A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,171

briefcases. Jake said good morning to Lowell Dyer and complimented him on such a nice white jury. The prosecutor had a hundred things on his mind and did not take the bait. Sheriff Ozzie Walls and his entire uniformed force were seated in the front two rows behind the State’s table, an impressive show of police muscle. Jake, who had subpoenaed all of them, ignored his former friends and tried to ignore everyone else in the crowd. The Kofers were packed together behind the deputies and ready for battle. Harry Rex, dressed casually, was three rows behind the defense table and watching everything. Lucien, clear-eyed and pretending to read a newspaper, was in the back row on the State’s side. Carla arrived in jeans and sat in the third row behind the defense. Jake wanted all the eyes he could trust to observe the jurors. At nine o’clock Drew was led into the courtroom from a side door with enough police protection to save the governor. He smiled at his mother and sister seated on the front row less than ten feet behind him.

Lowell Dyer looked at the crowd, noticed Kiera, walked over to Jake, and said, “Is that girl pregnant?”

“Yes, she is.”

“She’s only fourteen,” he said, rattled.

“Basic biology.”

“Any idea who the father is?”

“Some things are private, Lowell.”

“I still want to talk to her during the first recess.”

Jake sort of waved at the front row as if to say, “Talk to whoever you want. You’re the prosecutor.”

Lightning cracked near the courthouse and the lights flickered. Thunder shook the old building and for a second the trial was forgotten. Dyer asked Jake, “You think we ought to ask Noose to delay this a bit?”

“Noose’ll do whatever he wants.”

Rain began pecking at the windows as the lights flickered again. A bailiff stood and called the court to order. Everyone rose respectfully as His Honor lurched to the bench and took his seat. He pulled his mike closer and said, “Please be seated.” Chairs and pews cracked and floors squeaked as everyone resettled themselves. He began, “Good morning. Assuming the weather cooperates, we will get on with this trial. I’d like to repeat my admonition to the jurors to refrain from discussing anything to do with the trial while you are in recess. If anyone approaches you or in any way tries to engage you, I want to know about it immediately. Mr. Brigance and Mr. Dyer, I assume you want to invoke the Rule.”

Both nodded. The Rule required all potential witnesses to be absent from the courtroom until after they had testified, and either side could invoke it. The Judge said, “All right. If you have been subpoenaed to testify in this trial, I’ll ask that you leave the courtroom and wait outside in the hallway or some other place in the building. A bailiff will find you when we need you.” Confusion reigned as both Jake and Dyer instructed their witnesses to leave the room. Earl Kofer did not want to do so and stormed out angrily. Because Jake had subpoenaed Ozzie and his thirteen deputies, he insisted they all leave. He whispered to Josie and Kiera and they left to hide in Land Records on the first floor. Bailiffs and clerks pointed here and there and escorted the witnesses from the courtroom.

When things settled down, His Honor looked at the jury and said, “Now, we will begin this trial by allowing the attorneys to make brief opening remarks. And since the State of Mississippi has the burden of proving its case, it will always go first. Mr. Dyer.”

The rain stopped and the thunder was moving on as Lowell walked to the podium and looked at the jurors. A large white screen hung on a bare wall opposite the jury, and with the push of a button Dyer displayed the handsome smiling face of the late Stuart Kofer, in his full deputy’s uniform. He gazed at it for a second, then addressed the jurors.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this was Stuart Kofer. Age thirty-three years old when he was murdered by the defendant, Drew Gamble. Stuart was a local boy, born and bred in Ford County, graduate of Clanton High School, a veteran, two tours in Asia, a distinguished career as a law enforcement officer, protecting the public. In the early hours of March twenty-fifth, as he was sleeping in his own bed, in his own home, he was shot and killed by the defendant, Drew Gamble, sitting right there.”

He pointed