A time to kill

Jake was proud, but did not smile. Television was just part of his job. "You know Carl Lee?"

"Yeah, know Lester too. You's Lester's lawyer, wasn't you?"

"Yes."

"Me and Carl Lee in the same cell. Moved me last night."

"You don't say."

"Yeah. He don't talk much. He said you's a real good lawyer and all, but he found somebody else from Memphis."

"That's right. What does he think of his new lawyer?"

"I don't know, Mr. Jake. He was fussin' this mornin' cause the new lawyer ain't been to see him yet. He say you come to see him all the time and talk 'bout the case, but the new lawyer, some funny name, ain't even been down to meet him yet."

Jake concealed his delight with a grim face, but it was difficult. "I'll tell you something if you promise you won't tell Carl Lee."

"Okay."

"His new lawyer can't come to see him."

"No! Why not?"

"Because he doesn't have a license to practice law in Mississippi. He's a Tennessee lawyer. He'll get thrown out of court if he comes down here by himself. I'm afraid Carl Lee's made a big mistake."

"Why don't you tell him?"

"Because he's already fired me. I can't give him advice anymore."

"Somebody ought to."

"You just promised you won't, okay?"

"Okay. I won't."

"Promise?"

"I swear."

"Good. I gotta go. I'll meet with the bondsman in the morning, and maybe we'll have you out in a day or so. Not a word to Carl Lee, right?"

"Right."

Tank Scales was leaning on the Saab in the parking lot when Jake left the jail. He stepped on a cigarette butt and pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. "Two numbers. Top one's for home, bottom for work. But don't call at work unless you have to."

"Good work, Tank. Did you get them from Iris?"

"Yeah. She didn't want to. She stopped by the tonk last night and I got her drunk."

"I owe you one."

"I'll get it, sooner or later."

It was dark, almost eight o'clock. Dinner was cold, but that was not unusual. That's why he had bought her a microwave. She was accustomed to the hours and the warmed-over dinners,- and she did not complain. They would eat when he came home, whether it was six or ten.

Jake drove from the jail to his office. He wouldn't dare call Lester from home, not with Carla listening. He settled behind his desk and stared at the numbers Tank had located. Carl Lee had told him not to make this call. Why should he do it? Would it be solicitation? Unethical? Would it be unethical to call Lester and tell him that Carl Lee had fired him and hired another lawyer? No. And to answer Lester's questions about the new lawyer? No. And to express concern? No. And to criticize the new lawyer? Probably not. Would it be unethical to encourage Lester to talk to his brother? No. And convince him to fire Marsharfsky? Probably so. And to rehire Jake? Yes, no doubt about it. That would be very unethical. What if he just called Lester and talked about Carl Lee and allowed the conversation to follow its own course.

"Hello."

"Is there a Lester Hailey there?"

"Yes. Who's calling?" came the accented reply from the Swede.

"Jake Brigance, from Mississippi."

"One moment."

Jake checked his watch. Eight-thirty. It was the same time in Chicago, wasn't it?

"Jake!"

"Lester, how are you?"

"Fine, Jake. Tired, but fine. How 'bout you?"

"Great. Listen, have you talked to Carl Lee this week?"

"No. I left Friday, and I've been workin' two shifts since Sunday. I ain't had time for nothin'."

"You seen the newspapers?"

"No. What's happened?"

"You won't believe it, Lester."

"What is it, Jake?"

"Carl Lee fired me and hired a big-shot lawyer from Memphis."

"What! You're kiddin'? When?"

"Last Friday. I guess after you left. He didn't bother to tell me. I read it in the Memphis paper Saturday morning."

"He's crazy. Why'd he do it, Jake? Who'd he hire?"

"You know a guy named Cat Bruster from Memphis?"

"Of course."

"It's his lawyer. Cat's paying for it. He drove down from Memphis last Friday and saw Carl Lee at the jail. Next morning I saw my picture in the paper and read where I've been fired."

"Who's the lawyer?"

"Bo Marsharfsky."

"He any good?"

"He's a crook. He defends all the pimps and drug dealers in Memphis."

"Sounds like a Polack."

"He is. I think he's from Chicago."

"Yeah, bunch of Polacks up here. Does he talk like these?"

"Like he's got a mouthful of hot grease. He'll go over big in Ford County."

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. Carl Lee never was too bright. I always had to think for him. Stupid, stupid."

"Yeah, he's made a mistake, Lester. You know what a murder trial is like because you've been there. You realize how important that jury is when they leave the courtroom and go to the jury room. Your life is in their hands. Twelve local people back there fighting and arguing over your case, your life. The jury's the most important part. That's why you gotta be able to talk to the jury."

"That's right, Jake. You can do it too."

"I'm sure Marsharfsky can do it in Memphis, but not Ford County. Not jn rural Mississippi. These people won't trust him."

"You're right, Jake. I can't believe he did it. He's screwed up again."