jg.atimetokill-第24部分

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。〃
　〃But　then　it'll　be　retried。〃　'　'
　〃Then　hang　it　again。　They'll　give　up　after　three　trials。　A　hung　jury　is　the　same　as　a　loss　on　Buckley's　scorecard。　He'll　quit　after　the　third　trial。〃
　〃So　I　simply　tell　Noose　I　want　the　trial　moved　to　a　blacker　county　so　I　can　get　a　blacker　jury。〃
　〃You　can　if　you　want　to；　but　I　wouldn't。　I'd　go　through
　the　usual　crap　about　pretrial　publicity；　a　biased　munity；　and　on　and　on。〃
　〃And　you　don't　think　Noose'11　buy　it。〃
　〃Naw。　This　case　is　too　big；　and　it'll　get　bigger。　The　press　has　intervened　and　already　started　the　trial。　Everyone's　heard　of　it；　and　not　just　in　Ford　County。　You　couldn't　find　a　person　in　this　state　without　a　preconceived　notion　of　guilt　or　innocence。　So　why　move　it　to　another　county？〃
　〃Then　why　should　I　request　it？〃
　〃Because　when　that　poor　man　is　convicted；　you'll　need　something　to　argue　on　appeal。　You　can　claim　he　was　denied　a　fair　trial　because　venue　was　not　changed。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　encouragement。　What're　the　chances　of　getting　it　moved　to　another　district；　say　somewhere　in　the　delta？〃
　〃Forget　it。　You　can　request　a　change　of　venue；　but　you　cannot　request　a　certain　location。〃
　Jake　didn't　know　that。　He　usually　learned　something　during　these　visits。　He　nodded　confidently　and　studied　the　old　man　with　the　long；　dirty　gray　beard。　There　had　never　been　a　time　when　he　stumped　Lucien　on　a　point　of　criminal　law。
　〃Sallie！〃　Lucien　screamed；　throwing　his　ice　cubes　into　the　shrubs。
　〃Who's　Sallie？〃
　〃My　maid；〃　he　replied　as　a　tall；　attractive　black　lady　opened　the　screen　door　and　smiled　at　Jake。
　〃Yeah；　Lucien？〃　she　answered。
　〃My　glass　is　empty。〃
　She　walked　elegantly　across　the　porch　and　took　his　glass。　She　was　under　thirty；　shapely；　pretty；　and　very　dark。　Jake　ordered　iced　tea。
　〃Where'd　you　find　her？〃　he　asked。
　Lucien　stared　at　the　courthouse。
　〃Where'd　you　find　her？〃
　〃I　dunno。〃
　〃How　old　is　she？〃
　Lucien　was　silent。
　〃She　live　here？〃
　No　response。
　〃How　much　do　you　pay　her？〃
　〃Why　is　it　any　of　your　business？　More　than　you　pay　Ethel。　She's　a　nurse　too；　you　know。〃
　Sure；　Jake　thought　with　a　grin。　〃I'll　bet　she　does　a　lot　of　things。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　it。〃
　〃I　take　it　you're　not　thrilled　with　my　chances　for　an　acquittal。〃
　Lucien　reflected　a　moment。　The　maid/nurse　returned　with　the　whiskey　and　tea。
　〃Not　really。　It　will　be　difficult。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Looks　like　it　was　premeditated。　From　what　I　gather　it　was　well　planned。　Right？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you'll　plead　insanity。〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃You　must　plead　insanity；〃　Lucien　lectured　sternly。　〃There　is　no　other　possible　defense。　You　can't　claim　it　was　an　accident。　You　can't　say　he　shot　those　two　boys；　handcuffed　and　unarmed；　with　a　machine　gun　in　self…defense；　can　you？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　won't　create　an　alibi　and　tell　the　jury　he　was　at　home　with　his　family？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃
　〃Then　what　other　defense　do　you　have？　You　must　say　he　was　crazy！〃
　〃But；　Lucien；　he　was　not　insane；　and　there's　no　way　I　can　find　some　bogus　psychiatrist　to　say　he　was。　He　planned　it　meticulously；　every　detail。〃
　Lucien　smiled　and　took　a　drink。　〃That's　why　you're　in　trouble；　my　boy。〃
　Jake　sat　his　tea　on　the　table　and　rocked　slowly。　Lucien　savored　the　moment。　〃That's　why　you're　in　trouble；〃　he　repeated。
　〃What　about　the　jury？　You　know　they'll　be　sympathetic。〃
　〃That's　exactly　why　you　must　plead　insanity。　You　must　give　the　jury　a　way　out。　You　must　show　them　a　way　to　find　him　not　guilty；　if　they　are　so　inclined。　If　they're　sympathetic；　if　they　want　to　acquit；　you　must　provide　them　with　a　defense
　tney　can　use　to　do　it。　It　makes　no　difference　if　they　believe　the　insanity　crap。　That's　not　important　in　the　jury　room。　What's　important　is　that　the　jury　have　a　legal　basis　for　an　acquittal；　assuming　they　want　to　acquit。〃
　〃Will　they　want　to　acquit？〃
　〃Some　will；　but　Buckley　will　make　an　awfully　strong　case　of　premeditated　murder。　He's　good。　He'll　take　away　their　sympathy。　Hailey'll　be　just　another　black　on　trial　for　killing　a　white　man　when　Buckley　gets　through　with　him。〃
　Lucien　rattled　his　ice　cubes　and　stared　at　the　brown　liquid。　〃And　what　about　the　deputy？　Assault　with　intent　to　kill　a　peace　officer　carries　life；　no　parole。　Talk　your　way　out　of　that　one。〃
　〃There　was　no　intent。〃
　〃Great。　That'll　be　real　convincing　when　the　poor　guy　hobbles　to　the　witness　stand　and　shows　the　jury　his　nub。〃
　〃Nub？〃
　〃Yes。　Nub。　They　cut　his　leg　off　last　night。〃
　〃Looney！〃
　〃Yes；　the　one　Mr。　Hailey　shot。〃
　〃I　thought　he　was　okay。〃
　〃Oh　he's　fine。　Just　minus　a　leg。〃
　〃How'd　you　find　out？〃
　〃I've　got　sources。〃
　Jake　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　porch　and　leaned　on　a　column。　He　felt　weak。　The　confidence　was　gone；　taken　away　again　by　Lucien。　He　was　an　expert　at　poking　holes　in　every　case　Jake　tried。　It　was　sport　to　him；　and　he　was　usually　right。
　〃Look；　Jake；　I　don't　mean　to　sound　so　hopeless。　The　case　can　be　won…it's　a　long　shot；　but　it　can　be　won。　You　can　walk　him　out　of　there；　and　you　need　to　believe　you　can。　Just　don't　get　too　cocky。　You've　said　enough　to　the　press　for　a　while。　Back　off；　and　go　to　work。〃
　Lucien　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　porch　and　spat　in　the　shrubs。　〃Always　keep　in　mind　that　Mr。　Hailey　is　guilty；　guilty　as　hell。　Most　criminal　defendants　are；　but　especially　this　one。　He　took　the　law　into　his　own　hands；　and　he　murdered　two　people。　Planned　it　all；　very　carefully。　Our　legal　system　does　not　permit　vigilante　justice。　Now；　you　can　win　the　case；　and　if　you　do；　justice　will　prevail。　But　if　you　lose　it；　justice　will
　also　prevail。　Kind　of　a　strange　case；　I　guess。　I　just　wish　I　had　it。〃
　〃You　serious？〃
　〃Sure　I'm　serious。　It's　a　trial　lawyer's　dream。　Win　it　and　you're　famous。　The　biggest　gun　in　these　parts。　It　could　make　you　rich。〃
　〃I'll　need　your　help。〃
　〃You've　got　it。　I　need　something　to　do。〃
　After　dinner；　and　after　Hanna　was　asleep；　Jake　told　Carla　about　the　calls　at　the　office。　They　had　received　a　strange　call　before　during　one　of　the　other　murder　trials；　but　no　threats　were　made；　just　some　groaning　and　breathing。　But　these　were　different。　They　mentioned　Jake's　name　and　his　family；　and　promised　revenge　if　Carl　Lee　was　acquitted。
　〃Are　you　worried？〃　she　asked。
　〃Not　really。　It's　probably　just　some　kids；　or　some　of　Cobb's　friends。　Does　it　scare　you？〃
　〃I　would　prefer　they　didn't　call。〃
　〃Everybody's　getting　calls。　Ozzie's　had　hundreds。　Bul…lard；　Childers；　everybody。　I'm　not　worried　about　it。〃
　〃What　if　it　bees　more　serious？〃
　〃Carla；　I　would　never　endanger　my　family。　It's　not　worth　it。　I'll　withdraw　from　the　case　if　I　think　the　threats　are　legitimate。　I　promise。〃
　She　was　not　impressed。
　Lester　peeled　off　nine　one…hundred…dollar　bills　and　laid　them　majestically　on　Jake's　desk。
　〃That's　only　nine　hundred；〃　Jake　said。　〃Our　agreement　was　a　thousand。〃
　〃Gwen　needed　groceries。〃
　〃You　sure　Lester　didn't　need　some　whiskey？〃
　〃e　on；　Jake；　you　know　I　wouldn't　steal　from　my　own　brother。〃
　〃Okay；　okay。　When's　Gwen　going　to　the　bank　to　borrow　the　rest？〃
　〃I'm　goin'　right　now　to　see　the　banker。　Atcavage？〃
　〃Yeah；　Stan　Atcavage；　next　door　at　Security　Bank。
　Good　friend　of　mine。　He　loaned　it　before　on　your　trial。　You　got　the　deed？〃
　〃In　my　pocket。　How　much　you　reckon　he'll　give　us？〃
　〃No　idea。　Why　don't　you　go　find　out。〃
　Lester　left；　and　ten　minutes　later　Atcavage　was　on　the　phone。
　〃Jake；　I　can't　loan　the　money　to　these　people。　What　if　he's　convicted…no　offense；　I　know　you're　a　good　lawyer…　my　divorce；　remember…but　how's　he　gonna　pay　me　sitting　on　death　row？〃
　〃Thanks。　Look　Stan；　if　he　defaults　you　own　ten　acres；　right？〃
　〃Right；　with　a　shack　on　it。　Ten　acres　of　trees　and　kudzu　plus　an　old　house。　Just　what　my　new　wife　wants。　e　on；　Jake。〃　。
　〃It's　a　nice　house；　and　it's　almost　paid　for。〃
　〃It's　a　shack；　a　clean　shack。　But　it's　not　worth　anything；　Jake。〃
　〃It's　gotta　be　worth　something。〃
　〃Jake；　I　don't　want　it。　The　bank　does　not　want　it。〃
　〃You　loaned　it　before。〃
　〃And　he　wasn't　in　jail　before；　his　brother　was；　remember。　He　was　working　at　the　paper　mill。　Good　job；　too。　Now　he's　headed　for　Parchman。〃
　〃Thanks；　Stan；　for　the　vote　of　confidence。〃
　〃e　on；　Jake；　I've　got　confidence　in　your　ability；　but　I　can't