jg.atimetokill-第7部分

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　he　asked。
　Lucien　jumped　up　and　sat　in　the　big　leather　chair　behind　the　desk。　He　was　sober；　tanned；　relaxed。
　〃Jake；　my　boy；　how　are　you？〃　he　asked　warmly。
　〃Fine；　just　fine。　Where　have　you　been？〃
　〃Cayman　Islands。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃Drinking　rum；　lying　on　the　beach；　chasing　little　native　girls。〃
　〃Sounds　like　fun。　Why　did　you　leave？〃
　〃It　got　boring。〃
　Jake　sat　across　the　desk。　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　Lucien。〃
　〃Good　to　see　you；　Jake。　How　are　things　around　here？〃
　〃Hectic。　But　okay；　I　guess。〃
　〃Did　you　settle　Medley？〃
　〃Yeah。　They　paid　eighty　thousand。〃
　〃That's　very　good。　Was　he　happy？〃
　〃Yes；　seemed　to　be。〃
　〃Did　Cruger　go　to　trial？〃
　Jake　looked　at　the　floor。　〃No；　he　hired　Fredrix。　I　think　it's　set　for　trial　next　month。〃
　〃I　should've　talked　to　him　before　I　left。〃
　〃He's　guilty；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes；　very。　It　doesn't　matter　who　represents　him。　Most　defendants　are　guilty。　Remember　that。〃　Lucien　walked　to　the　French　doors　and　gazed　at　the　courthouse。　〃What　are　your　plans；　Jake？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　stay　here。　What　are　your　plans？〃
　〃You're　a　good　man；　Jake；　and　I　want　you　to　stay。　Me；　I　don't　know。　I　thought　about　moving　to　the　Caribbean；　but　I　won't。　It's　a　nice　place　to　visit；　but　it　gets　old。　I　have　no　plans　really。　I　may　travel。　Spend　some　money。　I'm　worth　a　ton；　you　know。〃
　Jake　agreed。　Lucien　turned　and　waved　his　arms　around　the　room。　〃I　want　you　to　have　all　this；　Jake。　I　want　you　to　stay　here　and　keep　some　semblance　of　a　firm　going。　Move　into　this　office；　use　this　desk　that　my　grandfather　brought　from　Virginia　after　the　Civil　War。　Keep　the　files；　cases；　clients；　books；　everything。〃
　〃That's　very　generous；　Lucien。〃
　〃Most　of　the　clients　will　disappear。　No　reflection　on　you　…you'll　be　a　great　lawyer　someday。　But　most　of　my　clients　have　followed　me　for　years。〃
　Jake　didn't　want　most　of　his　clients。　〃How　about　rent？〃
　〃Pay　me　what　you　can　afford。　Money　will　be　tight　at　first；　but　you'll　make　it。　I　don't　need　money；　but　you　do。〃
　〃You're　being　very　kind。〃
　〃I'm　really　a　nice　guy。〃　They　both　laughed　awkwardly。
　Jake　quit　smiling。　〃What　about　Ethel？〃
　〃It's　up　to　you。　She's　a　good　secretary　who's　forgotten　more　law　than　you'll　ever　know。　I　know　you　don't　like　her；
　but　she　would　be　hard　to　replace。　Fire　her　if　you　want　to。　I　don't　care。〃
　Lucien　headed　for　the　door。　〃Call　me　if　you　need　me。　I'll　be　around。　I　want　you　to　move　into　this　office。　It　was　my　father's　and　grandfather's。　Put　my　junk　in　some　boxes；　and　I'll　pick　it　up　later。〃
　Cobb　and　Willard　awoke　with　throbbing　heads　and　red；　swollen　eyes。　Ozzie　was　yelling　at　them。　They　were　in　a　small　cell　by　themselves。　Through　the　bars　to　the　right　was　a　cell　where　the　state　prisoners　were　held　awaiting　the　trip　to　Parchman。　A　dozen　blacks　leaned　through　the　bars　and　glared　at　the　two　white　boys　as　they　struggled　to　clear　their　eyes。　To　the　left　was　a　smaller　cell；　also　full　of　blacks。　Wake　up；　Ozzie　yelled；　and　stay　quiet；　or　he　would　integrate　his　jail。
　Jake's　quiet　time　was　from　seven　until　Ethel　arrived　at　eight…thirty。　He　was　jealous　with　this　time。　He　locked　the　front　door；　ignored　the　phone；　and　refused　to　make　appointments。　He　meticulously　planned　his　day。　By　eight…thirty　he　would　have　enough　work　dictated　to　keep　Ethel　busy　and　quiet　until　noon。　By　nine　he　was　either　in　court　or　seeing　clients。　He　would　not　take　calls　until　eleven；　when　he　methodically　returned　the　morning's　messages…all　of　them。　He　never　delayed　returning　a　phone　call…another　rule。　Jake　worked　systematically　and　efficiently　with　little　wasted　time。　These　habits　he　had　not　learned　from　Lucien。
　At　eight…thirty　Ethel　made　her　usual　noisy　entrance　downstairs。　She　made　fresh　coffee　and　opened　the　mail　as　she　had　every　day　for　the　past　forty…one　years。　She　was　sixty…four　and　looked　fifty。　She　was　plump；　but　not　fat；　well　kept；　but　not　attractive。　She　chomped　on　a　greasy　sausage　and　biscuit　brought　from　home　and　read　Jake's　mail。
　Jake　heard　voices。　Ethel　was　talking　to　another　woman。　He　checked　his　appointment　book…none　until　ten。
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Brigance；〃　Ethel　announced　through　the　inter。
　〃Morning；　Ethel。〃　She　preferred　to　be　called　Mrs。
　Twitty。　Lucien　and　everyone　else　called　her　that。　But　Jake　had　called　her　Ethel　since　he　had　fired　her　shortly　after　the　disbarment。
　〃There's　a　lady　here　to　see　you。〃
　〃She　doesn't　have　an　appointment。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　I　know。〃
　〃Make　one　for　tomorrow　morning　after　ten…thirty。　I'm　busy　now。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　But　she　says　it's　urgent。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃　he　snapped。　It　was　always　urgent　when　they　dropped　in　unannounced；　like　dropping　by　a　funeral　home　or　a　Laundromat。　Probably　some　urgent　question　about　Uncle　Luke's　will　or　the　case　set　for　trial　in　three　months。
　〃A　Mrs。　Willard；〃　Ethel　replied。
　〃First　name？〃
　〃Earnestine　Willard。　You　don't　know　her；　but　her　son's　in　jail。〃
　Jake　saw　his　appointments　on　time；　but　drop…ins　were　another　matter。　Ethel　either　ran　them　off　or　made　appointments　for　the　next　day　or　so。　Mr。　Brigance　was　very　busy；　she　would　explain；　but　he　could　work　you　in　day　after　tomorrow。　This　impressed　people。
　〃Tell　her　I'm　not　interested。〃
　〃But　she　says　she　must　find　a　lawyer。　Her　son　has　to　be　in　court　at　one　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Tell　her　to　see　Drew　Jack　Tyndale；　the　public　defender。　He's　good　and　he's　free。〃
　Ethel　relayed　the　message。　〃But；　Mr。　Brigance；　she　wants　to　hire　you。　Someone　told　her　you're　the　best　criminal　lawyer　in　the　county。〃　The　amusement　was　obvious　in　Ethel's　voice。
　〃Tell　her　that's　true；　but　I'm　not　interested。〃
　Ozzie　handcuffed　Willard　and　led　him　down　the　hall　to　his　office　in　the　front　section　of　the　Ford　County　jail。　He　removed　the　handcuffs　and　seated　him　in　a　wooden　chair　in　the　center　of　the　cramped　room。　Ozzie　sat　in　the　big　chair　across　the　desk　and　looked　down　at　the　defendant。
　〃Mr。　Willard；　this　here　is　Lieutenant　Griffin　with　the
　Mississippi　Highway　Patrol。　Over　here　is　Investigator　Rady　with　my　office；　and　this　here　is　Deputy　Looney　and　Deputy　Prather；　whom　you　met　last　night　but　I　doubt　if　you　remember　it。　I'm　Sheriff　Walls。〃
　Willard　jerked　his　head　fearfully　to　look　at　each　one。　He　was　surrounded。　The　door　was　shut。　Two　tape　recorders　sat　side　by　side　near　the　edge　of　the　sheriffs　desk。
　〃We'd　like　to　ask　you　some　questions；　okay？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　^
　〃Before　I　start；　I　wanna　make　sure　you　understand　your　rights。　First　of　all；　you　have　the　right　to　remain　silent。　Understand？〃
　〃Uh　huh。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　talk　if　you　don't　want　to；　but　if　you　do；　anything　you　say　can　and　will　be　used　against　you　in　court。　Understand？〃
　〃Uh　huh。〃
　〃Can　you　read　and　write？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Good；　then　read　this　and　sign　it。　It　says　you've　been　advised　of　your　rights。〃
　Willard　signed。　Ozzie　pushed　the　red　button　on　one　of　the　tape　recorders。
　〃You　understand　this　tape　recorder　is　on？〃
　〃Uh　huh。〃
　〃And　it's　Wednesday；　May　15；　at　eight　forty…three　in　the　mornin'。〃
　〃If　you　say　so。〃
　〃What's　your　full　name？〃
　〃James　Louis　Willard。〃
　〃Nickname？〃
　〃Pete。　Pete　Willard。〃
　〃Address？〃
　〃Route　6；　Box　14；　Lake　Village；　Mississippi。〃
　〃What　road？〃
　〃Bethel　Road。〃
　〃Who　do　you　live　with？〃
　〃My　momma；　Earnestine　Willard。　I'm　divorced。〃
　〃You　know　Billy　Ray　Cobb？〃
　Willard　hesitated　and　noticed　his　feet。　His　boots　were
　back　in　the　cell。　His　white　socks　were　dirty　and　did　not　hide　his　two　big　toes。　Safe　question；　he　thought。
　〃Yeah；　I　know　him。〃
　〃Was　you　with　him　yesterday？〃
　〃Uh　huh。〃
　〃Where　were　y'all？〃
　〃Down　at　the　lake。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　leave？〃
　〃　'Bout　three。〃
　〃What　were　you　drivin'？〃
　〃I　wasn't。〃
　〃What　were　you　ridin'　in？〃
　Hesitation。　He　studied　his　toes。　〃I　don't　think　I　wanna　talk　no　more。〃
　Ozzie　pushed　another　button　and　the　recorder　stopped。　He　breathed　deeply　at　Willard。　〃You　ever　been　to　Parchman？〃
　Willard　shook　his　head。
　〃You　know　how　many　niggers　at　Parchman？〃
　Willard　shook　his　head。
　〃　'Bout　five　thousand。　You　know　how　many　white　boys　are　there？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃　'Bout　a　thousand。〃
　Willard　dropped　his　chin　to　his　chest。　Ozzie　let　him　think　for　a　minute；　then　winked　at　Lieutenant　Griffin。
　〃You　got　any　idea　what　those　niggers　will　do　to　a　white　boy　who　raped　a　little　black　girl？〃
　No　response。
　〃Lieutenant　Griffin；　tell　Mr。　Willard　how　white　boys　are　treated　at　Parchman。〃
　Griffin　walked　to　Ozzie's　desk　and　sat　on　the　edge。　He　looked　down　at　Willard。　〃About　five　years　ago　a　young　white　man　in　Helena　County；　over　in　the　delta；　raped　a　black　girl。　She　was　twelve。　They　were　waiting　on　him　when　he　got　to　Parchman。　Knew　he　was　ing。　First　night　about　thirty　blacks　tied　him　over　a　fifty…five…gallon　drum　and　climbed　on。　The　guards　watched　and　laughed。　There's　no　sympathy　for　rapists。　They　got　him　every　night　for　three　months；　and　then　killed　him。　They　found　him　castrated；　stuffed　in　the　drum。〃
　Willard　cringed；　then　threw　his　head　back　and　breathed　heavily　toward　the　ceiling。
　〃Look；　Pete；〃　Ozzie　said；　〃we're　not　after　you。　We　want　Cobb。　I've　been　after　that　boy　since　he　left　Parchman。　I　want　him　real　bad。　You　help　us　get　Cobb　and　I'll　help　you　as　much　as　I　can。　I　ain't　promisin'　nothin'；　but　me　and　the　D。A。　work　close　together。　You　help　me　get　Cobb；　and　I'll　help　you　with　the　D。A。　Just　tell　us　what　happened。〃
　〃I　wanna　lawyer；〃　Willard　said。
　Ozzie　dropped　his　head　and　groaned。　〃What's　a　lawyer　gonna　do；　Pete？　Get　the　niggers　off　of　you？　I'm　tryin'　to　help　you　and　you're　bein'　a　wiseass。〃
　〃You　need　to　listen　to　the　sheriff；　son。　He's　trying　to　save　your　life；〃　Griffin　said　helpfully。
　〃There's　a　good　chance　you　could　get　off　with　just　a　few　years　here　in　this　jail；〃　Rady　said。
　〃It's　much　safer　than　Parchman；〃　Prather　said。
　〃Choice　is　yours；　Pete；〃　Ozzie　said。　〃You　can　die　at　Parchman　or　stay　here。　I'll　even　consider　makin'　you　a　trusty　if　you　behave。〃
　Willard　dropped　his　head　and　rubbed　his　temples。　〃Okay；　okay。〃
　Ozzie　punched　the　red　button。
　〃Where'd　you　find　the　girl？〃
　〃Some　gravel　road。〃
　〃Which　road？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I's　drunk。〃
　〃Where'd　you　take　her？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Just　you　and　Cobb？〃　。　　　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Who　raped　her？〃
　〃We　both　did。　Billy　Ray　went　first。〃
　〃How　many　times？〃
　〃I　don't　remember。　I's