A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,101

his agreement.

Noose was perplexed and said, “Let’s talk about this later. I’d like to discuss our timing here and at least get a tentative trial date. Summer is approaching and it usually complicates our calendars. Jake, what are you thinking?”

Oh, lots. For one, his star witness was pregnant but still hiding it well. He was under no obligation to inform anyone of this. Indeed, it was likely that the State would call Kiera to the stand before Jake did. After long conversations with Portia and Lucien, Jake had decided that the better strategy was to push for a trial in late summer so that she would be visibly pregnant when she testified. The complicating factor was the threat of an abortion. Josie was working two minimum-wage jobs and she owned a car. Nothing prevented her from grabbing her daughter and going to Memphis for an abortion. The topic was so raw that it was not being discussed.

Second, little Drew Gamble was finally growing up. Jake was watching him carefully, as was his mother, and both had noticed some small pimples on his cheeks and a dash of new peach fuzz above his lips. His voice was changing too. He was eating more and had gained five pounds, according to the jailer.

Jake wanted a small kid sitting in the defendant’s chair at trial, not a gangly teenager trying to look older. “The sooner the better. Late summer, maybe.”

“Lowell?”

“There’s not a lot of preparation, Judge. Not many witnesses. We should be ready to go in a couple of months.”

Noose studied his docket and finally said, “Let’s say Monday, August 6, and set aside the entire week.”

Three months away. Kiera would be seven months along. Jake still could not envision the drama in the courtroom when she testified that she was indeed pregnant and Kofer was the father because he had repeatedly raped her.

What a nasty trial.

* * *

—

DREW WAS CUFFED to a wooden chair in a small dark holding room with two other criminals, both fully grown black men who were amused by the age and size of their new colleague. Their crimes seemed insignificant, unimpressive.

One said, “Say, dude, you shot that deputy?”

Drew had been lectured by his lawyer to say nothing, but in the presence of other handcuffed men he felt safe. “That’s right.”

“With his own gun?”

“The only gun I could find.”

“He really pissed you off.”

“He beat my mother. I thought she was dead.”

“They gon’ fry your ass in the electric chair.”

“I think it’s the gas chamber,” the other said.

Drew shrugged as if he wasn’t sure. The door opened and a bailiff said, “Bowie.” One of the men stood as the bailiff took him by the elbow and led him away. When the door was closed the room was dark again and Drew asked, “What are you in for?”

“Stole a car. Wish I’d shot a cop.”

* * *

—

SMALL PACKS OF lawyers were hovering around the courtroom as defendants were being processed. Some of the lawyers actually had business there, others were part of the courthouse crowd that never missed a show. The rumors were that the kid would finally make a public appearance and this drew them like vultures to a carcass.

When Jake emerged from Noose’s chambers, he was impressed with the number of people there to witness preliminary hearings that meant little on the road to justice. Josie and Kiera were huddled in the front row with Charles and Meg McGarry, and all four looked terrified. Across the aisle, there was a pack of Kofers and friends, all angry. Dumas Lee was sniffing around with another reporter.

Judge Noose called the name of Drew Allen Gamble, and Mr. Pete left to find him. They emerged from a side door next to the jury box and paused for a moment to remove the handcuffs. Drew looked around and tried to absorb the enormity of the room, and all the people gawking at him. He saw his mother and sister sitting out there but was too stunned to smile. Mr. Pete led him to a spot in front of the bench where Jake met him and they looked up at the judge.

Jake was six feet tall. Mr. Pete was at least six-one, and both seemed at least a foot taller than the defendant.

Noose looked down and said, “You are Drew Allen Gamble.”

Drew nodded and might have spoken.

“Please speak up, sir,” Noose almost yelled into his microphone. Jake looked down at his client.

“Yes sir.”

“And you are represented by the Honorable Jake Brigance,