A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,160

what to buy, and she had spent the previous day washing and ironing Drew’s trial ensemble. The shoes didn’t matter, Jake had said. He wanted his client to look nice and respectful but not too preppy. Drew’s secondhand sneakers would do just fine.

Mr. Zack was waiting at the jail desk and he led her down the hall to the juvenile cell. “He’s had his shower, but he didn’t want to,” he said quietly as he unlocked the door. Josie stepped in and he closed the door behind them.

The defendant was sitting at his table playing solitaire. He stood and hugged his mother and noticed her red eyes. “Are you cryin’ again, Mom?” he asked.

She did not reply but laid his outfit on the bottom bunk. On the top bunk she noticed an untouched tray of eggs and bacon and asked, “Why haven’t you eaten?”

“Not hungry, Mom. I guess this is my big day, huh?”

“It is. Let’s get dressed.”

“I gotta wear all that?”

“Yes sir. You’re goin’ to court and you gotta look nice, like Jake said. Let me have the overalls.” No sixteen-year-old boy wanted to strip in front of his mother, regardless of the circumstances, but Drew knew he couldn’t complain. He stepped out of the orange jail garb as she handed him the slacks first.

“Where’d you get this stuff?” he asked, taking them and quickly pulling them on.

“Here and there. You gotta wear this every day, Jake’s orders.”

“How many days, Mom? How long will this take?”

“Most of the week, I think.” She helped him into his shirt and buttoned it for him. He stuffed in the shirttail and said, “It feels a little too big.”

“Sorry, it’s the best we can do.” She picked up the tie, clipped it over the top button, fussed with it, and said, “When’s the last time you wore a tie?”

He shook his head and wanted to complain, but why bother? “I’ve never worn one.”

“Didn’t think so. You’re gonna be in the courtroom with lots of lawyers and important people and you need to look nice, okay? Jake said the jury will look you over and appearances are important.”

“He wants me to look like a lawyer?”

“No, he wants you to look like a fine young man. And don’t stare at the jurors.”

“I know, I know. I’ve read his instructions a hundred times. Sit straight, pay attention, don’t show emotion. If I get bored, scribble something on some paper.”

The entire family had pages of written instructions from their lawyer.

She helped him into the navy blazer, another first, and stepped back to admire him. “You look great, Drew.”

“Where’s Kiera?”

“Outside in the car. She’s doin’ fine.”

She was not. She was a wreck, same as her mother. Three lost souls about to enter a lions’ den with no idea what was about to happen to any of them. She tousled his mop of blond hair and wished she had a pair of scissors. Then she grabbed him and squeezed him fiercely and said, “I’m so sorry, baby, I’m so sorry. I got us into this mess. It’s all my fault. All my fault.”

He stood stiff as a board and waited for the moment to pass. When she finally released him he looked at her moist eyes and said, “We’ve already talked about this, Mom. I did what I did and I don’t regret it.”

“Don’t say that, Drew. Don’t say it now and don’t say it in court. Don’t ever say that to anyone, you understand?”

“I’m not stupid.”

“I know you’re not.”

“What about my shoes?”

“Jake said to wear your sneakers.”

“Well, they don’t really go with the rest of my outfit, do they?”

“Just do as he says. Always, Drew, just do what he says. You look nice.”

“And you’ll be there, right, Mom?”

“Of course I’ll be there. On the front row, right behind you.”

41

The prospective jurors began arriving at the old courthouse at 8:30, and they were greeted by the sight of three brightly painted news vans, one from the station in Tupelo, one from an affiliate in Jackson, one from Memphis. Crews were setting up lights and cameras as close to the front door as a deputy would allow them. The hamlet of Chester had never felt so important.

The jurors, each holding a summons to validate their presence, were met at the front door by a polite clerk who checked their paperwork, made an entry of some sort on the master list, and asked them to continue on up the stairs to the courtroom on the second floor where they