A time to kill

"He did it, Lester, and I'm worried about him."

"Have you talked to him?"

"Last Saturday, after I saw the newspaper, I went straight to the jail. I asked him why, and he could not answer. He felt bad about it. I haven't talked to him since then. But neither has Marsharfsky. He hasn't found Clanton yet, and I understand Carl Lee's upset. As far as I can tell, nothing has been done on the case this week."

"Has Ozzie talked to him?"

"Yeah, but you know Ozzie. He's not gonna say too much. He knows Bruster's a crook and Marsharfsky's a crook, but he won't lean on Carl Lee."

"Man oh man. I can't believe it. He's stupid if he thinks those rednecks'll listen to some shyster from Memphis. Hell, Jake, they don't trust the lawyers from Tyler County and it's next door. Man oh man."

Jake smiled at the receiver. So far, nothing unethical.

"What should I do, Jake?"

"I don't know, Lester. He needs some help, and you're the only one he'll listen to. You know how headstrong he is."

"I guess I'd better call him."

No, thought Jake, it would be easier for Carl Lee to say no over the phone. Confrontation was needed between the brothers. A drive from Chicago would make an impact.

"I don't think you'll get very far over the phone. His

mind's made up. Only you can change it, and you can't do it over the phone."

Lester paused a few seconds while Jake waited anxiously. "What's today?",

"Thursday, June 6."

"Let's see," Lester mumbled. "I'm ten hours away. I work the four-to-midnight shift tomorrow and again Sunday. I could leave here midnight tomorrow, and be in Clanton by ten Saturday mornin'. Then I could leave early Sunday mornin' and be back by four. That's a lot of drivin', but I can handle it."

"It's very important, Lester. I think it's worth the trip."

"Where will you be Saturday, Jake?"

"Here at the office."

"Okay. I'll go to the jail, and if I need you I'll call the office."

"Sounds good. One other thing, Lester. Carl Lee told me not to call you. Don't mention it."

"What'll I tell him?"

"Tell him you called Iris, and she gave you the story."

"Iris who?"

"Come on, Lester. It's been common knowledge around here for years. Everybody knows it but her husband, and he'll find out."

"I hope not. We'll have us another murder. You'll have another client."

"Please. I can't keep the ones I've got. Call me Saturday."

He ate from the microwave at ten-thirty. Hanna was asleep. They talked about Leroy Glass and the white kid in the stolen pickup. About Carl Lee, but not about Lester. She felt better, safer now that Carl Lee Hailey was behind them. No more calls. No more burning crosses. No more stares at church. There would be other cases, she promised. He said little; just ate and smiled.

Just before the courthouse closed on Friday, Jake called the clerk to see if a trial was in progress. No, she said, Noose was gone. Buckley, Musgrove, everybody was gone. The courtroom was deserted. Secure with that knowledge, Jake eased across the street, through the rear door of the courthouse, and down the hall to the clerk's office. He flirted with the clerks and secretaries while he located Carl Lee's file. He held his breath as he flipped through the pages. Good! Just as he had hoped. Nothing had been added to the file all week, with the exception of his motion to withdraw as counsel. Marsharfsky and his local counsel had not touched the file. Nothing had been done. He flirted some more and eased back to his office.

Leroy Glass was still in jail. His bond was ten thousand dollars, and his family couldn't raise the thousand-dollar premium to pay a bondsman. So he continued to share the cell with Carl Lee. Jake had a friend who was a bondsman and who took care of Jake's clients. If a client needed out of jail, and there was little danger of him disappearing once he was sprung, the bond would be written. Terms were available for Jake's clients. Say, five percent down and so much a month. If Jake wanted Leroy Glass out of jail, the bond could be written anytime. But Jake needed him in jail.

"Look, Leroy, I'm sorry. I'm working with the bondsman," Jake explained to his client in the Intoxilyzer room.

"But you said I'd be out by now."

"Your folks don't have the money, Leroy. I can't pay it myself. We'll get you out, but it'll take a few days. I want you out so you can go to work, make some money and pay me."

Leroy seemed satisfied. "Okay, Mr. Jake, just do what you can."

"Food's pretty good here, isn't it?" Jake asked with a smile.

"It ain't bad. Better at home."

"We'll get you out," Jake promised.

"How's the nigger I stabbed?"

"Not sure. Ozzie said he's still in the hospital. Moss

Thrum says he's been released. Who knows. I don't think he's hurt too bad."

"Who was the woman?" Jake asked, unable to remember the details.

"Willie's woman."

"Willie who?"

"Willie Hoyt."

Jake thought for a second and tried to recall the indictment. "That's not the man you stabbed."

"Naw, he's Curtis Sprawling."

"You mean, y'all were fighting over another man's woman?"

"That's right."

"Where was Willie?"