that the D.A. and the judge had conspired to keep him on the clock, he would hold a grudge.
Next, Lowell called Jake and found him at the office. The purpose of the call was not to break the news that he was stuck with Gamble till the bitter end, but something more professional. Lowell said, “Jake, just calling to let you know that I’m assembling the grand jury tomorrow afternoon at the courthouse.”
Jake was pleased, thought it was a courteous gesture, and said, “Thanks, Lowell. I’m sure it will be a brief meeting. Mind if I sit in?”
“You know that’s not possible, Jake.”
“Just kidding. Mind giving me a call when the indictment comes down?”
“You know I will.”
* * *
—
OZZIE’S CHIEF INVESTIGATOR was his only investigator, at the moment, and he wasn’t really looking for another one. His name was Kirk Rady, a veteran of the department and a well-regarded officer. Ozzie could dig for the facts better than most sheriffs, and together with Rady they handled all of the serious crimes in the county.
At straight-up four o’clock Monday afternoon, they walked into Jake’s office and said hello to Portia at the front desk. She was professional as always and asked them to wait a moment.
Though he was now doing battle with Jake, Ozzie was proud to see a smart and ambitious young black woman working in one of the law offices around the square. He knew Portia and her family, and he knew she planned to be the first black female lawyer in the county, and with Jake as her mentor and supporter she would certainly succeed.
She returned and waved them over to a door down the hall. They stepped inside and the room was already occupied. Jake welcomed them with handshakes and then introduced the sheriff and Rady to Josie Gamble, Kiera Gamble, and their minister, Charles McGarry. They were on one side of the table, and Jake offered Ozzie and Rady seats on the other side. Portia closed the door and sat beside Kiera, facing Ozzie. Judging from the open legal pads, the half-empty coffee cups and water bottles, the scattered pens, and Jake’s loosened tie, it was fairly obvious that the lawyer had already spent time with the witnesses.
Ozzie had not seen Josie since his quick visit to the hospital the day after the murder, a week earlier. Jake had told him that her surgery had gone well and she was mending as expected. Her left eye was still puffy, black and blue, and her left jaw was still swollen. Two band-aids were visible. She tried to be polite and smile but it didn’t work.
After some awkward chitchat, Jake punched a button on a tape recorder in the center of the table and said, “Do you mind if I record this?”
Ozzie shrugged and said, “It’s your office.”
“True, but it’s your interview. I don’t know if you routinely record these things.”
“Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t,” Rady said like an ass. “We don’t normally talk to witnesses in lawyers’ offices.”
“Ozzie called me,” Jake fired back. “Asked me to arrange this interview. You can do it somewhere else if you like.”
“We’re fine,” Ozzie said. “Record anything you want.”
Jake spoke to the recorder, gave the date, place, and names of everyone in the room. When he finished, Ozzie said, “Now, I’d like to understand everybody’s role here. We’re officers investigating a crime. You two ladies are potential witnesses. And Pastor McGarry, what is your role?”
“I’m just the chauffeur,” Charles said with a smile.
“That’s nice.” Ozzie looked at Jake and asked, “Should he be in the room?”
Jake shrugged and said, “That’s your call, Ozzie. This is not my interview. I’m just making things happen.”
“I’d feel better if you stepped outside,” Ozzie said.
“No problem.” Charles smiled and left the room.
“And what’s your role here, Jake? You don’t represent these ladies, do you?”
“Technically no. I have been appointed to represent Drew. Not the family. However, if we assume there will be a trial one day, Josie and Kiera will be important witnesses, perhaps called by the State, perhaps called by the defense. I may well be the defense lawyer. Their testimony might be crucial. Therefore, I have a real interest in what they tell you.”
Ozzie was not a lawyer and not about to argue trial strategy and criminal procedure with Jake Brigance. “Can we interrogate them without you?”
“No. I’ve already advised them not to cooperate unless I’m in the room. As you know, you can’t make them talk. You can subpoena them