jg.atimetokill-第47部分

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as　imperative。　Today；　preferably。　Tomorrow　morning　at　the　latest；　because　he　had　a　flight　out　of　Memphis　at　noon。　He　was　needed　in　a　murder　trial　somewhere　in　Georgia。　Reverend　Agee　promised　to　arrange　a　meeting　with　the　defendant　as
　soon　as　possible。　He　was　friends　with　the　sheriff。　Fine；　said　Reinfeld；　just　get　it　done。
　〃How　much　money　have　you　raised？〃　Reinfeld　asked。
　〃Fifteen　thousand　from　you　folks；〃　Agee　answered。
　〃I　know　that。　How　much　locally？〃
　〃Six　thousand；〃　Agee　said　proudly。
　〃Six　thousand！〃　repeated　Reinfeld。　〃Is　that　all？　I　thought　you　people　were　organized。　Where's　all　this　great　local　support　you　were　talking　about？　Six　thousand！　How　much　more　can　you　raise？　We've　only　got　three　weeks。〃
　The　council　members　were　silent。　This　Jew　had　a　lot　of　nerve。　The　only　white　man　in　the　group　and　he　was　on　the　attack。
　〃How　much　do　we　need？〃　asked　Agee。
　〃That　depends；　Reverend；　on　how　good　a　defense　you　want　for　Mr。　Hailey。　I've　only　got　eight　other　attorneys　on　my　staff。　Five　are　in　trial　at　this　very　moment。　We've　got　thirty…one　capital　murder　convictions　at　various　stages　of　appeal。　We've　got　seventeen　trials　scheduled　in　ten　states　over　the　next　five　months。　We　get　ten　requests　each　week　to　represent　defendants；　eight　of　which　we　turn　down　because　we　simply　don't　have　the　staff　or　the　money。　For　Mr。　Hailey；　fifteen　thousand　has　been　contributed　by　two　local　chapters　and　the　home　office。　Now　you　tell　me　that　only　six　thousand　has　been　raised　locally。　That's　twenty…one　thousand。　Fpr　that　amount　you'll　get　the　best　defense　we　can　afford。　Two　attorneys；　at　least　one　psychiatrist；　but　nothing　fancy。　Twenty…one　thousand　gets　a　good　defense；　but　not　what　I　had　in　mind。〃
　〃What　exactly　did　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃A　first…class　defense。　Three　or　four　attorneys。　A　battery　of　psychiatrists。　Half　dozen　investigators。　A　jury　psychologist；　just　to　name　a　few。　This　is　not　your　run…of…the…mill　murder　case。　I　want　to　win。　I　was　led　to　believe　that　you　folks　wanted　to　win。〃
　〃How　much？〃　asked　Agee。
　〃Fifty　thousand；　minimum。　A　hundred　thousand　would　be　nice。〃
　〃Look；　Mr。　Reinfeld；　you're　in　Mississippi。　Our　people　are　poor。　They've　given　generously　so　far；　but　there's　no　way　we　can　raise　another　thirty　thousand　here。〃
　Reinfeld　　　　adjusted　　　his　　　horn…rimmed　　　glasses　　　and
　scratched　his　graying　beard。　〃How　much　more　can　you　raise？〃
　〃Another　five　thousand；　maybe。〃
　〃That's　not　much　money。〃
　〃Not　to　you；　but　it　is　to　the　black　folk　of　Ford　County。〃
　Reinfeld　studied　the　floor　and　continued　stroking　his　beard。　〃How　much　has　the　Memphis　chapter　given？〃
　〃Five　thousand；〃　answered　someone　from　Memphis。
　〃Atlanta？〃
　〃Five　thousand。〃
　〃How　about　the　state　chapter？〃
　〃Which　state？〃
　〃Mississippi。〃
　〃None。〃
　〃None？〃
　〃None。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Ask　him；〃　Agee　said；　pointing　at　Reverend　Henry　Hillman；　the　state　director。
　〃Uh；　we　tryin'　to　raise　some　money　now；〃　Hillman　said　weakly。　〃But…〃
　〃How　much　have　you　raised　so　far？〃　asked　Agee。
　〃Well；　uh；　we　got…〃
　〃Nothin'；　right？　You　ain't　raised　nothin'；　have　you；　Hillman？〃　Agee　said　loudly。
　〃e　on；　Hillman；　tell　us　how　much　you　raised；〃　chimed　in　Reverend　Roosevelt；　vice…chairman　of　the　council。
　Hillman　was　dumbfounded　and　speechless。　He　had　been　sitting　quietly　on　the　front　pew　minding　his　own　business；　half　asleep。　Suddenly　he　was　under　attack。
　〃The　state　chapter　will　contribute。〃
　〃Sure　you　will；　Hillman。　You　folks　at　state　are　constantly　badgerin'　us　locals　to　contribute　here　and　donate　there　for　this　cause　and　that　cause；　and　we　never　see　any　of　the　money。　You　always　cryin'　about　bein'　so　broke；　and　we're　always　sendin'　money　to　state。　But　when　we　need　help；　state　don't　do　a　thing　but　show　up　here　and　talk。〃
　〃That's　not　true。〃
　〃Don't　start　lyin'；　Hillman。〃
　Reinfeld　was　embarrassed　and　immediately　aware　that
　a　nerve　had　been　touched。　〃Gentlemen；　gentlemen；　let's　move　on；〃　he　said　diplomatically。
　〃Good　idea；〃　Hillman　said。
　〃When　can　we　meet　with　Mr。　Hailey？〃　Reinfeld　asked。
　〃I'll　arrange　a　meetin'　for　in　the　mornin'；〃　Agee　said。
　〃Where　can　we　meet？〃
　〃I　suggest　we　meet　in　Sheriff　Walls'　office　in　the　jail。　He's　black；　you　know；　the　only　black　sheriff　in　Mississippi。〃
　〃Yes；　I've　heard。〃
　〃I　think　he'll　let　us　meet　in　his　office。〃
　〃Good。　Who　is　Mr。　Hailey's　attorney？〃
　〃Local　boy。　Jake　Brigance。〃
　〃Make　sure　he's　invited。　We'll　ask　him　to　help　us　on　the　case。　It'll　ease　the　pain。〃
　Ethel's　obnoxious；　high…pitched；　bitchy　voice　broke　the　tran…quility　of　the　late　afternoon　and　startled　her　boss。　〃Mr。　Brigance；　Sheriff　Walls　is　on　line　two；〃　she　said　through　the　inter。
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Do　you　need　me　for　anything　else；　sir？〃
　〃No。　See　you　in　the　morning。〃
　Jake　punched　line　two。　〃Hello；　Ozzie。　What's　up？〃
　〃Listen　Jake；　we've　got　a　bunch　of　NAACP　big　shots　in　town。〃
　〃What　else　is　new？〃
　〃No；　this　is　different。　They　wanna　meet　with　Carl　Lee　in　the　mornin'。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Some　guy　named　Reinfeld。〃
　〃I've　heard　of　him。　He　heads　up　their　capital　murder　team。　Norman　Reinfeld。〃
　〃Yeah；　that's　him。〃
　〃I've　been　waiting　for　this。〃
　〃Well；　he's　here；　and　he　wants　to　talk　to　Carl　Lee。〃
　〃Why　are　you　involved？〃
　〃Reverend　Agee　called　me。　He　wants　a　favor；　of　course。　He　asked　me　to　call　you。〃
　〃The　answer　is　no。　Emphatically　no。〃
　Ozzie　paused　a　few　seconds。　〃Jake；　they　want　you　10　oe　present。〃
　〃You　mean　I'm　invited？〃
　〃Yes。　Agee　said　Reinfeld　insisted　on　it。　He　wants　you　to　be　here。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　my　office。　Nine　A。M。〃
　Jake　breathed　deeply　and　replied　slowly。　〃Okay；　I'll　be　there。　Where's　Carl　Lee？〃
　〃In　his　cell。〃
　〃Get　him　in　your　office。　I'll　be　there　in　five　minutes。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃We　need　to　have　a　prayer　meeting。〃
　Reinfeld　and　Reverends　Agee；　Roosevelt；　and　Hillman　sat　in　a　perfect　row　of　folding　chairs　and　faced　the　sheriff；　the　defendant；　and　Jake；　who　puffed　a　cheap　cigar　in　a　determined　effort　to　pollute　the　small　office。　He　puffed　mightily　and　stared　nonchalantly　at　the　floor；　trying　his　best　to　show　nothing　but　absolute　contempt　for　Reinfeld　and　the　reverends。　Reinfeld　was　no　pushover　when　it　came　to　arrogance；　and　his　disdain　for　this　simple；　small…time　lawyer　was　not　well　hidden　because　he　made　no　attempt　to　hide　it。　He　was　arrogant　and　insolent　by　nature。　Jake　had　to　work　at　it。
　〃Who　called　this　meeting？〃　Jake　asked　impatiently；　after　a　long；　unfortable　silence。
　〃Uh；　well；　I　guess　we　did；〃　answered　Agee　as　he　searched　Reinfeld　for　guidance。
　〃Well；　get　on　with　it。　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Take　it　easy　now；　Jake；〃　Ozzie　said。　〃Reverend　Agee　asked　me　to　arrange　the　meeting　so　Carl　Lee　could　meet　Mr。　Reinfeld　here。〃
　〃Fine。　They've　met。　Now　what；　Mr。　Reinfeld？〃
　〃I'm　here　to　offer　my　services；　and　the　services　of　my　staff　and　the　entire　NAACP　to　Mr。　Hailey；〃　said　Reinfeld。
　〃What　type　of　services？〃　asked　Jake。
　〃Legal；　of　course。〃
　〃Carl　Lee；　did　you　ask　Mr。　Reinfeld　to　e　here？〃　asked　Jake。
　〃Nope。〃
　〃Sounds　like　solicitation　to　me；　Mr。　Reinfeld。〃
　〃Skip　the　lecture；　Mr。　Brigance。　You　know　what　I　do；　and　you　know　why　I'm　here。〃
　〃So　you　chase　all　your　cases？〃
　〃We　don't　chase　anything。　We're　called　in　by　local　NAACP　members　and　other　civil　rights　activists。　We　handle　only　capital　murder　cases；　and　we're　very　good　at　what　we　do。〃
　〃I　suppose　you're　the　only　attorney　petent　to　handle　a　case　of　this　magnitude？〃
　〃I've　handled　my　share。〃
　〃And　lost　your　share。〃
　〃Most　of　my　cases　are　supposed　to　be　lost。〃
　〃I　see。　Is　that　your　position　on　this　case？　Do　you　expect　to　lose　it？〃
　Reinfeld　picked　at　his　beard　and　glared　at　Jake。　〃I　didn't　e　here　to　argue　with　you；　Mr。　Brigance。〃
　〃I　know。　You　came　here　to　offer　your　formidable　legal　skills　to　a　defendant　who's　never　heard　of　you　and　happens　to　be　satisfied　with　his　attorney。　You　came　here　to　take　my　client。　I　know　exactly　why　you're　here。〃
　〃I'm　here　because　the　NAACP　invited　me。　Nothing　more　or　less。〃
　〃I　see。　Do　you　get　all　your　cases　from　the　NAACP？〃
　〃I　work　for　the　NAACP；　Mr。　Brigance。　I'm　in　charge　of　its　capital　murder　defense　team。　I　go　where　the　NAACP　sends　me。〃
　〃How　many　clients　do　you　have？〃
　〃Several　dozen。　Why　is　that　important？〃
　〃Did　they　all　have　attorneys　before　you　pushed　yourself　into　their　cases？〃
　〃Some　did；　some　didn't。　We　always　try　to　work　with　the　local　attorney。〃
　Jake　smiled。　〃That's　marvelous。　You're　offering　me　a　chance　to　carry　your　briefcase　and　chauffeur　you　around　Clanton。　I　might　even　get　to　fetch　you　a　sandwich　during　the　noon　recess。　What　a　thrill。〃
　Carl　Lee　sat　frozen　with　arms　crossed　and　his　eyes　fixed　on　a　spot　in　the　rug。　The　reverends　watched　him　closely；　waiting　for　him　to　say　something　to　his　lawyer；　to　tell　him　to　shut　up；　that　he　was　fired　and　the　NAACP　lawyers　would
　handle　the　case。　They　watched　ana　wauea；　DUI　sat　calmly　and　listened。
　〃We　have　a　lot　to　offer；　Mr。　Hailey；〃　Reinfeld　said。　It　was　best　to　stay　calm　until　the　defendant　decided　who　would　represent　him。　A　tantrum　might　ruin　things。
　〃Such　as？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃Staff；　resources；　expertise；　experienced　trial　lawyers　who　do　nothing　but　capital　defense。　Plus　we　have　a　number　of　highly　petent　doctors　we　use　in　these　cases。　You　name　it；　we　have　it。〃
　〃How　much　money　do　you　have　to　spend？〃
　〃That's　none　of　your　business。〃
　〃Is　that　so？　Is　it　Mr。　Hailey's　business？　After　all；　it's　his　case。　Perhaps　Mr。　Hailey　would　like　to　know　how　much　you　have　to　spend　in　his　defense。　Would　you；　Mr。　Hailey？〃
　〃Yep。〃
　〃All　right；　Mr。　Reinfeld；　how　much　do　you　have　to　spend？〃
　Reinfeld　squirmed　and　looked　hard　at　the　reverends；　who　looked　hard　at　Carl　Lee。
　〃Approximately　twenty　thousand；　so　far；〃　Reinfeld　admitted　sheepishly。
　Jake　laughed　and　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃Twenty　thousand！　Y'all　are　really　serious　about　this；　aren't　you？　Twenty　thousand！　I　thought　you　guys　played　in　the　big　leagues。　You　raised　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　for　the　cop　killer　in　Birmingham　last　year。　And　he　was　convicted；　by　the　way。　You　spent　a　hundred　thousand　for　the　whore　in　Shreve…port　who　killed　her　customer。　And　she；　too；　was　convicted；　I　might　add。　And　you　think　this　case　is　worth　only　twenty　thousand。〃
　〃How　much　do　you　have　to　spend？〃　asked　Reinfeld。