jg.atimetokill-第43部分

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ley。〃
　〃I　have　heard。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　it　happened　to　you。〃
　〃Your　grief　is　overwhelming。〃
　〃It　does　present　an　interesting　case　for　our　firm。　We　don't　get　too　many　criminal　cases；　you　know。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Jake　said；　looking　for　a　hole　to　crawl　in。　〃I　need　to　run。　Nice　chatting　with　you；　L。　Winston。　Nice　meeting　you；　K。　Peter。　Tell　J。　Walter　and　F。　Robert　and　all　the　boys　I　said　hello。〃
　Jake　slid　out　of　the　rear　door　of　the　courthouse　and　cursed　himself　for　showing　his　face　where　he　could　get　it　slapped。　He　ran　to　his　office。
　〃Has　Tank　Scales　called？〃　he　asked　Ethel　as　he　started　up　the　stairs。
　〃No。　But　Mr。　Buckley　is　waiting。〃
　Jake　stopped　on　the　first　step。　〃Waiting　where？〃　he　asked　without　moving　his　jaws。
　〃Upstairs。　In　your　office。〃
　He　walked　slowly　to　her　desk　and　leaned　across　to　within　inches　of　her　face。　She　had　sinned；　and　she　knew　it。
　He　glared　at　her　fiercely。　〃I　didn't　know　he　had　an　appointment。〃　Again；　the　jaws　did　not　move。
　〃He　didn't；〃　she　replied；　her　eyes　glued　to　the　desk。
　〃I　didn't　know　he　owned　this　building。〃
　She　didn't　move；　didn't　answer。
　〃I　didn't　know　he　had　a　key　to　my　office。〃
　Again；　no　movement；　no　answer。
　He　leaned　closer。　〃I　should　fire　you　for　this。〃
　Her　lip　quivered　and　she　looked　helpless。
　〃I'm　sick　of　you；　Ethel。　Sick　of　your　attitude；　your　voice；　your　insubordination。　Sick　of　the　way　you　treat　people；　sick　of　everything　about　you。〃
　Her　eyes　watered。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃No　you're　not。　You　know；　and　have　known　for　years；　that　no　one；　no　one　in　the　world；　not　even　my　wife；　goes　up　those　stairs　into　my　office　if　I'm　not　here。〃
　〃He　insisted。〃
　〃He's　an　ass。　He　gets　paid　for　pushing　people　around。　But　not　in　this　office。〃
　〃Shhh。　He　can　hear　you。〃
　〃I　don't　care。　He　knows　he's　an　ass。〃
　He　leaned　even　closer　until　their　noses　were　six　inches　apart。　〃Would　you　like　to　keep　your　job；　Ethel？〃
　She　nodded；　unable　to　speak。
　〃Then　do　exactly　as　I　say。　Go　upstairs　to　my　office；　fetch　Mr。　Buckley；　and　lead　him　into　the　conference　room；　where　I'll　meet　him。　And　don't　ever　do　it　again。〃
　Ethel　wiped　her　face　and　ran　up　the　stairs。　Moments　later　the　D。A。　was　seated　in　the　conference　room　with　the　door　closed。　He　waited。
　Jake　was　next　door　in　the　small　kitchen　drinking　orange　juice　and　assessing　Buckley。　He　drank　slowly。　After　fifteen　minutes　he　opened　the　door　and　entered　the　room。　Buckley　was　seated　at　one　end　of　the　long　conference　table。　Jake　sat　at　the　other　end；　far　away。
　〃Hello；　Rufus。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Nice　place　you　have　here。　Lucien's　old　offices；　I　believe。〃
　〃That's　right。　What　brings　you　here？〃
　〃Just　wanted　to　visit。〃
　〃I'm　very　busy。〃
　〃And　I　wanted　to　discuss　the　Hailey　case。〃
　〃Call　Marsharfsky。〃
　〃I　was　looking　forward　to　the　battle；　especially　with　you　on　the　other　side。　You're　a　worthy　adversary；　Jake。〃
　〃I'm　honored。〃
　〃Don't　get　me　wrong。　I　don't　like　you；　and　I　haven't　for　a　long　time。〃
　〃Since　Lester　Hailey。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　guess　you're　right。　You　won；　but　you　cheated。〃
　〃I　won；　that's　all　that　counts。　And　I　didn't　cheat。　You　got　caught　with　your　pants　down。〃
　〃You　cheated　and　Noose　let　you　by　with　it。〃
　〃Whatever。　I　don't　like　you　either。〃
　〃Good。　That　makes　me　feel　better。　What　do　you　know　about　Marsharfsky？〃
　〃Is　that　the　reason　you're　here？〃
　〃Could　be。〃
　〃I've　never　met　the　man；　but　if　he　was　my　father　I　wouldn't　tell　you　anything。　What　else　do　you　want？〃
　〃Surely　you've　talked　to　him。〃
　〃We　had　some　words　on　the　phone。　Don't　tell　me　you're　worried　about　him。〃
　〃No。　Just　curious。　He's　got　a　good　reputation。〃
　〃Yes；　he　does。　You　didn't　e　here　to　discuss　his　reputation。〃
　〃No；　not　really。　I　wanted　to　talk　about　the　case。〃
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃Chances　for　an　acquittal；　possible　defenses；　was　he　really　insane。　Things　like　that。〃
　〃I　thought　you　guaranteed　a　conviction。　In　front　of　the　cameras；　remember？　Just　after　the　indictment。　One　of　your　press　conferences。〃
　〃Do　you　miss　the　cameras　already；　Jake？〃
　〃Relax；　Rufus。　I'm　out　of　the　game。　The　cameras　are　all　yours；　at　least　yours　and　Marsharfsky's；　and　Walter　Sullivan's。　Go　get　them；　tiger。　If　I've　stolen　some　of　your　spotlight；　then　I'm　deeply　sorry。　I　know　how　it　hurts　you。〃
　〃Apology　accepted。　Has　Marsharfsky　been　to　town？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃He　promised　a　press　conference　this　week。〃
　〃And　you　came　here　to　talk　about　his　press　conference；　right？〃
　〃No；　I　wanted　to　discuss　Hailey；　but　obviously　you're　too　busy。〃
　〃That's　right。　Plus　I　have　nothing　to　discuss　with　you；　Mr。　Governor。〃
　〃I　resent　that。〃
　〃Why？　You　know　it's　true。…　You'd　prosecute　your　mother　for　a　couple　of　headlines。〃
　Buckley　stood　and　began　pacing　back　and　forth　behind　his　chair。　〃I　wish　you　were　still　on　this　case；　Brigance；〃　he　said；　the　volume　increasing。
　〃So　do　I。〃
　〃I'd　teach　you　a　few　things　about　prosecuting　murderers。　I　really　wanted　to　clean　your　plow。〃
　〃You　haven't　been　too　successful　in　the　past。〃
　〃That's　why　I　wanted　you　on　this　one；　Brigance。　I　wanted　you　so　bad。〃　His　face　had　returned　to　the　deep　red　that　was　so　familiar。
　〃There'll　be　others；　Governor。〃
　〃Don't　call　me　that；〃　he　shouted。
　〃It's　true；　isn't　it；　Governor。　That's　why　you　chase　the　cameras　so　hard。　Everybody　knows　it。　There　goes　old　Rufus；　chasing　cameras；　running　for　governor。　Sure　it's　true。〃
　〃I'm　doing　my　job。　Prosecuting　thugs。〃
　〃Carl　Lee　Hailey's　no　thug。〃
　〃Watch　me　burn　him。〃
　〃It　won't　be'that　easy。〃
　〃Watch　me。〃
　〃It　takes　twelve　out　of　twelve。〃
　〃No　problem。〃
　〃Just　like　your　grand　jury？〃
　Buckley　froze　in　his　tracks。　He　squinted　his　eyes　and　frowned　at　Jake。　Three　huge　wrinkles　creased　neatly　across　his　mammoth　forehead。　〃What　do　you　know　about　the　grand　jury？〃
　〃As　much　as　you　do。　One　vote　less　and　you'd　have　sucked　eggs。〃
　〃That's　not　true！〃
　〃e　on；　Governor。　You're　not　talking　to　a　reporter。　I　know　exactly　what　happened。　Knew　it　within　hours。〃
　〃I'll　tell　Noose。〃
　〃And　I'll　tell　the　newspapers。　That'll　look　good　before　the　trial。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　dare。〃
　〃Not　now。　I　have　no　reason　to。　I've　been　fired；　remember？　That's　the　reason　you're　here；　right；　Rufus？　To　remind　me　that　I'm　no　longer　on　the　case；　t》ut　you　are。　To　rub　a　little　salt　in　the　wounds。　Okay；　you've　done　it。　Now　I　wish　you'd　leave。　Go　check　on　the　grand　jury。　Or　maybe　there's　a　reporter　hanging　around　the　courthouse。　Just　leave。〃
　〃Gladly。　I'm　sorry　I　bothered。〃
　〃Me　too。〃
　Buckley　opened　the　door　leading　into　the　hall；　then　stopped。　〃I　lied；　Jake。　I'm　tickled　to　death　you're　not　on　this　case。〃
　〃I　know　you　lied。　But　don't　count　me　out。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃Good　day；　Rufus。〃
　The　Ford　County　grand　jury　had　been　busy；　and　by　Thursday　of　the　second　week　of　the　term　Jake　had　been　retained　by　two　freshly　indicted　defendants。　One　was　a　black　who　cut　another　black　at　Massey's　Tonk　back　in　April。　Jake　enjoyed　the　stabbings　because　acquittals　were　possible；　just　get　an　all…white　jury　full　of　rednecks　who　could　care　less　if　all　niggers　stabbed　each　other。　They　were　just　having　a　little　fun　down　at　the　tonk；　things　got　out　of　hand；　one　got　stabbed；　but　didn't　die。　No　harm；　no　conviction。　It　was　similar　to　the　strategy　Jake　had　learned　with　Lester　Hailey。　The　new　client　promised　fifteen　hundred　dollars；　but　first　had　to　post　bond。
　The　other　new　indictee　was　a　white　kid　caught　driving　a　stolen　pickup。　It　was　the　third　time　he'd　been　caught　in　a　stolen　pickup；　and　there　was　no　way　to　keep　him　out　of　Parchman　for　seven　years。
　Both　were　in　jail；　and　their　presence　there　afforded　Jake　the　opportunity；　and　duty；　to　visit　them　and　check　with　Ozzie。　Late　Thursday　afternoon　he　found　the　sheriff　in　his　office。
　〃Are　you　busy？〃　Jake　asked。　A　hundred　pounds　of　paper　was　strewn　over　the　desk　and　onto　the　floor。
　〃No；　just　paperwork。　Any　more　burnin'　crosses？〃
　〃No；　thank　God。　One's　enough。〃
　〃I　haven't　seen　your　friend　from　Memphis。〃
　〃That's　strange；〃　said　Jake。　〃I　thought　he　would　be　here　by　now。　Have　you　talked　to　Carl　Lee？〃
　〃Every　day。　He's　gettin'　nervous。　The　lawyer　ain't　even　called；　Jake。〃
　〃Good。　Let　him　sweat。　I　don't　feel　sorry　for　him。〃
　〃You　think　he　made　a　mistake？〃
　〃I　know　he　did。　I　know　these