A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,204

well he should have done this or he should have done that. Not a single one of us can know or predict what we would do in a situation like that. It’s impossible.

“However, what we do know is that we will take extraordinary measures to protect ourselves and those we love. And that’s exactly what my client did.”

He paused and took in the stillness of the courtroom and the rapt attention from everyone watching and listening. He lowered his voice and took a step closer to the jurors. “Josie and her kids have had a chaotic life. She was very honest about her mistakes and she would do anything to go back and do it all over. They haven’t had much luck, if any. And look at them now. Drew is on trial for his life. Kiera is pregnant after being raped repeatedly. What kind of future do they have? I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to show a little mercy, a little compassion. When you and I leave here we’ll go home and get on with our lives, and with time this trial will become a fading memory. They’re not so lucky. I plead with you for compassion, for understanding, for mercy to allow this sad little family—Drew, Kiera, Josie—the chance to rebuild their own lives. I plead with you to find Drew Allen Gamble not guilty. Thank you.”

* * *

—

WHEN THE JURY was gone, Judge Noose said, “We’ll be in recess until two o’clock, at which time we’ll reconvene and check the status of the deliberations.” He tapped his gavel and disappeared.

Jake walked over and shook hands with Lowell Dyer and D. R. Musgrove and congratulated them on a fine job. Most of the spectators drifted out of the courtroom, but some stayed, as if waiting for a quick verdict. The Kofer gang didn’t budge and whispered among themselves. Drew was led away by three deputies and taken to his holding place, the meeting room of the Van Buren County Board of Supervisors.

Morris Finley’s mother lived on the family farm, deep in the countryside, ten miles from the courthouse. He met the defense team there for a pleasant lunch on a shaded patio with a lovely view of pastures and the pond where he had learned to swim. Mrs. Finley had been recently widowed and lived alone, and she relished the chance to throw a big lunch for Morris and his friends.

Over grilled chicken salads and ice tea, they rehashed the closing arguments and compared notes on the facial reactions and body language of the jurors. Harry Rex ate quickly and left to get to his office in Clanton, but Lucien hung around. He had little else to do and wanted to hear the verdict. “They’re all hung up,” he said, more than once.

Jake couldn’t eat and was exhausted. A trial was nothing but stress, but the worst part was waiting for the jury.

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The first fight was verbal, though another angry word or two and it could have easily escalated into a punching match. It erupted over lunch when John Carpenter, juror number five, and without a doubt the one most feared by the defense, resumed his aggressive push to be elected foreman. By then the deliberations were hardly an hour old and Carpenter had done most of the talking. The other eleven were already tired of him. The twelve of them sat around a long table, eating quickly, choking down sandwiches, not sure what to do next because the tension was already palpable.

Carpenter said, “Well, does anybody else want to be foreman? I mean, look, if nobody else wants it then I’ll do the job.”

Joey Kepner said, “I don’t think you should be the foreman, because you’re not impartial.”

“The hell I’m not!” he shot across the table.

“You are not impartial.”

“Who the hell are you?” Carpenter said loudly.

“It’s pretty obvious you’ve already made up your mind.”

“I have not.”

“Your mind was made up Monday,” said Lois Satterfield.

“It was not!”

“We heard what you said about the girl,” Joey said.

“So what? You want the job, hell, you be the foreman, but I’m not voting for you.”

“And I’m not voting for you!” Joey yelled. “You shouldn’t even be on the jury.”

The two bailiffs tending to the jury stood just outside the door and looked at each other. The loud voices were easily heard and seemed to be getting louder. They opened the door, stepped quickly inside, and things were instantly silent.

“Can we get you anything?” one bailiff asked.

“No, we’re fine,”