jg.atimetokill-第74部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Never　heard　of　a　woman　named　Harry　Rex。〃
　〃I　mean　for　a　male　redneck。〃
　〃I　guess　it'll　do。〃
　Jake　interrupted。　〃Dell　Perry　said　he　used　to　own　a　bait　shop　down　by　the　lake。　I　take　it　no　one　knows　him。〃
　〃No；　but　I　bet　he's　a　redneck；〃　said　Lucien。　〃Because　of　。his　name。　I'd　scratch　him。〃
　〃Aren't　you　given　their　addresses；　ages；　occupations；　basic　information　like　that？〃　asked　Atcavage。
　〃Not　until　the　day　of　trial。　On　Monday　each　prospective　juror　fills　out　a　questionnaire　in　the　courtroom。　But　until　then　we　have　only　the　names。〃
　〃What　kind　of　juror　are　we　looking　for；　Jake？〃　Ellen　asked。
　〃Young　to　middle…aged　men　with　families。　I　would　prefer　to　have　no　one　over　fifty。〃
　〃Why？〃　Lucien　asked　belligerently。
　〃Younger　whites　are　more　tolerant　of　blacks。〃
　〃Like　Cobb　and　Willard；〃　Lucien　said。
　〃Most　of　the　older　folks　will　always　dislike　blacks；　but
　the　younger　generation　has　accepted　an　integrated　society。　Less　bigotry；　as　a　rule；　with　youth。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Harry　Rex；　〃and　I　would　stay　away　from　women　and　rednecks。〃
　〃That's　my　plan。〃
　〃I　think　you're　wrong；〃　said　Lucien。　〃Women　are　more　sympathetic。　Just　look　at　Row　Ark。　She's　sympathetic　toward　everyone。　Right；　Row　Ark？〃
　〃Right；　Lucien。〃
　〃She　has　sympathy　for　criminals；　child　pornographers；　atheists；　illegal　immigrants；　gays。　Don't　you；　Row　Ark？〃
　〃Right；　Lucien。〃
　〃She　and　I　hold　the　only　two　ACLU　cards　existing　at　this　very　moment　in　Ford　County；　Mississippi。〃
　〃That's　sick；〃　said　Atcavage；　the　banker。
　〃Clyde　Sisco；〃　Jake　said　loudly；　trying　to　minimize　controversy。
　〃He　can　be　bought；〃　Lucien　said　smugly。
　〃What　do　you　mean　'He　can　be　bought'？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Just　what　I　said。　He　can　be　bought。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　〃Are　you　kidding？　He's　a　Sisco。　Biggest　bunch　of　crooks　in　the　eastern　part　of　the　county。　They　all　live　around　the　Mays　munity。　They're　professional　thieves　and　insurance　defrauders。　They　burn　their　houses　every　three　years。　You've　never　heard　of　them？〃　He　was　shouting　at　Harry　Rex。
　〃No。　How　do　you　know　he　can　be　bought？〃
　〃Because　I　bought　him　once。　In　a　civil　case；　ten　years　ago。　He　was　on　the　jury　list；　and　I　got　word　to　him　that　I'd　give　him　ten　percent　of　the　jury　verdict。　He's　very　persuasive。〃
　Jake　dropped　the　jury　lists　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　He　knew　this　was　probably　true；　but　didn't　want　to　believe　it。
　〃And？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　〃And　he　was　selected　for　the　jury；　and　I　got　the　largest　verdict　in　the　history　of　Ford　County。　It's　still　the　record。〃
　〃Stubblefield？〃　Jake　asked　in　disbelief。
　〃That's　it；　my　boy。　Stubblefield　versus　North　Texas　Pipeline。　September　1974。　Eight　hundred　thousand　dollars。　Appealed　and　affirmed　by　the　Supreme　Court。〃
　〃Did　you　pay　him？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　Lucien　finished　a　long　drink　and　smacked　his　lips。　〃Eighty　thousand　cash；　in　one…hundred…dollar　bills；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃He　built　a　new　house；　then　burned　it　down。〃
　〃What　was　your　cut？〃　asked　Atcavage。
　〃Forty　percent；　minus　eighty　thousand。〃
　The　room　was　silent　as　everybody　but　Lucien　made　the　calculation。
　〃Wow；〃　Atcavage　mumbled。
　〃You're　kidding；　aren't　you；　Lucien？〃　Jake　asked　halfheartedly。
　〃You　know　I'm　serious；　Jake。　You　know　I　lie　pulsively；　but　never　about　things　like　this。　I'm　telling　the　truth；　and　I'm　telling　you　this　guy　can　be　bought。〃
　〃How　much？〃　asked　Harry　Rex。
　〃Forget　it！〃　said　Jake。
　〃Five　thousand　cash；　just　guessing。〃
　〃Forget　it！〃
　There　was　a　pause　as　each　one　looked　at　Jake　to　make　sure　he　was　not　interested　in　Clyde　Sisco；　and　when　it　was　obvious　he　was　not　interested；　they　took　a　drink　and　waited　for　the　next　name。　Around　ten…thirty　Jake　had　his　first　beer；　and　an　hour　later　the　case　was　gone　and　forty　names　remained。　Lucien　staggered　to　the　balcony　and　watched　the　blacks　carry　their　candles　along　the　sidewalks　next　to　the　streets　around　the　courthouse。
　〃Jake；　why　is　this　deputy　sitting　in　his　car　in　front　of　my　office？〃　he　asked。
　〃That's　my　bodyguard。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃Nesbit。〃
　〃Is　he　awake？〃
　〃Probably　not。〃
　Lucien　leaned　dangerously　over　the　railing。　〃Hey；　Nesbit；〃　he　yelled。
　Nesbit　opened　the　door　of　his　patrol　car。　〃Yeah；　what　is　it？〃。
　〃Jake　here　wants　you　to　go　to　the　store　and　get　us　some　more　beer。　He's　very　thirsty。　Here's　a　twenty。　He'd　like　a　case　of　Coors。〃
　〃I　can't　buy　it　when　I'm　on　duty；〃　Nesbit　protested。
　〃Since　when？〃　Lucien　laughed　at　himself。　　　　。
　〃I　can't　do　it。〃
　〃It's　not　for　you；　Nesbit。　It's　for　Mr。　Brigance；　and　he　really　needs　it。　He's　already　called　the　sheriff；　and　it's　okay。〃
　〃Who　called　the　sheriff？〃
　〃Mr。　Brigance；〃　lied　Lucien。　〃Sheriff　said　he　didn't　care　what　you　did　as　long　as　you　didn't　drink　any。〃
　Nesbit　shrugged　and　appeared　satisfied。　Lucien　dropped　a　twenty　from　the　balcony。　Within　minutes　Nesbit　was　back　with　a　case　minus　one　which　had　been　opened　and　was　sitting　on　his　radar　gun。　Lucien　ordered　Atcavage　to　fetch　the　beer　from　below　and　distribute　the　first　six…pack。
　An　hour　later　the　list　was　finished　and　the　party　was　over。　Nesbit　loaded　Harry　Rex；　Lucien；　and　Atcavage　into　his　patrol　car　and　took　them　home。　Jake　and'his　clerk　sat　on　the　balcony；　sipping　and　watching　the　candles　flicker　and　move　slowly　around　the　courthouse。　Several　cars　were　parked　on　the　west　side　of　the　square；　and　a　small　group　of　blacks　sat　nearby　in　lawn　chairs　waiting　to　take　their　turns　with　the　candles。
　〃We　didn't　do　bad；〃　Jake　said　quietly；　staring　at　the　vigil。　〃We　made　notes　on　all　but　twenty　of　the　hundred　and　fifty。〃
　〃What's　next？〃
　〃I'll　try　to　find　something　on　the　other　twenty；　then　we'll　make　an　index　card　for　each　juror。　We'll　know　them　like　family　by　Monday。〃
　Nesbit　returned　to　the　square　and　circled　twice；　watching　the　blacks。　He　parked　between　the　Saab　and　the　BMW。
　〃The　M'Naghten　brief　is　a　masterpiece。　Our　psychiatrist；　Dr。　Bass；　will　be　here　tomorrow；　and　I　want　you　to　review　M'Naghten　with　him。　You　need　to　outline　in　detail　the　necessary　questions　to　ask　him　at　trial；　and　cover　these　with　him。　He　worries　me。　I　don't　know　him；　and　I'm　relying　on　Lucien。　Get　his　resume　and　investigate　his　background。　Make　whatever　phone　calls　are　necessary。　Check　with　the　state　medical　association　to　make　sure　he　has　no　history　of　disciplinary　problems。　He　is　very　important　to　our　case；　and　I　don't　want　any　surprises。〃
　〃Okay；　boss。〃
　Jake　finished　his　last　beer。　〃Look；　Row　Ark；　this　is　a
　very　small　town。　My　wife　left　five　days　ago；　and　I'm　sure　people　will　know　it　soon。　You　look　suspicious。　People　love　to　talk；　so　be　discreet。　Stay　in　the　office　and　do　your　research　and　tell　anyone　who　asks　that　you're　Ethel's　replacement。〃
　〃That's　a　big　bra　to　fill。〃
　〃You　could　do　it　if　you　wanted　to。〃
　〃I　hope　you　know　that　I'm　not　nearly　as　sweet　as　I'm　being　forced　to　act。〃
　〃I　know　that。〃
　They　watched　the　blacks　change　shifts　and　a　new　crew　take　up　the　candles。　Nesbit　threw　an　empty　beer　can　onto　the　sidewalk。
　〃You're　not　driving　home　are　you？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃It　would　not　be　a　good　idea。　I'd　register　at　least　。20。〃
　〃You　can　sleep　on　the　couch　in　my　office。〃
　〃Thanks。　I　will。〃
　Jake　said　good　night；　locked　the　office；　and　spoke　briefly　to　Nesbit。　Then　he　placed　himself　carefully　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Saab。。　Nesbit　followed　him　to　his　home　on　Adams。　He　parked　under　the　carport；　next　to　Carla's　car；　and　Nesbit　parked　in　the　driveway。　It　was　1：00　A。M。；　Thursday；　July　18。
　They　arrived　in　groups　of　two　and　three　and　came　from　all　over　the　state。　They　parked　along　the　gravel　road　by　the　cabin　deep　in　the　woods。　They　entered　the　cabin　dressed　as　normal　working　men；　but　once　inside　they　slowly　and　meticulously　changed　into　their　neatly　pressed　and　neatly　folded　robes　and　headdresses。　They　admired　one　another's　uniforms　and　helped　each　other　into　the　bulky　outfits。　Most　of　them　knew　each　other；　but　a　few　introductions　were　necessary。　They　were　forty　in　number；　a　good　turnout。
　Stump　Sisson　was　pleased。　He　sipped　whiskey　and　moved　around　the　room　like　a　head　coach　reassuring　his　team　before　the　kickoff。　He　inspected　the　uniforms　and　made　adjustments。　He　was　proud　of　his　men；　and　told　them　so。　It　was　the　biggest　meeting　of　its　kind　in　year