A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,195

boy who’s had a hard life. I think most of the jurors will show a little mercy.”

“I agree,” Libby said softly.

With that, Jake glanced at his watch and said, “There’s plenty of time. Let’s all stand down. Carla and I need to take a long drive. Meeting adjourned.”

* * *

—

JUDGE NOOSE SENT word through his bailiff to Ozzie who was waiting for the Kofers when they returned to the courthouse. A meeting was offered, and at 1:45 Earl, Janet, Barry, and Cecil walked into the empty and somewhat cooler courtroom, and found His Honor, robeless and sitting not on the bench but in the jury box, rocking in a comfortable chair with his bailiff nearby. Ozzie led them through the bar and they stopped in front of the judge.

Earl seemed angry, even belligerent. Janet looked thoroughly defeated, as if she had given up the fight.

“You disrupted my courtroom,” Noose said sternly. “That is unacceptable.”

“Well, Judge, we’re just sick of the damned lies, that’s all,” Earl said, as if ready for a fight.

Noose pointed a crooked finger and said, “Watch your language, sir. Right now I’m not concerned with the lawyers and witnesses. It’s your behavior that bothers me. You caused a disturbance, had to be escorted out, and threatened one of my lawyers. I could hold you in contempt right now and have you jailed. Do you realize that?”

Earl did not. His shoulders sagged and his attitude vanished. He’d accepted the invitation to this little meeting because he had a thing or two to tell the judge, without a passing thought about going to jail.

His Honor continued, “Now, here’s the question. Do you want to watch the rest of this trial?”

All four nodded, yes. Janet wiped her cheeks again.

“Okay. That third row over there behind the prosecutor will be reserved for you. Mr. Kofer, I want you to take the aisle seat. If I hear another sound or if you disturb my proceedings in any way, I’ll have you taken out again, and with consequences. Understand?”

“Sure,” Earl said.

“Yes sir,” Barry grunted.

Janet dabbed her eyes.

“All right. We have an understanding.” Noose leaned forward and relaxed. The heavy work was over. “Please allow me to say this. I am very sorry for your loss and I’ve prayed for you since I heard the news. We are not supposed to bury our children. I met your son briefly one day in court in Clanton, so I can’t claim any friendship, but he seemed like a fine young officer. As this trial has progressed, I have felt sympathy for you as you sit out there and hear some terrible things said about your son. I’m sure it’s just awful. However, we cannot change the facts, or the allegations. Trials are often messy and ugly. For that, I am sorry.”

They were not prepared to respond, nor were they the kind of people who could simply say “Thanks.”

* * *

—

AS JAKE AND Carla ducked through a rear door of the main courthouse building, Dumas Lee popped up from nowhere and said, “Hello, Jake, got time for a question?”

“Hello, Dumas,” Jake said politely. They had known each other for ten years and the guy was just doing his job. “Sorry, Dumas, but I can’t talk. Judge Noose has told the lawyers to shut up.”

“A gag order?”

“No, a shut-up order, issued in chambers.”

“Will your client testify?”

“No comment. Come on, Dumas.”

That morning’s weekly edition of the Times had neglected all county news except for the trial. The entire front page was covered with photos—Jake entering the courthouse, Dyer doing the same, the defendant exiting a patrol car in a coat and tie and duly shackled. Dumas wrote two long articles, one about the alleged crime and all the players, one about jury selection. To embarrass a neighboring county, the editor even included a bad photo of the old courthouse. The caption under it described it as “built in the last century and in need of renovation.”

“Later, Dumas,” Jake said as he led Carla down a hallway.

The news vans were gone. The Tupelo paper ran a short front-page story on Tuesday. Jackson ran the same story on page three. Memphis wasn’t interested.

48

When court was called to order at 2:05, the courtroom was at least ten degrees cooler and much less humid. Judge Noose again invited the attorneys to work without jackets, but they left them on. He looked at Jake and said, “Call your next witness.”

Jake stood and said, “Your Honor, the defense calls Mr. Drew Gamble to