A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,112

Someone with a teenage daughter.”

“We keep a thick file on the best experts.”

“Don’t forget about the accent.”

“Of course not. In fact there’s a shrink in New Orleans we used about three years ago. I wasn’t in the courtroom but our lawyers were impressed. So was the jury.”

“How much might this expert cost me?”

“Twenty thousand, give or take.”

“I don’t have twenty thousand.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Jake offered a hand to shake and said, “Welcome to Ford County, though let’s hope the trial is somewhere else.”

She shook his hand and said, “Deal.”

27

The investigator for the district attorney was a former Tyler County deputy named Jerry Snook. On a Monday morning, he arrived for work at the D.A.’s office in the courthouse in Gretna and began planning his week. Fifteen minutes later he was summoned to Lowell Dyer’s office next door.

His boss was already in a foul mood. Dyer said, “Just got off the phone with Earl Kofer, who calls me at least three times a week. Wanted to know what he always wants to know. When’s the trial? I said August the sixth, same as the last time you called. The date is set and will not be moved. Wanted to know if the trial will be in Ford County. I said I don’t know because Brigance wants to move it. Why, he asked? Because he thinks there’s too much notoriety around Clanton and is looking for a friendlier venue. He wants a jury that’s not familiar with the case. This upset Earl and he started cussing, said the system is always rigged to protect the criminal. I explained that we will resist any effort to move the case but the decision will be left to Judge Noose. He ranted about Brigance and the Carl Lee Hailey trial and said the system wasn’t fair because he got off by claiming to be insane and that’s what Brigance will do again. I reminded him that Judge Noose refused to change venue in that trial and it’s been a long time since he agreed to move one. I explained that it’s rare in Mississippi for a judge to change venue, and so on. But he doesn’t listen and is really bitter, which I understand. He wants me to guarantee that the kid will be convicted and sent to death row, and he wanted to know when there will be an execution. He said he read somewhere that Mississippi has plenty of men on death row but can’t seem to get them to the gas chamber. Said the average time on death row is eighteen years. Said he can’t wait that long, that his family is devastated, and on and on. The same conversation we had last Friday.”

“Sorry, boss,” Snook said.

Dyer moved some papers around on his desk. “Oh well, just part of the job, I guess.”

“You wanted to talk about the mother and sister.”

“Yes, primarily the sister. We need to talk to them, now. We have a general idea of what Josie will say at trial, but we will not call her as a witness. The girl, though, has to testify. We have to assume that the defendant will not take the stand, so we have to call his sister. What do you know about them as of today?”

“They’re still living in the church. Josie is working at least two part-time jobs. Don’t know what the girl is doing. She’s a kid and school’s out.”

“We can’t talk to her unless her mother is present. I mean, we could, in theory, but it would cause problems. Brigance would get involved and raise hell. It looks like they’re doing whatever he says.”

“I don’t mind knocking on the door when Josie is gone.”

Dyer was shaking his head. “She’ll freak out and call her mother. It’s too risky. I’ll call Brigance and arrange a meeting.”

“Good luck with that.”

“The trial’s in two months. Are you ready?”

“I will be.”

“When are you headed to Ford County?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Stop by and say hello to Earl Kofer. The family needs to be reassured.”

“Would love to.”

* * *

—

JAKE AND CARLA parked in front of the jail and walked in the front door. He had his briefcase. She was carrying a large cloth bag filled with textbooks and notepads. Inside, Jake spoke to two deputies he knew but did not introduce his wife. The mood was immediately tense and the greetings were strained. He led Carla through a door to the jail and stopped at the counter where Sergeant Buford was waiting on them.

Jake said,