A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,185

ran to the bathroom and saw the blood. He was bangin’ on the door, cussin’ like crazy, callin’ me all the usual names. I was afraid to come out and I just knew he was about to kick in the door. He finally quit and left and I heard him in the kitchen, so I ran to the bedroom, locked the door, and called 911. It was a mistake because I knew the police wouldn’t bother him, but I was scared to death and wanted to protect the kids. He heard me on the phone and started bangin’ on the bedroom door, said he would kill me if the cops showed up. After a few minutes, he settled down and said he wanted to talk. I didn’t want to talk but I knew if he blew up again he might hurt me or the kids. So I came out, went to the den where he was sittin’, and, for the first and only time, he said he was sorry. He begged me to forgive him and promised to get some help with his drinkin’. He seemed sincere, but he was only worried about the 911 call.”

“Had you been drinking, Josie?”

“No. I have a beer every now and then, but never in front of my kids. I really can’t afford to drink.”

“When did the police arrive?”

“Around ten. When I saw their headlights, I went outside to meet them. I said I was okay, things had settled down, it was just a misunderstandin’. I was holdin’ a bloody rag over my eye and they asked what happened. I said I fell in the kitchen, and they seemed eager to believe this.”

“Did they talk to Stuart?”

“Yes. He came outside and I went in. I could hear them laughin’ as they smoked a cigarette.”

“And you didn’t press charges?”

“No.”

Jake walked to the defense table and took off his jacket. His armpits were soaked with sweat and the back of his light blue Oxford cloth was stuck to his skin. He returned to the podium and said, “What efforts did Stuart take to control his drinking?”

“None whatsoever. It just got worse.”

“On the night of March twenty-fifth, were you at home with your children?”

“Yes.”

“Where was Stuart?”

“Out. I don’t know where he was. He’d been gone all afternoon.”

“What time did he come home?”

“It was after two in the morning. I was waitin’. The kids were upstairs, supposedly asleep, but I could hear them movin’ around quietly. I guess all of us were waitin’.”

“What happened when he got home?”

“Well, I put on a little negligee, one that he liked, thinkin’, you know, that maybe I could get him in the mood for a little romance, anything to prevent more violence.”

“How’d that work out?”

“It didn’t. He was blind drunk, had trouble walkin’ and standin’ up. His eyes were glazed over, his breathin’ was very heavy. I’d seen him plenty drunk, but nothin’ like that.”

“What happened?”

“He saw what I was wearin’ and didn’t like it. He started his accusations. I didn’t want another fight because of the kids. God, they heard so much.” Her voice cracked and she broke down. Her sobbing was unscripted, but real and perfectly timed. She closed her eyes and covered her mouth with the tissue as she fought the tears.

Libby noticed number seven, Mrs. Fife, drop her head and clench her jaws, seemingly ready to shed a sympathetic tear.

After a painful, silent moment, Judge Noose leaned over and said softly, “Would you like to take a break, Ms. Gamble?”

She shook her head firmly, gritted her teeth, and looked at Jake.

He said, “Josie, I know this is not easy, but you have to tell the jury what happened.”

She nodded rapidly and said, “He slapped me, hard, across the face, and I almost fell down. Then he grabbed me from behind, had his thick forearm around my neck and was chokin’ me. I knew it was the end, and all I could think about was my kids. Who would raise them? Where would they go? Would he hurt them too? It all happened so fast. He was growlin’ and cussin’ and I could smell his awful breath. I managed to elbow him in the ribs and tear myself away. Before I could run, he hit me hard with his fist. That’s the last thing I remember. He knocked me unconscious.”

“You don’t remember anything else?”

“Nothing. When I woke up I was in the hospital.”

Jake stepped to the defense table where Libby handed him an enlarged color photo.