The weather was changing. Terrible news about Stuart Kofer. They both professed admiration. Noose had spoken to Ozzie, and Ozzie had the kid locked away, safe and secure. Good ole Ozzie. Most sheriffs Noose dealt with would’ve had the kid on the rack and signing a ten-page confession.
Hitting his stride, Noose said, “Jake, I want you to represent this kid through the preliminaries. Don’t know if it’ll turn into a capital case but that’s always a real possibility. Nobody else in Clanton has any recent experience with the death penalty and you’re the lawyer I trust the most. If it goes capital, then we’ll revisit your representation and I’ll try to find someone else.”
Jake closed his eyes and nodded and, at the first pause, jumped in. “Judge, you and I both know that if I step in now there’s an excellent chance I’ll be stuck with it all the way.”
“Not necessarily, Jake. I just spoke with Roy Browning over in Oxford, damned fine lawyer, you know him, Jake?”
“Everybody knows Roy, Judge.”
“He has two capital trials this year and is swamped, but he has a young partner who he thinks highly of. He promised me they would take a look at the case down the road if it goes capital. Right now, though, Jake, I want someone in that jail talking to the kid and keeping the police away from him. I don’t want to be faced with some bogus confession or a jailhouse snitch.”
“I trust Ozzie.”
“And so do I, Jake, but this is a dead policeman, and you know how worked up those boys can get. I would just feel better if that kid had some protection right now. I’ll make the appointment good for thirty days. You get over there and see the kid, then we’ll meet at nine Tuesday morning before the Civil Docket. I believe you have motions pending in the Smallwood case.”
“But I knew the victim, Judge.”
“So what? It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody, right?”
“You’re pushing pretty hard, Judge.”
“I’m sorry, Jake, and sorry to be bothering you on a Sunday. But this situation can get dicey and needs a steady hand. I trust you, Jake, and that’s why I’m asking you to step in. You know, Jake, when I was a young lawyer I learned that we don’t always get to choose our clients, right?”
And why not, Jake asked himself. “I’d like to discuss this with my wife, Judge. As you know, we went through a lot five years ago with Hailey and she may have an opinion or two.”
“This is nothing like Hailey, Jake.”
“No, but it is a dead policeman, and any lawyer who represents the alleged killer will face a backlash from the community. As you say, it’s a small town, Judge.”
“I really want you to step up to the plate here, Jake.”
“I’ll discuss it with Carla and I’ll see you first thing Tuesday morning, if that’s all right.”
“The kid needs a lawyer now, Jake. As I understand things, he has no father and his mother is in the hospital with injuries. There’s no other family in the area. He’s already admitted to the killing, so he needs to shut up. Yes, we both trust Ozzie but I’m sure there are some hotheads around the jail who cannot be trusted. Discuss it with your wife and call me back in a couple of hours.”
There was a loud click and the line was dead. His Honor had just given an order and hung up.
* * *
—
THE MARCH WINDS picked up late in the afternoon and the temperature dropped. With his girls lost in an old movie in the den, Jake left his house and went for a long walk through the quiet streets of Clanton. He often spent an hour or two alone in his office late on Sundays, reviewing the files he had not managed to close the previous week and deciding which ones to postpone next. At the moment he had eighty open files, but only a handful were decent cases. Such was the practice of law in a small, poor town.
These days his world was consumed with Smallwood, and most other matters were being ignored.
The facts were as simple as they were complicated. Taylor Smallwood, his wife Sarah, and two of their three children were killed instantly when their small import collided with a train at a dangerous crossing near the Polk County line. The accident happened around ten-thirty on a Friday night. A witness in a pickup
<<Previous page A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 1 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 2 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 3 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 4 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 5 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 6 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 7 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 8 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 9 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 10 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 11 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 12 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 13 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 14 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 15 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 16 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 17 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 18 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 19 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 20 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 21 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 22 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 23 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 24 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 25 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 26 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 27 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 28 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 29 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 30 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 31 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 32 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 33 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 34 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 35 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 36 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 37 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 38 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 39 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 40 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 41 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 42 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 43 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 44 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 45 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 46 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 47 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 48 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 49 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 50 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 51 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 52 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 53 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 54 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 55 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 56 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 57 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 58 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 59 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 60 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 61 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 62 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 63 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 64 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 65 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 66 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 67 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 68 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 69 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 70 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 71 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 72 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 73 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 74 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 75 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 76 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 77 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 78 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 79 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 80 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 81 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 82 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 83 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 84 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 85 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 86 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 87 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 88 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 89 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 90 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 91 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 92 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 93 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 94 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 95 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 96 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 97 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 98 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 99 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 100 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 101 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 102 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 103 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 104 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 105 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 106 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 107 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 108 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 109 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 110 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 111 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 112 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 113 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 114 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 115 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 116 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 117 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 118 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 119 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 120 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 121 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 122 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 123 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 124 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 125 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 126 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 127 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 128 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 129 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 130 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 131 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 132 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 133 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 134 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 135 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 136 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 137 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 138 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 139 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 140 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 141 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 142 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 143 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 144 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 145 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 146 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 147 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 148 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 149 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 150 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 151 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 152 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 153 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 154 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 155 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 156 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 157 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 158 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 159 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 160 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 161 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 162 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 163 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 164 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 165 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 166 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 167 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 168 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 169 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 170 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 171 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 172 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 173 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 174 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 175 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 176 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 177 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 178 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 179 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 180 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 181 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 182 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 183 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 184 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 185 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 186 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 187 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 188 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 189 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 190 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 191 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 192 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 193 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 194 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 195 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 196 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 197 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 198 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 199 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 200 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 201 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 202 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 203 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 204 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 205 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 206 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 207 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 208 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 209 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 210 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 211 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 212 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 213 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 214 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 215 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 216 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 217 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 218 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 219 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 220 A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham - Page 221
Next page>>