reporter. I know exactly what happened. Knew it within hours."
"I'll tell Noose."
"And I'll tell the newspapers. That'll look good before the trial."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Not now. I have no reason to. I've been fired, remember? That's the reason you're here, right, Rufus? To remind me that I'm no longer on the case, t>ut you are. To rub a little salt in the wounds. Okay, you've done it. Now I wish you'd leave. Go check on the grand jury. Or maybe there's a reporter hanging around the courthouse. Just leave."
"Gladly. I'm sorry I bothered."
"Me too."
Buckley opened the door leading into the hall, then stopped. "I lied, Jake. I'm tickled to death you're not on this case."
"I know you lied. But don't count me out."
"What does that mean?"
"Good day, Rufus."
Chapter Twelve
The Ford County grand jury had been busy, and by Thursday of the second week of the term Jake had been retained by two freshly indicted defendants. One was a black who cut another black at Massey's Tonk back in April. Jake enjoyed the stabbings because acquittals were possible; just get an all-white jury full of rednecks who could care less if all niggers stabbed each other. They were just having a little fun down at the tonk, things got out of hand, one got stabbed, but didn't die. No harm, no conviction. It was similar to the strategy Jake had learned with Lester Hailey. The new client promised fifteen hundred dollars, but first had to post bond.
The other new indictee was a white kid caught driving a stolen pickup. It was the third time he'd been caught in a stolen pickup, and there was no way to keep him out of Parchman for seven years.
Both were in jail, and their presence there afforded Jake the opportunity, and duty, to visit them and check with Ozzie. Late Thursday afternoon he found the sheriff in his office.
"Are you busy?" Jake asked. A hundred pounds of paper was strewn over the desk and onto the floor.
"No, just paperwork. Any more burnin' crosses?"
"No, thank God. One's enough."
"I haven't seen your friend from Memphis."
"That's strange," said Jake. "I thought he would be here by now. Have you talked to Carl Lee?"
"Every day. He's gettin' nervous. The lawyer ain't even called, Jake."
"Good. Let him sweat. I don't feel sorry for him."
"You think he made a mistake?"
"I know he did. I know these rednecks around here, Ozzie, and I know how they act when you put them on a jury. They won't be impressed by some slick-talking foreigner. You agree?"
"I don't know. You're the lawyer. I don't doubt what you say, Jake. I've seen you work."
"He's not even licensed to practice in Mississippi. Judge Noose is laying for him. He hates out-of-state lawyers."
"You're kiddin'?"
"Nope. I talked to him yesterday."
Ozzie looked disturbed and eyed Jake carefully. "You wanna see him?"
"Who?"
"Carl Lee."
"No! I have no reason to see him." Jake glanced in his briefcase. "I need to see Leroy Glass, aggravated assault."