A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,52

she a shrink or something?”

The use of the word “shrink” caught Jake off guard. “She’s a psychiatrist.”

“Oh, a shrink. I’ve met one or two before.”

“Really? Where?”

“They put me in jail one time, in the juvenile pen, and I had to see a shrink once a week. It was a waste of time.”

“But I’ve asked you twice if you’ve ever been to juvenile court and you said no.”

“I don’t remember you asking me that. Sorry.”

“Why were you in the juvenile pen?”

Drew took another bite of a doughnut and thought about the question. “And you’re my lawyer, right?”

“This is the fifth straight day I’ve come here to the jail to talk to you. Only your lawyer would do that, right?”

“I really want to see my mom.”

Jake breathed deeply and told himself to be patient, something he did with every visit. “Your mother had surgery yesterday, they reset her jaw, and she’s doing fine. You can’t see her now but I’m sure they’ll allow her to come here for a visit.”

“I thought she was dead.”

“I know you did, Drew.” Jake heard voices in the hall and looked at his watch. “Here’s the drill. The sheriff will drive you to Tupelo. You’ll sit in the backseat, probably alone, and you are not to say a word to anyone else in the car. Understand?”

“You’re not going?”

“I’ll be in my car behind you, and I’ll be there when you meet the doctor. Just don’t say anything to the sheriff or his deputies, okay?”

“Will they talk to me?”

“I doubt it.”

The door opened and Ozzie barged in with Moss Junior behind him. Jake stood and offered a terse “Mornin’ gentlemen,” but they only nodded. Moss Junior unsnapped the cuffs from his belt and said to Drew, “Stand up please.”

Jake asked, “Does he have to wear handcuffs? I mean, he’s not going anywhere.”

“We know our job, Jake, same as you,” Ozzie said like a real smart-ass.

“Why can’t he wear street clothes? Look, Ozzie, he’s going for a psychiatric evaluation, and sitting there in an orange jumpsuit will not help matters.”

“Back off, Jake.”

“I’m not backing off. I’ll call Judge Noose.”

“You do that.”

The jailer said, “He doesn’t have any extra clothes. Just one change, and it’s in the laundry.”

Jake looked at the jailer and asked, “You don’t allow the kids to have any clothes?”

Ozzie said, “He’s not a kid, Jake. He was in circuit court last time I checked.”

To benefit nothing, Moss Junior said, “They burned all his clothes. Same for his mother and sister.”

Drew shuddered and took a deep breath.

Jake looked at Drew, then looked at Moss Junior and asked, “Was that really necessary?”

“You’re askin’ ’bout more clothes. Ain’t got ’em.”

Ozzie said, “Let’s go.”

Every office had leaks, and Ozzie had been burned on occasion. The last thing he wanted was a front-page photo of him trying to sneak the accused killer out for a visit to a psychiatrist. His car was waiting behind the jail, with Looney and Swayze standing guard and prepared to shoot any reporter they saw. The getaway went smoothly, and as Jake raced to keep up with them in his Saab, he could barely see the top of Drew’s blond hair in the rear seat.

* * *

—

DR. ROOKER’S OFFICE was one of a dozen in a professional office building not far from downtown Tupelo. As directed, Ozzie turned into a service drive behind the building and was met by two marked patrol cars from the Lee County sheriff’s department. He parked, got out, left Moss Junior in the front seat to guard the defendant, and went inside with the local deputies to check out the premises. Jake remained in his car, not far from Ozzie’s, and waited. What else could he do? Driving over, he had called Portia who had called the hospital for information about Josie Gamble. Portia had learned nothing and was waiting for a return call from a nurse.

Half an hour dragged by. Moss Junior finally got out and lit a cigarette, and Jake walked over for a chat. He glanced into the rear seat and saw Drew lying down with his knees pulled to his chest.

Jake nodded at him and asked, “Did he say much?”

“Not a word, nothin’, course we didn’t pry. That’s a sick puppy, Jake.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you heard that hummin’ sound he does? Just sits there with his eyes closed and sorta hums and groans at the same time, like he’s in another world.”

“I’ve heard it.”

Moss blew a cloud of smoke at the sky and shifted