GUILT BY ASSOCIATION

a novel by Kelvin L. Reed Smashwords Edition ***** Published on Smashwords by: Kelvin L. Reed Guilt by Association Co yri!ht "#$" by Kelvin L. Reed %S&' ()*+$+,)-,)+)(*+* Cover desi!n by custom!ra hics.etsy.com www.kelvinlreed.com All ri!hts reserved. .ithout limitin! the ri!hts under co yri!ht reserved above/ no art o0 this ublication may be re roduced/ stored in or introduced into a retrieval system/ or transmitted/ in any 0orm/ or by any means 1electronic/ mechanical/ hotoco yin!/ recordin!/ or otherwise2 without the rior written ermission o0 both the co yri!ht owner and the above ublisher o0 this boo3. 4his is a wor3 o0 0iction. 'ames/ characters/ laces/ brands/ media/ and incidents are either the roduct o0 the author5s ima!ination or are used 0ictitiously. 4he author ac3nowled!es the trademar3ed status and trademar3 owners o0 various roducts re0erenced in this wor3 o0 0iction/ which have been used without ermission. 4he ublication6use o0 these trademar3s is not authori7ed/ associated with/ or s onsored by the trademar3 owners. Smashwords Edition License Notes 4han3 you 0or downloadin! this 0ree eboo3. 8ou are welcome to share it with your 0riends. 4his boo3 may be re roduced/ co ied and distributed 0or non+commercial ur oses/ rovided the boo3 remains in its com lete ori!inal 0orm. %0 you en9oyed this boo3/ lease return to Smashwords.com to discover other wor3s by this author. 4han3 you 0or your su ort. *****

Also ! "elvin L. #eed

Roo3ie 8ear: :ourney o0 a ;irst+8ear 4eacher <idni!ht Sunshine President Pro 4em *****

$#OLOGUE

Reverend %saiah ;. &radley eered throu!h the dirty/ cloudy bac3 window o0 his weather+beaten sedan= an ei!hteen+year+old vehicle that !roaned as it idled near the curb in 0ront o0 <ount Calvary &a tist Church. 4he resence o0 0our teena!e boys loiterin! across the street about thirty 0eet away made him uncom0ortable. 'o doubt he could dash inside/ !rab the boo3 he needed and be bac3 in a minute or two/ but he didn>t want to leave his twelve+year+old dau!hter?snoo7in! in the car?by hersel0/ even with the doors loc3ed. 4he reverend !lanced at the needle hoverin! over the red E on the car>s 0uel !au!e and reluctantly turned the 3ey in the i!nition switch. 4he en!ine s uttered/ !as ed/ then 0inally shut down li3e an old man on his deathbed. @e turned to scrutini7e the boys a!ain. 4hey loo3ed to be about 0i0teen or siAteen years old. :ust !oin! to end u !ettin! themselves in trouble/ bein! out so late on a Saturday/ i0 you as3 him. Reverend &radley si!hed and wished the narrow avenue that hosted <ount Calvary/ located in the inner city o0 &oston/ didn>t ad9oin a busy/ 0our+lane street. Even at nearly midni!ht/ 0oot and automobile tra00ic still assed by the ei!hty+year+old structure every 0ew seconds. 4he reverend understood that the twenty+0our+hour convenience store down the street and the s rin! weather enticed eo le to leave their homes= the early <ay daytime tem erature had a roached seventy/ but the ni!ht air had chilled to the mid+ 0i0ties. @e studied the 0ront o0 the buildin! and 0rowned. %t a eared dar3er than usual. 4he street li!ht above it had been out 0or wee3s. %t 9ust wasn>t a riority 0or local bureaucrats to hel ma3e blac3 0ol3s> lives easier/ he !roused. Bn <onday he>d call his city councilor and com lain?a!ain. 4he reverend turned once more to chec3 on the boys and re!retted that as a blac3 man he had to be care0ul around his own eo le late at ni!ht. @e hadn>t harbored such 0eelin!s 0or the 0irst 0our years o0 his tenure as the s iritual leader o0 the small/ always 0inancially+stru!!lin! church. @owever/ in the ast two years the lace had endured seven brea3+ins. Cru!s were to blame/ the minister assumed. 'o/ he wouldn>t leave his only child in the car alone. 4he reverend resumed watchin! the teena!ers and reached 0or the hal0+bro3en door handle on the driver>s side o0 the vehicle. @e was about to er0orm the de0t/ o0ten+ re eated act o0 o enin! the door without ullin! the handle o00/ but sto ed to eAamine his dau!hter>s !entle/ eace0ul 0ace. She had inherited her mother>s dar3 brown color/ not his medium brown com leAion. Even with the streetli!ht not wor3in!/ he marveled at

how much she resembled his dear de arted wi0e/ God rest her soul. Deronica was all he had le0t to remember his beauti0ul Cora <ae/ struc3 down by a drun3 driver?a white man born into a San Antonio 0amily with old money. 4he reverend !rimaced at the thou!ht o0 how little time the man had served in rison 0or 3illin! the wi0e o0 a minister and mother o0 a 0ive+year+old. 4hree years. %t 9ust wasn>t ri!ht. Since then he held dee contem t 0or hi!h+ riced attorneys who secured lenient sentences 0or murderers. 4he silent car en!ine allowed him to overhear the teena!ers> conversation/ such as it was. @e scowled at their lan!ua!e. E<an/ 0uc3 that shitFG ESo % told that muh0uc3aHG 4he 0orty+nine+year+old astor noticed that two o0 them held lit ci!arettes. Kids today had no res ect/ he lamented/ even when near the house o0 God. &ut they weren>t entirely to blame 0or their behavior/ he had concluded. 4he 0ault lay with their arents? and institutional racism/ which had destroyed blac3 0amilies. @e shoo3 the assessment 0rom his mind and o3ed his dau!hter on the shoulder. E.a3e u / baby/G he whis ered. E8ou come with Caddy.G 4he child whim ered a bit/ then o ened her eyes. E.e home/ CaddyIG E.e>re at church/ hon/G the !irl>s 0ather re lied. ECaddy>s !otta !et a boo3 to 0inish his sermon 0or tomorrow.G 4he reverend ins ected the vicinity a!ain. ;inally/ no edestrians in si!ht?and the teena!ers hadn>t moved any closer. @e 0elt a little 0oolish 0or bein! so care0ul. 4hose 0eelin!s shi0ted to re!ret. <aybe he shouldn>t have chan!ed his mind at the last minute and allowed Deronica to !o to that birthday arty/ but the !irl had 0ussed and leaded so. Still/ the child was su osed to be home by ten+thirty/ dro ed o00 by the mother o0 her best 0riend/ 'ic3i/ his dau!hter>s con0idante 0or siA years since her 0irst day at <ount Calvary. &ut the mother had called at eleven sayin! her car wouldn>t start/ so he had to !et dressed/ !o !et the !irls/ drive 'ic3i to her a artment/ and then brin! his own child home. <aybe 9ust as well/ thou!h. @e hadn>t been able to 0inish writin! his sermon because he needed a translation o0 a 0ew @ebrew words. Deronica rubbed her eyes/ then o ened the car door. 4he hin!es crea3ed/ testi0yin! to their losin! battle a!ainst a stron!er o onent. 4he !irl smiled and ointed at the church. ECan % !o turn the li!hts on/ CaddyIG E'o/ hon/G the reverend said. @e smiled bac3. @er an!elic 0ace warmed his heart. <aybe he was a tad over rotective. She was so thin/ li3e her mother/ and small 0or her a!e?and she had always been such a sweet child. 4hat>s why he had allowed her to attend that arty and had even run out and bou!ht her a new dress. E8ou stay with me.G E.hen we !et inside can % !et a drin3 o0 water in the 3itchenIG E8ou can !et some water when we !et home/ baby. %t>s late.G Deronica 0olded her hands to!ether. EPlease/ Caddy/G she be!!ed. E%>m thirsty.G E;rom eatin! all 3inds o0 9un3 0ood/ % bet.G EBh/ it was so much 0unFG the !irl !ushed. 4he reverend smiled a!ain and shru!!ed. &etter not !et her !oin! about the arty or she>d be u hal0 the ni!ht. E:ust hal0 a !lass/G he conceded. E&ut don>t be lon!.G %t too3 less than three minutes 0or 0ather and dau!hter to enter the church/ ta3e care o0 business/ and re are to eAit. Reverend &radley/ standin! at the nartheA clutchin! the

boo3 that had been the ur ose o0 his 9aunt/ ushed o en one o0 the double 0ront doors leadin! outside only inches at a time. @e ee3ed and winced. 4he 0our boys now stood directly across the street. 4he reverend could 0eel the blood in his 0in!ers ulsin! while ressed a!ainst the heavy/ wooden door. @e hu!!ed his dau!hter with one arm and whis ered into her ear/ tryin! to sound nonchalant. E%t>s late and you should>ve been in bed. Let>s !et home. B3ayIG Deronica yawned and nodded. E8es/ Caddy.G 4he &radleys slowly descended the ei!ht crumblin! concrete ste s and sto ed at the assen!er side o0 the waitin! car. 4he reverend unloc3ed Deronica>s door/ then eased around the rear o0 the vehicle to the driver>s side. .ith his bac3 to the boys?!athered only a 0ew 0eet away?he wi ed his sweatin! 0orehead with his le0t hand and 0umbled with the 3eys in his ri!ht hand. 4he boys lowered their voices and be!an whis erin!/ which unnerved him even more. @e 3e t his head down/ but raised it when he heard a car door o en. E% le0t my urse in the 3itchen/G Deronica announced and bolted out o0 the car. E'oFG the !irl>s 0ather re9oined her. E%t>s late and we ain>t !ot time 0or?G @el less/ he watched Deronica 9et u the stairs. She unloc3ed the 0ront door to the church with her own 3ey and disa eared. 'ot 3nowin! what else to do/ he chec3ed the watch his dau!hter had !iven him the Christmas be0ore last. EAactly midni!ht. @e 7i ed u his worn out/ discount store 9ac3et and ste ed around the car to the wide o en assen!er side door. @e !lanced at the boys/ who continued to watch him and whis er. &e0ore he could close the door/ he noticed a yellow sweater in the bac3seat= 'ic3i>s sweater. A arently/ the tal3ative !irl had been so busy o00erin! ost+event 0ashion critiJues she had 0or!otten about her own clothin!/ 0or which her mother had no doubt s ent hard+earned money. 4he reverend 0umed at the osition in which he 0ound himsel0: unnerved by 0our loiterers across the street/ his own dau!hter runnin! around a dar3 church by hersel0. Kids could brin! their arents such !rie0 these days/ he lamented. 4hey !ot their heads all 0ull u with arties and han!in! out on the streets and whatnot. .hen he was youn!er/ !rowin! u in 4eAas/ he didn>t have time 0or such nonsense because his 0ol3s saw to it he had lenty o0 chores to do. @e o ened the bac3seat door/ !rabbed the sweater and sni00ed it to ma3e sure it hadn>t been eA osed to any ci!arette smo3e. 'o e. Still/ he had to be care0ul and 3ee his eyes and ears?and even nose?o en. <a3e sure his little !irl didn>t end u li3e so many retty little thin!s at <ount Calvary?at home with no husband totin> babies instead o0 !oin! to colle!e. @e eAhaled with relie0 and tilted his head bac3ward to search God>s heaven. 4he vast blac3 canvas o00ered no trimmin!s. Clouds and the wor3in! streetli!hts had 9oined 0orces to hide the moon and the bounteous stars. @e chec3ed his watch a!ain. @ow lon! did it ta3e to !rab a urseI .ell/ i0 attendin! one arty caused Deronica to lose all common sense/ he would 9ust see to it she didn>t !o to another/ no matter how much she leaded. 4he reverend tossed the sweater onto the 0ront assen!er seat and ushed both doors closed. <ore eeved at his dau!hter than 0ear0ul o0 the 0our teena!ers/ he marched toward the church still clutchin! the re0erence boo3.

%t too3 him only a 0ew seconds to reach the 0ront door/ where the eA losion met him head on. *****

C%A$TE# ONE

:ayson Coo3 surre titiously sni00ed the air/ ta3in! in the !entle bouJuet o0 eA ensive scotch. 4he handsome/ dar3+s3inned man 0ound the lush armchair su ortin! his siA+ 0eet/ one hundred ei!hty+ ound 0rame to be com0ortable enou!h. @is host had bro3en out the hi!h+Juality stoc3/ but :ayson held no illusion his summons had been a social call. 4he thirty+0ive+year+old attorney raised a tumbler to his li s and si ed/ showin! o00 a mono!rammed cu00 and !old cu00lin3/ and listened to :ud!e Robert B>@are recount his !randchild>s eA loits at her 0irst ballet recital. .hile currently a hi!hly+ aid criminal de0ense lawyer/ :ayson antici ated that/ God willin!/ in the not+too+distant 0uture he>d be sittin! in the same room bendin! some oor lawyer>s ear about his dau!hter. 4oward that end/ over the years he had contributed to the ri!ht olitical candidates and attended the ri!ht social events/ ho in! to be noticed by the ri!ht eo le. B0 course/ a0ter acce tin! his robe and the 3eys to his chambers on the 0i0teenth 0loor o0 the <cCormac3 Post B00ice and Courthouse buildin! in downtown &oston/ he would bri!hten the lace u a little. 4he dar3 anelin! on the walls would be 0irst to !o/ and the lace needed/ as his wi0e would say/ more cheer0ul li!htin!. :ayson li3ed B>@are/ not only because he ho ed to occu y his chambers some day but also because the 9ud!e had always been 0air with him. ;urthermore/ he 0ound the man amiable enou!h outside o0 court. @owever/ inside the courtroom/ &ob E&y+the+&oo3G B>@are could be im atient with lawyers ma3in! ar!uments based on emotions rather than law. @e treasured e00iciency and brevity. @is motto: E'ever say in ten words what you can say in 0ive.G 8oun! assistant CAs and de0ense lawyers who entered his sanctum sanctorum un re ared/ stumblin! over words or searchin! in their brie0cases 0or a lost 0ile/ did so only once. Eventually the burley 9ud!e 0inished his ballet story/ and the two men shared a 0ew lau!hs about the erils o0 bein! siA years old. B>@are/ clad in a shirt and tie but no robe/ !lanced at his watch be0ore en!a!in! in one more bit o0 small tal3. E8ou>ve !ot a little one yoursel0/ isn>t that ri!ht/ :aysonIG he as3ed. :ayson smiled. E8es/ :ud!e. About the same a!e as your !randdau!hter.G E.ell/G B>@are mumbled/ Ethan3s 0or lettin! me !o on about my little ballerina.G E'ot at all/ :ud!e/G :ayson re lied. E% rather en9oyed it. % 3now the 0eelin!.G @is words were sincere. @e didn>t mind listenin! to a man nearin! retirement bra! about his !randchild/ even on a ;riday evenin!. As a husband and 0ather himsel0/ he a reciated and res ected a man>s ride in his 0amily. &esides/ this was a side o0 B>@are he had never seen. ESo/ 8our @onor/ you as3ed to see meIG 4he 9ud!e stirred a 0ew a ers on his des3. E8ou>re 0amiliar with the Stone case/ aren>t youIG EKm/ the Stone caseIG :ayson as3ed/ tryin! to sound nonchalant/ but his wea3 voice !ave him away. @is stomach started to do 0li +0lo s at the mention o0 the name. @e

0rowned at the reali7ation o0 why he had been summoned. B0 course he was 0amiliar with the Stone case. .ho wasn>tI @e ee3ed at the ictures on the 9ud!e>s des3?handsome/ ele!ant wi0e and 0ive smilin! !randchildren?then re0ocused on the 9ud!e and decided to not answer the Juestion. E8our @onor/ %>ve !ot too many cases o0 my own to worry about someone else>s/ you 3nowIG B>@are nodded. EKm+hmm/G he muttered/ a arently allowin! :ayson to indul!e in his sin o0 omission. E&rian Stone is a white su remacist who>s been sittin! in 9ail 0or over a year and a hal0 awaitin! trial 0or that bombin! two years a!o that destroyed a church/ 3illed a twelve+year+old !irl and ut her 0ather?the minister o0 the church?in the hos ital 0or a month.G EBh/G :ayson re lied and nodded. E4hat case. % don>t 3now much about it other than what %>ve read in the a ers. Li3e % said/ %>m doin! my own thin!.G @e ran his lon! nails over his head/ covered with only a very thin coatin! o0 hair. EKm+hmm/G the 9ud!e muttered a!ain/ indicatin! his atience had be!un to wane. E.ell/ Stone and his second ublic de0ender don>t seem to be hittin! it o00 any better than the 0irst. @e was arrai!ned and bound over 0or trial/ but the whole thin!>s been movin! slower than a !lacier?and now he>s insistin! that % a oint him yet another lawyer.G 4he 9ud!e si ed his drin3 and continued. E4o tell you the truth/ %>m not sure another PC is the best way to ensure that he !ets a 0air trial.G :ayson sJuirmed in his chair and 0inished his drin3. E% see. .ell/ %>m sure you>ll do what>s best.G E% want you to ta3e over his de0ense.G :ayson ointed at himsel0. E<eI 8ou>ve !otta be 3iddin!FG @e raised his hands as i0 de0endin! himsel0. E'o o00ense/ :ud!e/ but 0rom what %>ve read/ the !uy>s some 3ind o0 su er+conservative racist. %0 he>s havin! roblems with his white PCs/ he>s certainly not !oin! to want his 0ate in the hands o0 an A0rican American/ liberal lawyer. &esides/ %>m 0ar 0rom a ublic de0ender these days.G B>@are o ened his hands. E&ut you were once/ and a damn !ood one/ too.G @e 0inished his drin3 and oured a s lash more into his !lass. EAnotherIG :ayson covered his !lass with his hand. E'o/ than3 you/ sir?and than3 you 0or the com liment/G he said/ Ebut you 3now the routine: ut in a 0ew years to !et some eA erience/ then?G EAnd you acted as court+a ointed lawyer with the State &ar Advocate System 0or a 0ew years a0ter that/G the 9ud!e reminded him. EAnd % recently sto ed ta3in! those cases/ too/G :ayson said. E4o be honest/ my rivate ractice is !oin! retty well and % don>t want to ta3e cases 0or a 0raction o0 what % could?G EChar!e your dru! dealers/ murderers/ embe77lers/ ra ists/ et ceteraIG EAlleged dru! dealers/ murderers/ embe77lers/ ra ists/ et cetera/G :ayson shot bac3 olitely/ with his indeA 0in!er in the air. 4he 9ud!e ran his hands over his thic3/ white hair and si!hed. E:ayson/ you>re one o0 the best !oddamn lawyers %>ve ever seen in all my years on the bench/ and one o0 the most success0ul. % don>t want to see this case 3ic3ed bac3 on a eal Lcause the man said he didn>t !et adeJuate re resentation. 8ou>re !ood/ and you !ive a hundred ercent 0or your client/ no matter who he is.G @e ointed at :ayson. E%0 you>re the man handlin! this

there>ll be no Juestions about Stone !ettin! the best le!al re resentation in the county? the whole !oddamn state/ 0or that matter.G :ayson stood. E&ut you can>t a00ord me.G @e re ositioned his tie inside the 9ac3et o0 his ricey but o00+the+rac3 suit. 4he 9ud!e smir3ed. ESit down/ counselor/G he commanded !ently. @is silver cu00lin3s re0lected the dim li!ht in the room. :ayson did. E@owever many hours you bill 0or you and your sta00/ the state won>t Juestion.G :ayson widened his eyes. EReallyIG @e thou!ht 0or a 0ew seconds. A bi! murder trial could mean several hundred billable hours. @e resisted the tem tation and shoo3 his head slowly. E.ell/ the money art was in the second lace. %n the 0irst lace/ the man>s not !onna want a ni!!er 0or a lawyer.G E@e as3ed 0or you.G :ayson stood a!ain. ESit doooown/ counselor/G the 9ud!e ordered/ clearly en9oyin! himsel0. :ayson returned to his seat. 4he two men sat silently 0or a 0ew seconds while the youn!er one collected his thou!hts. E.hat do you mean/ he as3ed 0or meIG B>@are shru!!ed. E.hatever the man is/ he>s no 0ool. @e 3nows that 9ust by !ettin! you to sit neAt to him a 9ury mi!ht thin3 maybe he>s not so bad.G @e !estured toward the o osite side o0 the room. ELet me show you somethin!. Bne o0 my cler3s !ot this 0or me.G @e reached into his des3 drawer/ roduced a remote control stained with 0aint traces o0 3etchu / mayonnaise and other condiments/ and waved it in the air at a twenty+inch 4D6CDC layer across the room. :ayson ad9usted his muscular torso in his chair and watched the television behind him. @e saw the screen 0lic3er/ then an attractive Asian woman in her late twenties a eared clutchin! a micro hone. :ayson reco!ni7ed the area: the lobby o0 the :ohn Adams Courthouse in downtown &oston. 4he woman/ one o0 about ten re orters huddled on the ri!ht side o0 the screen/ s o3e over her 9ostlin! collea!ues. :ayson stood on the le0t side in the 0ore!round/ his hair about a Juarter+inch hi!her than at resent. A white/ middle+a!ed/ bald man stood neAt to him. Anyone with eyes could see the man/ althou!h only hal0+visible/ !rinnin! as i0 he had 9ust le0t a whorehouse. E<r. Coo3/G <ichelle Lin! o ened breathlessly/ Eare you and <r. <or!an and Pro0essor Greenber! and the ACLK leased with the court>s rulin! today that <r. <or!an can hold his !rou >s rally at the &oston CommonIG She eAtended the micro hone closer to :ayson>s mouth. :ayson nodded at the woman and s o3e in a low/ measured monotone. E.e>re all leased that the ;irst Amendment will be a lied to everyone/ re!ardless o0 his or her views?as lon! as those views are eA ressed eace0ully.G 4he woman/ who measured nine inches shorter than :ayson/ Juic3ly as3ed a 0ollow+ u Juestion. EAnd does it bother you/ sir/ as an A0rican American/ that <r. <or!an is the leader o0 an or!ani7ation that reaches what many consider to be racist belie0s a!ainst A0rican Americans and other minoritiesIG E<r. <or!an>s views are not the issue here/ <s. Lin!/G :ayson retorted. E4he issue is whether the state can restrict the ri!ht to 0ree/ eace0ul s eech based on its content. 4he Su reme :udicial Court/ the hi!hest court in the Commonwealth o0 <assachusetts/ says it

cannot. &y sa0e!uardin! anyone>s ri!ht to 0ree s eech/ we sa0e!uard everyone>s? includin! yours and mine.G Bther re orters shouted Juestions at him. %n B>@are>s chambers/ resent+day :ayson !rimaced. EB3ay/ o3ay/ 8our @onor/G he !rumbled/ ad9ustin! himsel0 to 0ace his host a!ain. E% remember all this. 8our ointIG 4he 9ud!e ressed the button and shut o00 the television. E4he oint is/ Stone must>ve heard about you and 0i!ured that i0 you busted your ass 0or one o0 his brothers/ so to s ea3/ you>d do the same 0or him.G E&ut that was di00erent/G :ayson insisted. E4here was a rinci le involved/ you 3now: 0ree s eech couldn>t be restricted 9ust because we don>t a!ree with its content. 4his is a 0irst+de!ree murder trial about the 3illin! o0 a youn! !irl.G @e leaned 0orward and lowered his voice as i0 revealin! a secret. EAnd % only too3 that case because Seth Greenber! had as3ed me to. 8ou 3now how hard it is to say no to him.G B>@are chuc3led. E% 3now what you mean.G @e ta ed his des3 with his indeA 0in!er twice. E%n his day/ Seth was one son o0 a bitchin> to +notch lawyer. % 3now he was your law ro0essor and mentor. @ow is the old !oat these daysIG :ayson lowered his head. E'ot too !ood. 8ou 3now he>s in a wheelchair now since that last stro3e.G E8eah/ % heard.G E&ut he>s still 0eisty/G :ayson added. E@e had as3ed me to second chair that case because %>d done some wor3 with the ACLK be0ore/ but % ended u ta3in! over the damn thin! a0ter he too3 ill.G E.ell/ everyone was im ressed with how you ut your ersonal 0eelin!s aside and de0ended that racist asshole>s constitutional ri!hts. .ord was that you were?G 4he 9ud!e abru tly shi0ted his train o0 thou!ht and cac3led. E%0 % remember correctly/ that stu id rally couldn>t have had more than a do7en 0ellow assholes and their wives? robably all related by blood?in attendance.G E:ayson snic3ered. E8eah/ they had to ic3 a day when it rained buc3ets.G 4he two men shared a hearty lau!h. 4he 9ud!e chec3ed his watch and ut an end to their levity. E8ou 3now/ % could 9ust order you to do this.G 'ow it was :ayson>s turn to en9oy the u er hand. E.hy don>t youIG @e 3new si!nin! on o0 his own volition would reduce the li3elihood o0 an a eal due to a claim that de0ense counsel was a reluctant/ hal0+hearted dra0tee. E&ecause % want you to do 9ust li3e you did three years a!o with that other racist son o0 a bitch/G B>@are sna ed/ obviously unaccustomed to !ettin! a lawyer to do his biddin! by ersuasion. ECe0end his ri!hts because it>s the ri!ht thin! to do.G E&ut why meIG E&ecause you>re the best/ and the de0endant won>t ta3e anybody else.G EAnd because %>m blac3.G E8es/ and because you>re blac3.G :ayson si!hed and ran his 0in!ers alon! the ed!e o0 his smooth chin. E8ou don>t 3now what % went throu!h a0ter that ACLK case. 8ou don>t 3now what my 0amily went throu!h. Bld 0riends not s ea3in! to me/ my wi0e lectured at wor3 by her collea!uesHG

E@ahFG the 9ud!e snorted. @e raised his hand in the air and brou!ht it down 0orce0ully on his des3. E% could show you hate mail %>ve !otten over the years that would curl your hair?i0 it was lon!er.G :ayson chuc3led. E% bet you could.G B>@are stood and !rabbed his 9ac3et/ which hun! on a wooden coat rac3 behind him neAt to his robe. EAnd i0 you want to sit on my bench a0ter % retire some day/ you better develo a thic3er s3in/G he advised/ archin! his bushy eyebrows and sli in! into his 9ac3et. E&esides/G he continued/ Etwo years later almost everyone came to reali7e that you and Seth were ri!ht/ and that the mayor was 9ust anderin! to !et votes/ li3e oliticians always do.G :ayson stood as well and si!hed dee ly. A0ter a 0ew seconds o0 uncom0ortable silence/ he did what he did best: ne!otiate. EB3ay/ %>m in/ but no ost+trial nit ic3in! about my 0ees. And a0ter the trial is over/ %>m done. 'o han!in! around 0or a eals/ 0ederal trials/ nothin!.G EB3ay/G the 9ud!e re lied. E%s that itIG E.ell/G :ayson muttered/ Elet me !et home and brea3 the news to my wi0e. She>s !onna be 9ust thrilled.G A 0ew minutes later :ayson stood alone in the elevator clutchin! his bul!in! leather brie0case. @e rode the 0i0teen 0loors down to the lobby and wondered i0 he hadn>t 9ust made the bi!!est mista3e o0 his li0e. *****

C%A$TE# T&O

:ayson sat in a com0ortable/ hi!h+bac3 leather chair in his home o00ice. Collectibles 0rom his 0avorite astime su lemented the standard o00ice eJui ment: auto!ra hed baseballs encased in !lass cubes/ 0ramed baseball cards on the walls/ two auto!ra hed bro3en wooden bats/ and stac3s o0 0illed baseball card albums. :ayson stared at a seventeen+inch/ 0lat com uter screen. @e wore a air o0 blue 9eans/ a <assachusetts School o0 Law 4+shirt and a air o0 leather bedroom sli ers. @e chec3ed the bottom ri!ht corner o0 the screen/ then his watch/ then the cloc3 on the wall. 4hey all a!reed?it was a little a0ter eleven+thirty .m. :ayson>s thou!hts dri0ted bac3 a 0ew hours to his conversation with :ud!e B>@are/ but he blin3ed a 0ew times and resumed readin! news a er accounts o0 his new client>s arrest and subseJuent retrial activities/ occasionally ausin! to scribble on a le!al ad. @e !lanced at the to o0 a 0ile cabinet in the corner o0 the room and win3ed at a headshot o0 his wi0e/ Renee. Suddenly/ he 0elt a bit lonely. @is dau!hter/ :enni0er/ had !one to bed rom tly at ei!ht/ and he hadn>t seen Renee/ a res ected anesthesiolo!ist at a midsi7e hos ital/ since he 3issed her !ood+bye early that mornin!. She had le0t a messa!e on his mobile hone at around two o>cloc3 eA lainin! that she had been summoned to wor3 on what was su osed to be her day o00. 'ow/ :ayson re!retted/ he would have to in0orm her about acce tin! the otentially volatile Stone case a0ter she arrived home eAhausted 0rom a !ruelin! day at the hos ital.

Kn0ortunately their arallel drivin! ambition and demandin! 9obs 3e t them away 0rom home?and each other?0or many hours. :ayson reached 0or the hoto!ra h sittin! neAt to the com uter and stared at his dau!hter. She s orted thic3/ lon! hair/ li3e Renee>s/ but very wavy instead o0 strai!ht. %n the icture/ ta3en durin! the revious Christmas season/ :enni0er sat on Santa>s la mu!!in! 0or the camera/ no doubt con0ident she>d receive all the !oodies on her wish list. :ayson returned the hoto to its s ot and 9ud!ed himsel0 a very 0ortunate man. @e and Renee had 0ound such 9oy in their little an!el. 4hey had also been luc3y in the urchase o0 their dream home. :ayson derived much leasure 0rom the house he shared with his wi0e/ their dau!hter and their live+in house3ee er. :ayson and Renee had chosen the s acious/ 0ive+bedroom home a0ter she had received a ti 0rom a collea!ue about a !rou o0 new homes bein! built on a Juiet cul+de+sac in &elmont. 4he a00luent/ suburban town/ located seven miles northwest o0 &oston/ consisted o0 less than thirty thousand residents?over ninety ercent o0 them white. 'evertheless/ other than occasional stares 0rom children/ the Coo3s had never eA erienced any racial roblems in the 0our years o0 their residency. :ayson blin3ed a!ain and returned his attention to the com uter/ clic3in! on ertinent headlines and readin! news stories. 4he death o0 Deronica &radley had been the local news event 0or virtually the entire month o0 <ay two years a!o. EChurch bomb 3ills $"+year+old !irl.HG :ayson eAamined media hotos o0 the crime scene a0ter the blast. 4he ower0ul homemade bomb had been lanted in the 3itchen/ and the resultin! 0ire 0rom the eA losion had decimated the church/ necessitatin! that it be ra7ed and rebuilt 0rom scratch. :ayson also studied several ictures o0 Deronica &radley: her last school ose/ a hoto o0 her sin!in! in the church choir/ and a sna shot o0 her lau!hin!?he couldn>t tell under what circumstances. Accordin! to the olice theory/ the oor child had robably noticed the ob9ect on the 0loor neAt to the !as stove only a0ter she had entered the church 0or the second time. <ost li3ely/ the theorists believed/ she had bent down to investi!ate the un0amiliar ob9ect when the bomb eA loded/ 3illin! her instantly. :ayson 0elt sym athy 0or her and 0or her 0ather/ who accordin! to one article/ would robably be reduced to wal3in! with a cane 0or the rest o0 his li0e. :ayson read re orts about the subseJuent investi!ation/ which had eventually stalled/ roducin! char!es 0rom local A0rican American olitical activists and the !irl>s 0ather that the olice and the ;&% hadn>t devoted enou!h ener!y to 0indin! the Econs iratorsG because o0 the !irl>s race. EAuthorities de0end <ount Calvary bombin! investi!ation.HG :ayson noticed most stories about the bombin! ori!inated 0rom the Boston Courier/ the local blac3+oriented wee3ly news a er. .ith each assin! year the a er seemed to have become more sensational in its covera!e and resentation/ he assessed. .hile covera!e o0 the bombin! dwindled in the mainstream rint and broadcast media about a month a0ter the tra!edy/ over the ast two years a new cons iracy theory had sur0aced every 0ew months in the Courier. :ayson s3immed over a 0ew. Accordin! to one unnamed source/ the drun3 driver 0rom 4eAas who had struc3 the reverend>s wi0e as she crossed a busy street/ and members o0 his rominent 0amily/ were sus ects.

EKiller o0 minister>s wi0e Juestioned.HG A later notion receivin! some ress covera!e involved various leaders o0 numerous white su remacist !rou s in 4eAas. A arently/ Reverend %saiah ;. &radley/ a man very 0ond o0 cons iracy theories/ had 0loated stories about bein! tar!eted by members o0 hate !rou s who had 0ollowed him 0rom 4eAas to <assachusetts. @e claimed he had made many ower0ul enemies in the Lone Star State due to his advocacy 0or blac3 eo le. E@ate !rou s sus ected in church bombin!.HG %n nearly two years o0 covera!e/ the Courier had never rinted even one story su!!estin! that the man arrested 0or the crime had acted alone. E&omber re0uses to name accom lices.HG :ayson had ersonally en9oyed a love+hate relationshi with the Courier. 4he hate art had be!un when he had re resented Gre!ory <or!an and his white su remacist so+ called EChurch o0 the 4rue SaviorG in that 0ree s eech case. :ayson vividly remembered the Courier headline a0ter Seth Greenber! and he had challen!ed the City o0 &oston. 4he mayor had re0used to issue <or!an and his 0ollowers a ermit to hold a rally at the &oston Common/ the oldest ublic ar3 in the history o0 the Knited States/ accordin! to the travel brochures. E&lac3 lawyer ta3es side o0 racist church.HG :ayson brou!ht his attention bac3 to the on+line news re orts/ which were s arse 0or several months a0ter the bombin! with the eAce tion o0 the Courier. A luc3y brea3 in the E<ount Calvary &omberG investi!ation had occurred when two olice o00icers 0la!!ed down then twenty+three+year+old loner &rian <atthew Stone in a routine tra00ic sto . 4hey claimed to have discovered a hand+drawn ma o0 the area surroundin! the <ount Calvary &a tist Church on the 0ront seat o0 his vehicle/ in clear view. :ason sco00ed as he ic3ed u his le!al ad and wrote/ E%ncriminatin! ma in clear viewIG @e dro ed the ad bac3 on the des3 and continued readin!. 4he discovery o0 the ma rovided the o00icers with enou!h robable cause to see3 a search warrant 0or Stone>s a artment. 4hat search yielded a mountain o0 evidence a!ainst the socially withdrawn/ low+level medical records cler3. Authorities discovered several re!istered hand!uns/ bomb+ma3in! boo3s/ bomb+ma3in! instructions downloaded 0rom various %nternet web sites/ stac3s o0 anti+blac3 and anti+Semitic literature/ numerous orno!ra hic ma!a7ines/ and other Eundisclosed incriminatin! evidence.G E<ount Calvary &omber arrested.HG :ayson erused a 0ew more stories about the investi!ation. A month a0ter Stone>s arrest/ o00icials 0rom the &oston Police Ce artment/ the Su00ol3 County Cistrict Attorney>s B00ice and the ;&% issued a statement claimin! no evidence eAisted to indicate that Stone had acted other than alone. 4his rom ted the rintin! o0 two stories in the Courier/ insti!ated by Reverend &radley/ alle!in! that a cover+u eAisted to rotect white terrorist !rou s tar!etin! blac3 churches. E<ount Calvary victim Juestions olice 0indin!s.HG 4wo inner city church 0ires/ the 0irst occurrin! a year a0ter the <ount Calvary attac3 and the second as recently as <arch/ had been widely s eculated to be the on!oin! wor3 o0 this band o0 home!rown terrorists. <any members o0 &oston>s blac3 community !reeted the 0ire marshal>s determination that both 0ires were accidents with s3e ticism. EMuestionable 0indin! 0or Juestionable church 0ire.HG Several state oliticians ushed their own a!endas/ citin! the &radley !irl>s death.

EConservative lawma3ers move to reinstate death enalty.HG 4hrou!h it all/ the Couriers circulation continued to rise. 4he 0amiliar hum and clan3in! associated with the !ara!e door o enin! diverted :ayson>s attention. @e 0elt relie0 u on hearin! Renee>s late model &<. slowly roll neAt to his late model :a!uar. @e wal3ed down the car eted stairs into the dar3 3itchen and inhaled the residual/ clashin! scents o0 ba3ed sole and a le ie. @e 0li ed on the 3itchen li!hts/ o ened the door leadin! to the !ara!e and resented a cheer0ul smile to his wi0e o0 ten years as she emer!ed 0rom her car. She wore a owder blue blouse above a navy blue leated s3irt and had tied her lon! hair at the bac3. E@i/ honey/G :ayson said while holdin! the door o en 0or her. E@ow>d thin!s !o at wor3IG Cr. Renee &arron+Coo3 climbed the three ste s leadin! to the 3itchen and 3issed :ayson brie0ly on the li s as they met at the threshold. She closed her eyes 0or a 0ew seconds then o ened them. E'ot !ood/G she re lied/ and ste ed 0urther into the 3itchen. She lo ed her urse and brie0case onto the dar3 wood brea30ast table. E% had to 0ill in because Gill>s 0li!ht was delayed. % was about to !o home/ but we !ot word that two cars 0ull o0 hi!h school 3ids were tearin! down <ill Street. Bne o0 them wra ed his car around a tree.G :ayson ste ed closer to her. EKh+oh. Anybody hurtIG EEveryone in the car/G Renee said. She held u her 0in!ers. E;our o0 them. 4wo o0 the 0our didn>t ma3e it. 4he other two>ll ull throu!h.G :ayson too3 a dee breath. @e ut his arms around Renee and sJuee7ed. E%>m sorry/ hon. % 3now you and the team did everythin! you could.G @e tenderly ressed his li s a!ainst her so0t/ very li!ht brown chee3. Renee rested her head on his shoulder and hu!!ed him. ECumb+ass 3ids/G she whis ered. :ayson shru!!ed and ointed toward the semi+dar3 livin! room. E8ou want me to ma3e you a drin3IG E'o/ than3s/G Renee answered with a so0t voice. She 3ic3ed o00 her shoes and made a 0ace revealin! ain/ then relie0. :ayson understood. She wanted to close the sub9ect o0 the hos ital. A0ter ei!ht years as a hysician/ the death o0 a child still a00ected her. Sometimes when she became des ondent because o0 such a death/ she wanted to ma3e love. 4hey both s ent so much time wor3in!/ their lovema3in! had become in0reJuent/ not 0rom a lac3 o0 desire but 0rom a lac3 o0 ener!y and o ortunity. Sometimes they made love to relieve stress. Renee hu!!ed him a!ain and smiled 0or the 0irst time since arrivin! home. E@ow>s :enni0erIG :ayson chuc3led. EShe went ri!ht to slee a0ter % read Mufaros Beautiful Daughters.G EBh/ % li3e that one mysel0/G Renee eAclaimed. EAnd <a!daI .hen % le0t she was 0uriously wor3in! on dinner.G She sni00ed. ESmells !ood.G E%t was !ood. She made dinner/ cleaned u and turned in early.G EAny word about her 3idsIG :ayson shoo3 his head. EShe didn>t mention it and % didn>t brin! it u . % didn>t want her to thin3 % was meddlin! in her business.G @is heart 0illed with com assion as he considered the woman>s li!ht. EPoor thin!. % can>t ima!ine what>s she>s !oin! throu!h/ still not bein! able to !et her children over here a0ter all these years.G

Renee ut her hand on :ayson>s 0ace and li!htly stro3ed it. E%>m !lad you were able to hel with that lawyer 0riend o0 yours/ and we were able to hel with that car.G She !i!!led. EShe than3ed me a!ain.G :ayson lau!hed. EShe than3ed me a!ain/ too.G @e ee3ed down the hall to ensure their rivacy/ then continued. EShe>s had that car 0or two wee3s. % told her it was 9ust a little subcom act/ a le0tover 0rom last year>s model so it didn>t really cost much. % said we wanted to do somethin! 0or her since she 0inally !ot her driver>s license and because this house would 0all a art without her.G Renee !rabbed her urse and shoes/ and started u the stairs. She s o3e to :ayson without turnin! around. E.e couldn>t have as3ed 0or a better hel er. She>s an absolute an!el. She wor3s so hard. She ta3es all those coo3in! classes/ and :en>s cra7y about?G She sto ed in the middle o0 the staircase and turned around. E%>m sorry/ :ay. %>ve been so sel0ish. % didn>t even as3 you about you day. @ow was itIG :ayson considered tellin! her about the Stone case/ but he loo3ed into her tired eyes and decided she had su00ered enou!h 0or one day. E%t was o3ay/G he said. E'othin! that won>t wait 0or you to hear about until tomorrow.G N :ayson sat with Renee and :enni0er at the brea30ast table in their 3itchen. 4hey wore casual clothes and chatted about how they would s end their Saturday. 4he arched windows over the sin3 attracted abundant sunli!ht. Loo3in! out to the !arden 0urther enhanced the 0amily>s cheer0ul mood. 4hey watched a husband+wi0e air o0 blue 9ays dartin! in and out o0 the bird0eeder Renee had erected in the bac3yard. E%>m !onna s end a 0ew hours at the o00ice/ then come home and um some serious iron/ then %>ll s end the rest o0 the day with my 0avorite ladies/G :ayson declared. E:enni0er cla ed her hands. EBh !oodie/ Caddy. .hat movie are we !onna watchIG :ayson ut his hand on his chin. E@mmmHhow Lbout you and <ommy decideIG Renee si ed her co00ee then s o3e to her dau!hter. E;inish your brea30ast/ :en/ or we>ll never ma3e it to !randmommy and !randdaddy>s.G EB3ay/G :enni0er said. She !rabbed her s oon and stuc3 it into her bowl o0 oatmeal. EKm/ honey/G :ayson said to Renee/ Edid % 0ill that rescri tion 0or you last ni!ht to your satis0actionIG @e !rinned and admired his wi0e. She was still 9ust as beauti0ul and seAy to him as the day he had married her. At thirty+0our/ a year youn!er than he/ she loo3ed considerably youn!er and had the body o0 a model: tall/ with lon! le!s/ curvaceous 0i!ure and broad shoulders. Renee !lanced at :enni0er and !ave her husband a 0ei!ned disa rovin! 0ace. ESome o0 your best medicine/G she re lied and scoo ed u a section o0 !ra e0ruit with a small s oon. :ayson !lanced at :enni0er/ who was obviously unaware o0 her arent>s veiled messa!e/ and lau!hed. E% may have to !ive you another dose toni!ht.G :enni0er turned her head bac3 and 0orth/ observin! her arents. @er lon!/ wavy ony tail brushed a!ainst the bac3 o0 her in3 4+shirt. E.hat are you lau!hin! about/ CaddyIG :ayson smiled at Renee and su ressed the ur!e to carry on 0urther. EBh/ <ommy and % are 9ust so ha y because we love each other so much and because we love you so much.G :enni0er beamed. E% love you and <ommy so much too.G

:ayson considered it as !ood a time as any to brea3 the news to Renee about his new client. @e reached 0or a 0olded sheet o0 a er ressed between his thi!h and his chair/ and resented it to Renee. E@on/ ta3e a loo3 at this/ lease.G Renee too3 it 0rom him. E.hat is itIG E%t>s a news a er article about a case %>ve 9ust been assi!ned/ 3inda.G Renee un0olded the a er and s3immed over the article. E4his is that man who bombed that church and 3illed that little !irl/ ri!htIG She s o3e without ta3in! her eyes o00 the a er. E4he man arrested and char!ed with the crime/ yes.G Renee loo3ed at :enni0er. EGo brush your teeth/ then strai!hten u your room and !et your thin!s so we can !o.G A0ter the !irl le0t the room/ Renee too3 a dee breath and s o3e Juietly. EAre you re resentin! this man nowIG :ayson nodded. E:ud!e B>@are as3ed me to.G Renee slid the a er across the table and wi ed her hands as i0 they had been soiled 0rom it. E&ut you could>ve turned him down/ ri!htI % mean/ this man destroyed a house o0 God and murdered a little !irl?a little blac3 !irl.G :ayson s o3e Juietly. E;irst o0 all/ % don>t have to tell you that the man is resumed innocent. Secondly/ sayin! no to a soon+to+be+retirin! 9ud!e who mi!ht have an in0luential voice in selectin! his re lacement didn>t seem li3e a !ood career move. 4hirdly/ %>ve !ot carte blanche on billable hours. 4hat>ll more than 3ee :enni0er in uni0orms at that 0ancy school we send her to.G Renee sJuinted. E:ayson/ this isn>t about money and we both 3now it. 4his is about you ta3in! a case that>s !oin! to disru t our lives a!ain.G She stood and be!an clearin! the table. E%>ve !ot a !ood shot at becomin! head o0 the de artment this year. 8ou 3now how hard %>ve wor3ed 0or that. Co you 3now what a lum 9ob that is 0or a erson o0 color/ a 0emale doctor my a!eIG :ayson stood/ !rabbed his dishes and 9oined her at the sin3. E@oney/ we a!reed we wouldn>t ar!ue over my wor3. %t>s what % do.G EAs lon! as it doesn>t inter0ere with our lives/G Renee reminded him. E<ost o0 my cases never !o to trial. 8ou 3now that/G :ayson said. E%>m !oin! to loo3 over the evidence on <onday/ then meet with the ACAs in a 0ew days. %t could all be over be0ore too lon!.G EAnd i0 it isn>tIG E4hen % do my 9ob.G :ust then/ <a!dalena Lo e7 entered the 3itchen and ut her hands on her hi s. ECr. Coo3/ <r. Coo3. .hat you doin!IG she as3ed in her heavily+accented voice. E<a3e bi! mess/ noIG 4he stoc3y/ 0orty+year+old El Salvador native 0la ed her arms li3e a bird be!innin! to ta3e 0li!ht/ tryin! to shoo them both away. ECo % tell doctor how to ut slee to someone at hos italIG She aused/ a arently searchin! 0or the ri!ht words 0or her neAt Jui . ECo % tell lawyer how to/ um/ Lco a lea> you sayI .hat 0or you ma3e bi! mess in my 3itchenIG :ayson and Renee arted 0or the woman li3e the Red Sea 0or <oses. :ayson raised his hands into the air and lau!hed. E.e lead !uilty/ 8our @onor/ but i0 you>ll a!ree to robation/ we>ll leave 0orthwith.G @e turned to his accom lice. E.e better !o be0ore :ud!e <a!da 0inds us both in contem t.G

Renee lau!hed. E<a!da/ don>t s end all day in the 3itchen. Get outside and !et some 0resh air. %t>s a beauti0ul day.G ESi/G the woman answered absently while runnin! water and ban!in! dishes in the sin3. E;resh air be same 0resh tomorrow.G :ayson and Renee reached their hu!e master bedroom and closed the door. She sat in a wooden chair/ 3ic3ed o00 her bedroom sli ers and ut on a air o0 snea3ers. E8ou 0ul0illed your art o0 our contract/ counselor/ and served me with notice/G Renee declared. She stood and ran in lace 0or a 0ew seconds/ then ec3ed him on the chee3. EGood luc3.G :ayson 0rowned and sat on the so0a. E4han3 you/ honey. %t>ll be o3ay. 8ou>ll see.G EKm+hmm/G Renee muttered and eased out the door. :ayson si!hed. @e didn>t thin3 his wi0e was !oin! to be in the mood to have that rescri tion re0illed later/ a0ter all. *****

C%A$TE# T%#EE

:ayson scanned the 0aces o0 his sta00/ all three. 4heir eA ressions indicated they !reeted the news he had brou!ht them with all the enthusiasm o0 an %RS taA audit. %t was <onday mornin!. 4he 0our o0 them had !athered at his con0erence room table/ which could seat siA eo le com0ortably. :ayson sat at one end with his bac3 to a mostly !lass/ closed door ositioned between siA+0eet+wide !lass walls. ;rom where they sat/ his sta00 could visually survey the o en area on the other side o0 the !lass/ which doubled as their shared wor3s ace and client waitin! room. A mu! o0 0reshly brewed/ stron!+scented co00ee/ a en and a ad o0 a er rested within arm>s reach o0 each erson in the room/ which measured about hal0 the si7e o0 :ayson>s master bedroom at home. :ayson heard the tele hone rin! behind him?the 0irst call o0 the new wor3 wee3. 4eni3a/ his thirty+siA+year+old Eo00ice mana!er/G laced her lar!e alms on the arms o0 her chair to rise/ but :ayson motioned 0or her to remain seated. ELet the voice mail system ic3 it u /G he told her. @e o ened his arms and let them dro to his sides. E.ell/ don>t 9ust sit there/G he said to his ca tive audience. ESay somethin!.G Consuela EConnieG Gon7ale7/ an attractive woman in her early thirties sittin! neAt to 4eni3a/ s o3e 0irst. E.hat do you want us to sayIG @er accented voice bounced o00 the three walls o0 built+in boo3shelves crammed with law boo3s. E4he name on the door out there says L:ayson Coo3.>G She ointed at hersel0/ adorned with abundant 9ewelry 0rom her ears to her 0in!ers. E%>m 9ust your arale!al/ and 4eni3a>s the secretary/ and?G EB00ice mana!er/G 4eni3a inter9ected with a nud!e. She ut a smile on her ud!y/ baby 0ace and ad9usted her dar3/ 0ull+0i!ured body in her chair. Connie !i!!led and nud!ed her 0riend in return. EBh/ 0or!ive me/ amiga. B00ice mana!er.G She 0aced :ayson a!ain and rubbed her thumb a!ainst her indeA and middle 0in!ers. E% !o where the money is/ and last % chec3ed/ you>re it.G Dictor Chen/ sittin! to :ayson>s le0t/ o00ered his o inion. EConnie s ea3s the truth/G he said as he !rabbed a a er na 3in to dab at a s ot o0 co00ee that had landed on his tie. E%>ve only been here 0or a 0ew wee3s. %>m your intern and my 9ob>s to hel out any way %

can. %0 you say you>re de0endin! &rian Stone/ then my 9ob>s to hel you de0end &rian Stone.G @e leaned bac3 in his chair and too3 a si o0 co00ee. :ayson shi0ted his !a7e 0rom le0t to ri!ht as he addressed his sta00. E% understand your loyalty to me because you 3now which side o0 your bread is bein! buttered/ and % res ect that/ % do. &ut what % want to 3now is how do you 0eel about this caseI % mean/ let>s !et it all out in the o en and clear the air so we 3now where we stand.G E.ellHG 4eni3a said/ barely above a whis er. E8es/ <s. S encerIG :ayson as3ed/ callin! her by last name as a 9o3e. She ursed her li s and shoo3 her head slowly. E%?% remember when it ha ened two years a!o= the church bombin! that is. 4hey showed that little an!el>s icture on the news and % bro3e down and cried when % saw it.G She raised her ri!ht hand. E4hat>s the God>s honest truth. % cried and said out loud/ L% ho e they catch the animal who did it and shoot him down li3e a mad do!.>G :ayson nodded. E% bet we all 0elt somethin! similar two years a!o when it 0irst ha ened/ 4eni3a. And how do you 0eel now that we>re re resentin! the accusedIG 4eni3a blew on her co00ee/ too3 a si and made a 0ace. She set the mu! down and answered while tearin! the to s o00 two ac3ets o0 su!ar and em tyin! the contents. E.ell/ %>ve been with you 0rom the very be!innin!/ bac3 when you had that o00ice in RoAbury. &ut let>s 9ust say %>m !lad % 9ust answer the hones and 3ee thin!s or!ani7ed around here.G She 0olded her arms across her chest. :ayson too3 her !esture to mean she had said all she wanted to say. @e turned to his arale!al. EAnd you/ ConnieI 8ou>ve told me that you and your boy0riend sometimes ar!ue about what we do. %s this !oin! to be a roblem 0or youIG Connie shoo3 her head. E'ot no more. .e>ve 0inally a!reed to leave our 9obs at wor3. And it>s not li3e he>s investi!atin! homicides or anythin!. @e>s mostly chasin! car thieves these days. &esides/G she added/ E% mi!ht have to trade him in retty soon anyway 0or somethin! with more 7i / ya>3nowIG Dictor raised his hand. E%s it o3ay i0 % say somethin! elseIG :ayson resisted the ur!e to lau!h at the youn! man>s !esture. EB0 course/ Dictor.G E.ell/G the twenty+0our+year old law student said/ E% had lunch with a bunch o0 classmates 0rom 'ortheastern and they told me that at their internshi s/ they s end all day in some closet+si7e room shu00lin! a er. Bne o0 them told me at the 0irm where she wor3s/ when one o0 the artners enters the room/ the interns have to leave ri!ht away without s ea3in! to him. % told them about how you>ve been/ you 3now/ lettin! me do stu00 and even as3in! 0or my o inion/ and they all told me how luc3y % was. % told them that you?G @e sto ed and ut his hands to his li s. EBo s/ %>m doin! it a!ain/ usin! ten words instead o0 0ive. Aren>t %IG E8es you are/G the two women and :ayson said in unison. 4he three bro3e into lau!hter. Dictor rubbed his 0ace with his ri!ht hand/ embarrassed. E.hat % mean is/ %>m with you/ :ayson. .hatever you say/ % do.G 4eni3a lau!hed. EDery eloJuently said/ Dictor.G Dictor smiled. E4han3s/ 4eni3aHum/ % thin3.G :ayson chuc3led/ then !rew serious. E4his is !oin! to be a tou!h one. Bnce this thin! !ets !oin!/ the media>ll robably be on it. 4he CA>s eo le have had a year and a hal0 to !et all their duc3s in a row. 4hey>ll be tryin! their usual tric3s?withholdin! in0ormation/

romisin! the moon to anyone at the 9ail who can coaA Stone into admittin! somethin! incriminatin!/ coachin! the olice on what to say/ you 3now.G E.ho>s re resentin! the CommonwealthIG Connie as3ed. E%t>ll be Samira Rahmani behind the wheel/G :ayson re lied. Connie whistled. E4he %ranian wol0IG :ayson nodded. E8e / and you 3now she>s tou!h and cra0ty. And Bmar Anderson>s in the assen!er seat. @e ta3es everythin! so ersonally/ so be ready 0or anythin!.G E@ave you met with Stone yetIG E'ot yet/G :ayson answered. E;irst %>m loo3in! over the olice re orts/ the crime scene hotos/ and so 0orth/ to see what we>re u a!ainst. 4hen %>ll meet with him to see how he>s doin!. A0ter that %>m meetin! Samira and Bmar to tal3 thin!s over.G @e stood and buttoned his suit 9ac3et. E4hen i0 there are no ob9ections let>s !et at it.G @e ointed at his o00ice mana!er. E4eni3a/ we>ll robably start !ettin! calls 0rom the media soon. Stall them. 4ell them we>ve 9ust !otten on board and want to !et u to s eed. %0 our other clients call/ let them 3now it>s business as usual here. %>m still devotin! 0ull attention to their cases/ you 3now.G ERi!ht/G she said. EAnythin! elseIG E8eah/G :ayson re lied. EPay eAtra close attention to 3ee in! me on trac3 with res ect to schedules/ a earances/ dates/ time/ reminders/ all that?0or this client and the others. .e don>t want to !ive anyone the im ression that we>re overeAtended. Send me messa!es on my e+calendar or call me/ whatever you have to do.G ECon>t be disturbed by that little voice you hear in your head/ chie0/G 4eni3a announced. E%t>s not that you haven>t ta3en your medication. %t>ll 9ust be me remindin! you about an a ointment.G She !lanced at her watch and slowly rose. E<aybe % better !et out there and hit the hones. Could even be a otential husband 0or me.G ELoo3in! to beat a ossible 0ive+to+ten stretch 0or bur!lary/ no doubt/G Connie Jui ed. EAt this oint/ anythin! less than ra e or murder and we can tal3/G 4eni3a retorted. She o ened the door/ stro3ed her chin and !a7ed at the ceilin!. E.hat % need is a nice embe77ler. Someone with some money stashed away.G :ayson lau!hed. E4han3s/ 4eni3a. Go ahead and !rab the hones.G She closed the door behind her. 'eAt/ he addressed his intern. EDictor/ % s3immed over at least two do7en news a er articles about Stone and the investi!ation and boo3mar3ed them. %>ll !et them to you in a cou le o0 minutes. % want you to read them over 0rom to to bottom and di! u anythin! else you can 0ind. Call your 0riend at the news station and round u any o0 their stories over the ast two years even remotely related to this. .rite me u a syno sis.G @e rolled his eyes. EAnd lease?G Dictor held u his hands. E% 3now. % 3now. Kee it short. .hat elseIG :ayson wal3ed ast him and ositioned himsel0 on the other end o0 the table. EAccordin! to what % read/ Stone wasn>t in town lon! be0ore he !ot involved in <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior. Co a search on that 0ancy com uter o0 yours and 0ind out whatever you can about <or!an and that bunch. % had nothin! else to do with them a0ter the court rulin!. % want to 3now what those idiots were u to at the time o0 the bombin! and what they>ve been u to since.G @e marched to the door and o ened it. E4eni3a/G he called. E4urn the air conditioner u / would youI %t>s warm in here.G @e turned bac3 to

Dictor. EGet started on the church and %>ll !et you what you need 0or the other stu00 a0ter % tal3 to Connie.G Dictor bac3ed u his chair and !ot to his 0eet/ clearly eAcited. E%>ll !et on it.G At the door/ he met :ayson 0ace to 0ace. @e stood two inches shorter than :ayson/ but at 0ive+ten en9oyed bein! the tallest erson amon! his circle o0 Asian law student 0riends at 'ortheastern Kniversity. :ayson smiled and ut his hand on the youn!er man>s shoulder. E@ey/ do it li3e that @amilton syno sis you !ave me last wee3/ only shorter. % 3now you wor3ed hard on it/ and % really a reciate it.G @e atted Dictor on the bac3. EGo to it.G Dictor nodded several times/ then all but s rinted to his table in the neAt room. :ayson closed the door and ivoted to 0ace Connie. 4hey had develo ed a relationshi based on mutual trust/ res ect and 0riendshi . Still/ because the blinds that hun! over the connectin! door and walls had been raised/ he 0elt reasonably com0ortable with the two o0 them bein! alone in the room. @e also derived com0ort 0rom the reali7ation that Connie>s eyes/ set in her youth0ul 0ace covered with layers o0 ma3e+u / had 0iAated on someone in the o00ice/ but not him. 'evertheless/ he stayed at the o osite end o0 the table as he s o3e to her. EDictor>s a !ood 3id.G Connie !lanced at the door and !rinned. EGoodI @e>s absolutely adorable. % could 9ust eat him u .G She win3ed. EAnd % bet % could teach him a cou le o0 thin!s.G She wi!!led her hi s/ er0ormin! a little dance 9i!. EKm+hmm/ let him !et a hold o0 some o0 this eAtra s icy icante sauce and he?G :ason wa!!ed his indeA 0in!er. E'ow he>s a nice boy/ Connie. 8ou 9ust 3ee your claws o00 him and he>ll stay that way.G Connie widened her eyes. EKidI &oyI @e>s a youn! man/ :aymeister/ and a real cutie at that. And you 3now whatI @e absolutely idoli7es you. 4he other day he as3ed 4eni3a where you buy your clothes.G :ayson nodded. E@e>s !onna be an outstandin! lawyer some day.G E@e wants to !o into criminal law/ but his arents want him to !o cor orate.G E% 3now. @e>ll do what>s ri!ht 0or him.G Connie !rabbed her noteboo3 and en. E.ell/ whatcha !ot 0or meIG :ayson leaned on the arm o0 the chair in 0ront o0 him. E%>m loo3in! at how to ossibly !et the CA to !o 0or second de!ree. % need some ammunition. 'o remeditation. 4hat 3ind o0 thin!. Loo3 it u 0or me. And a0ter % !ive Dictor those news articles/ %>m !oin! to !ive you a 0ew decisions on searches and sei7ures. She ardi7e them and 0ind out i0 anythin!>s ha ened recently. Es ecially chec3 out automobile searches. %0 those co s 0ound a ma in Stone>s car lyin! in clear view/ %>m the 0ric3in> o e.G E8ou !ot it. Anythin! else/ 8our EminenceIG E'ah. 4hat should 3ee you busy 0or a while.G E:ayson/ can % as3 you somethin!IG E4he answer>s no. % ay you all too much as it is.G Connie !i!!led. E'ot thatHnot today/ at least.G EGo ahead.G E.hat did Renee say about thisIG :ason ulled the chair out and sat. @e too3 a dee breath and stared at the table as he s o3e. EShe doesn>t li3e it. 8ou 3now she could become head o0 anesthesiolo!y retty

soon. She>s worried this case will hurt her chances. She>s also a0raid it>ll disru t our lives li3e that other one did three years a!o.G Connie wi ed her 0orehead with her 0in!erti s. E.hewF .hat an aw0ul time that was. % remember the an!ry hone calls and letters and stu00. Remember that boA o0 do! shit somebody sent us in the mailIG E8eah/ oor 4eni3a/G :ayson said. E%>ve never seen her so u set. 4hat>s one o0 the reasons % moved the o00ice to &ri!hton?besides the 0act that % needed bi!!er and better s ace.G @e waved his hands in the air as i0 erasin! the memories. E.ell/ than3s 0or as3in!. As the sayin! !oes/ L4his too shall ass.> 'ow let>s !o do what % ho e the state is !oin! to ay us handsomely to do.G Connie sashayed out o0 the room. :ayson stood and !athered his thin!s while re0lectin! on Renee>s interactions with him since he in0ormed her about the Stone case. She had been olite/ but a bit distant. 'o doubt she had devoted some o0 her Saturday visit with her arents to com lain about his new client. :ayson li3ed Renee>s arents/ both success0ul colle!e ro0essors/ but he 3new they didn>t a rove o0 him com letely. Renee had con0essed to him years a!o that/ had her mother and 0ather>s desires been met/ their dau!hter?their only child?would have married a cor orate attorney= someone who sat in a 0ancy o00ice on the twentysomethin! 0loor o0 some hi!h rise buildin!. 4he erudite ro0essors 0ound their son+in+law>s association with accused criminals to be somewhat unseemly. A 3noc3 on the door interru ted :ayson>s thou!hts. @e turned and o ened it. 4ane3a ositioned hersel0 hal0way inside the con0erence room. ESome woman>s on the hone. Sounds youn!. Says she wants to tal3 to you. .ouldn>t !ive her name but she said it>s im ortant. She>s !ot a bit o0 a S anish accent/ % thin3.G Pu77led/ :ayson moved his eyebrows closer to!ether. E8ou sure she wanted me/ not ConnieIG EShe as3ed 0or you.G :ayson chec3ed his watch and brushed by her/ headin! 0or his o00ice. E.ell/ no name/ no me. 8ou 3now the rules/ 4eni3a.G 4eni3a chased behind him. E% 3now/ but she said it>s about your dau!hter. She said you>d want to tal3 to her.G A 0ew seconds later :ayson sat at the des3 in his o00ice starin! at the tele hone. %t ran! once and he ic3ed it u . E@ello/ this is :ayson Coo3.G E@ello/ :ayson. %t>s been a lon! time/G the so0t 0emale voice on the other end said. E4his is Leslie. %>m bac3.G :ayson closed his eyes and !round his teeth to!ether the instant he heard her voice. E4hat>s !ot nothin! to do with me. Con>t call me a!ain/G he commanded/ and hun! u . @e ressed the intercom button and heard 4eni3a>s 0amiliar and com0ortin! voice. E%0 that woman calls a!ain/ %>m not available/G he said. @e disen!a!ed the intercom and turned his chair so that his bac3 0aced the des3. :ayson stared out his window at the tra00ic on Cambrid!e Street two stories below. 4he sun shone bri!htly althou!h not directly into his o00ice. 4wo 0lowerin! ear trees in 0ront o0 the church across the street had all but com letely eAchan!ed their eAJuisite white s rin! 0lowers 0or shiny !reen leaves. Peo le hurried about/ some in short sleeves and short ants. @e watched the youn! striders?&oston Colle!e and &oston Kniversity

commuter students/ and the old amblers?several strollin! to or 0rom Saint Eli7abeth @os ital u the street. @e swun! his chair around and 0aced his des3 a!ain/ then lowered his head/ restin! it in his hands and eAhaled dee ly. EGoddamn it/G he whis ered. E'ot Leslie.G *****

C%A$TE# 'OU#

:ayson 9oined his dau!hter on the 0loor in her bedroom and watched as she arran!ed her lastic tea set. 4he uneA ected call he had received 0rom Leslie two days be0ore brie0ly sur0aced in his mind/ but he chased the thou!ht away by 0ocusin! on his surroundin!s. @e recalled he had disa!reed with Renee>s decorative choices 0or :enni0er>s room: lilac+colored walls s rin3led with yellow butter0lies and 0lowers/ 0orest !reen car et/ ensemble cast o0 dolls and stu00ed animals erched on the built+in shelves/ white 0urniture/ and so on. 4oo rissy and so0t/ he had ar!ued= havin! a !irl didn>t mean she had to be a !irlie !irl. @e eA ected her to eAcel at s orts/ climb trees and unch a boy in the mouth i0 he ever !ot too 0resh. @is o inion notwithstandin!/ he had chosen not to ress the issue about :enni0er>s room. &ein! an attorney had tau!ht him to only eA end ener!y 0i!htin! im ortant battles. :ayson returned to the resent+day and to his hostess. She s o3e over a ballet selection by &eethoven layin! on her ortable music layer/ recountin! the numerous di00iculties o0 the day: She had been sub9ected to the indi!nity o0 sharin! a com uter with a boy durin! science class. @er draw+and+read !rou had been last to ut away its crayons/ so she didn>t !et a 0ront+row s ot on the car et when the teacher read a story. She had !otten her 0avorite blouse dirty durin! recess while layin! ta!. 4o ma3e matters worse/ <ommy/ the absent Princess Renee/ unaccustomed to ac3in! her meals/ had ne!lected to ut a boA o0 raisins in her lunchboA. As a result/ :enni0er had su00ered the embarrassment o0 bein! the only child in her class without a dessert durin! lunch. :ayson nodded/ ac3nowled!in! that bein! in the 0irst !rade indeed entailed numerous challen!es. E4ou!h day/ huhIG E8es/ but we will 0or!et all about that now and 9ust en9oy our tea/G :enni0er said/ her voice throaty and re!al. :ayson nodded. EDery !ood/ <ilady. .e>ll do 9ust that.G Earlier that mornin!/ he had been reminded ersonally by ECuchess :enni0er 'icole Coo3G that she would be deli!hted i0 he would 9oin her 0or tea later that evenin! be0ore her bedtime. 4he Cuchess had in0ormed :ayson/ who had bro3en two revious en!a!ements due to uneA ected wor3 res onsibilities/ that she eA ected him to 3ee their a ointment this time. &e0ore dashin! o00 to the o00ice he had 3issed his hostess on the 0orehead and a olo!i7ed ro0usely 0or havin! been so remiss. @e had reminded the Cuchess that he had called both times and advised her o0 his absence. 'evertheless/ he had romised that he would be ha y to be her !uest at seven+thirty .m. E@ow>s your tea/ CaddyIG :enni0er as3ed. .ith the hel o0 her loyal chambermaid/ <a!dalena Lo e7/ she had adorned hersel0 with an assortment o0 costume 9ewelry the

house3ee er and her mother had loaned her 0or the occasion. She also donned her Elittle rincessG @alloween costume 0rom the revious year and a air o0 white !loves. :ayson brou!ht the em ty teacu to his li s and set it bac3 on its late. EBh/ it>s absolutely marvelous tea/ <ilady/G he !ushed. E4he best %>ve ever had/ but you shouldn>t have !one to so much trouble.G :enni0er smiled. EBh/ it was no trouble. %>m 9ust so !lad you could ma3e it.G :ayson clas ed his hands to!ether. E% wouldn>t have missed it 0or the world. 4han3 you ever so much 0or invitin! me.G E8ou>re very welcome/G :enni0er said. She reached 0or the tiny 3ettle and dan!led it in the air. E.ould you care 0or some more tea/ CaddyIG :ayson !rabbed his cu and saucer/ and held them underneath the 3ettle. ECon>t mind i0 % do.G @e watched with ride and abundant love as :enni0er tilted the 3ettle. E4han3 you. 8ou are such a lovely and charmin! hostess.G @e noticed the hint o0 er0ume in the air. EAnd you smell !ood/ tooFG :enni0er dran3 0rom her em ty cu then set it down. ECaddyHG E8es/ <iladyIG ECan % as3 you somethin!IG EB0 course/ <ilady.G E.hy is Granddaddy white and Grandmommy blac3IG :ayson arched one o0 his eyebrows. E.hat ma3es you as3 thatIG E.ell/G :enni0er said/ E<e!an saw them at my ballet recital and as3ed me. She told me all o0 her !rand arents are white. .ell/ Grand a and Grandma?the ones you !ave me?are both blac3. &ut Granddaddy and Grandmommy?the ones <ommy !ave me? are white and blac3. .hyIG E<e!an didn>t say anythin! mean about them/ did sheIG :ayson inJuired. E'o. She 9ust as3ed why Granddaddy was white but Grandmommy was blac3.G :ayson leaned on his le0t side to stretch out on the car et and rested his 0ace on his balled+u hand. ERemember at Sunday school when you learned that God creates eo le all 3inds o0 di00erent colors/ but @e loves them all 9ust the sameIG E8es/G :enni0er said. E.ell/ even thou!h eo le loo3 di00erent/ anyone can 0all in love and !et married/G :ayson eA lained. E4he !rand arents <ommy !ave you have loved each other 0or many years. &ecause they loved each other they had <ommy/ and because your <ommy and % loved each other we had you.G @e sat u a!ain. ERemember <r. and <rs. Carter at churchI 4he cou le who 9ust had their baby dedicatedI @e>s blac3 and she>s white.G :enni0er smiled. E4hey>re nice.G :ayson nodded. E8es/ they>re very nice.G A 3noc3 on the door halted their chat. EBh your hiiii+nessFG san! the voice with a thic3 S anish accent. E8ou may enter/G the Cuchess answered. <a!dalena o ened the door and addressed :ayson. E% hate to interru t but it>s time 0or the Cuchess to !et ready 0or bed.G :enni0er 0rowned. EAlreadyIG She !ave her 0ather a leadin! loo3. :ayson !lanced at his watch. E%>m a0raid so/G he re lied and slowly !ot to his 0eet. E% had such a wonder0ul time/ <ilady/G @e too3 her hand in his and 3issed it. E% shall de0initely in0orm my wi0e/ the Princess Renee/ that she missed a 0abulous tea arty.G

:enni0er threw her arms around his nec3 and sJuee7ed. E4han3 you/ Caddy/G she whis ered. :ayson wra ed his arms around her and !ently li0ted her/ then 3issed her and lowered her bac3 to the 0loor. E<y leasure/G he said/ then turned his attention to <a!dalena/ who smiled with both 9oy and sadness. Bnce a!ain/ :ayson>s heart 0illed with com assion 0or his lon!su00erin! house3ee er. @e 3new she certainly missed her own children terribly. E%>ll be u later to tuc3 the Cuchess in.G <a!dalena lowered her head. ESi. % !et her ready.G :ayson atted the woman on the shoulder and wal3ed down the hall. @e entered his o00ice and chec3ed the wall cloc3: seven 0orty+0ive. Renee had !one to church choir rehearsal and wouldn>t be home until nine. 4he loo3 on <a!dalena>s 0ace had reminded him how much his 0amily meant to him. @e re0lected on the sermon the associate minister at church had reached the revious Sunday. She had admonished the con!re!ation not to let the ursuit o0 material !ain turn their hearts away 0rom God and 0amily. E'o one on his or her deathbed will eAclaim/ L% wish % had s ent more time at wor3F>G she had advised. @er declaration had elicited several s irited EAmensG 0rom members o0 the con!re!ation/ includin! :ayson. :ayson too3 the 0amiliar osition in 0ront o0 his com uter and turned it on. @e watched the screen 0lic3er and waited 0or the machine to start u . <eanwhile/ he recalled his visit to :ud!e B>@are>s chambers and resolved to ta3e care that the Stone case didn>t cause undue hardshi to his 0amily. &ut the 9ud!e had advised him wisely: %0 he as ired to the bench/ he?and they?would have to learn to live with some inconvenience. @e !rabbed the mouse and clic3ed on his e+mail. Bne messa!e had snea3ed ast his s am+bloc3in! so0tware. @e deleted the !enerous o00er 0or reduced+ rice tablets !uaranteed to enlar!e his enis and considered whether to disclose to Renee how much a so0t/ seductive voice he had heard on the tele hone two days be0ore had u set him. @e mentally rehearsed several scri ts but decided a!ainst them all. @e saw no need to share the secret he had 3e t 0rom his wi0e 0or several years. %t would only u set her. @e had made a mista3e years a!o/ a la se in 9ud!ment/ and now it had come bac3 to haunt him. @is indi!nant rebu3e to her notwithstandin!/ he 3new he would surely hear 0rom Leslie a!ain. N 4wo wee3s a0ter :enni0er>s tea arty/ :ayson bent over his con0erence table and lea0ed throu!h the discovery items 0or the Stone case. Connie had done a !ood 9ob initially sortin! the material/ he remar3ed to himsel0/ but he wanted to review the in0ormation alone. @er incessant chatter could be distractin!. @e scanned arrest re orts/ search warrant documents/ investi!ative re orts/ witness statements/ olice re orts/ crime scene hotos/ auto sy results/ motions by the ublic de0ender/ motions by the rosecutors/ and so on. 4hree wee3s a0ter he had met rivately with :ud!e B>@are/ he had o00icially been assi!ned the case. @is client hadn>t even been resent in the courtroom when the 9ud!e had made the trans0er 0rom the ublic de0ender to him. %n 0act/ he and Stone still hadn>t met 0ace+to+0ace. 4he wheels o0 9ustice do indeed turn slowly/ :ayson admitted. @e chec3ed the stac3s on his con0erence table. Althou!h the entire harvest a eared to be Juite voluminous/ he had eA ected there would actually be more. @e sus ected he

hadn>t seen all the available?and le!ally reJuired?in0ormation. 4he material constituted only what the ublic de0ender had been !iven by the Su00ol3 county assistant district attorneys= certainly not everythin! the ACAs had in their ossession. :ayson wondered what 3ind o0 erson would 0irebomb a church. As an attorney/ he had encountered all 3inds o0 evidence testi0yin! to how horribly human bein!s could treat each other. @e had seen hotos o0 domestic violence victims with blac3 eyes/ blood runnin! 0rom their noses and mouths/ and A+rays revealin! bro3en bones. @e had read sychiatric re orts o0 ra e victims who had attem ted suicide a0ter their ordeals. @e had eAamined hotos o0 cor ses: eo le who had been beaten/ stabbed/ oisoned/ shot/ run over by a car/ and thrown o00 a siA+story buildin!. 4he victims had been someone>s child/ someone>s arent/ someone>s s ouse/ someone>s brother or sister/ someone>s best 0riend. :ayson had watched de0endants in court lower their heads and sob li3e babies u on hearin! how a loved one had been murdered. @e had also watched de0endants listen to such testimony calmly/ dis layin! as little emotion as one would eAhibit while watchin! aint dry. :ayson too3 a seat and read Stone>s bac3!round in0ormation. 4he man had s ent most o0 his early li0e in Ar3ansas. @is alcoholic 0ather had run out on his mother shortly be0ore his second birthday. @is alcoholic mother had !iven birth to him shortly a0ter her 0ortieth birthday. @e had been her 0ourth child. Each o0 his siblin!s had a di00erent 0ather/ each one willin! to buy his mother drin3s and !ive her a lace to stay. 4he woman had eventually been ut out o0 her woe0ully unha y eAistence by a 0atal bout with the 0lu a0ter Stone had turned three. ;ollowin! their mother>s death/ Stone and his hal0+siblin!s had been laced in various 0oster homes. Stone had bounced 0rom one 0oster home to the neAt and 0rom one county to the neAt until his ei!hteenth birthday. @e wor3ed odd 9obs in Ar3ansas/ then moved to 4ennessee. 'o reason was !iven 0or his relocation. Eventually/ he moved to <assachusetts/ a!ain with no reason !iven. 4he 0act that in s ite o0 his un0ortunate u brin!in! he had no revious criminal record sur rised and im ressed :ayson. @e o ened the 0older containin! the re ort 0rom the &oston Police EA losives Brdnance Knit/ re0erred to in the de artment as E.B.K./ but still commonly called the &omb SJuad by the ublic and the news media. 4he !ist o0 the re ort indicated the ower0ul bomb had been constructed with in!redients easily attainable at hardware and home im rovement stores. A !allon+si7ed !lass bottle containin! !asoline had been laced inside the boA containin! the eA losive device 0or the ur ose o0 ensurin! a 0ire. A battery+ owered di!ital timer had been used/ set to !o o00 recisely at midni!ht. :ayson shoo3 his head. @ad Deronica &radley not 0or!otten to turn o00 the li!ht in the church>s 3itchen/ or had Reverend &radley not 0or!otten a boo3 he needed 0or his sermon/ his dau!hter would still be alive. @e wondered i0 the reverend tortured himsel0 with !uilt. :ayson reasoned that by settin! the bomb to detonate at midni!ht the cul rit hadn>t intended to cause death or bodily harm. 4here0ore/ a case could be made 0or second de!ree 0elony murder rather than murder in the 0irst de!ree. 'eAt/ :ayson ic3ed u a list revealin! the results 0rom the search o0 &rian Stone>s drab a artment. A arently/ Stone had amassed a hu!e assortment o0 u!ly racist literature and media. All o0 his boo3s/ am hlets/ osition a ers/ videos/ CDCs and CCs collectively decried how America had lost its way durin! the $(-#s a0ter the law had

0orced decent/ Christian whites to inte!rate with blac3s and other undesirable and in0erior races. Accordin! to much o0 the literature and media Stone had absorbed/ a lon!+ standin!/ dastardly lot eAisted/ 0unded rimarily by American :ews/ to destroy the Knited States so %srael could become the neAt su er ower. :ayson shoo3 his head a!ain. 4welve citi7ens o0 the Commonwealth servin! on a 9ury would surely loathe a man who endorsed or even entertained such views. @is client should de0initely not testi0y on his own behal0. :ayson loo3ed over a rather dama!in! acJuisition 0rom the search warrant. Stone>s hand+drawn ma o0 the church did resent a roblem. :ayson lau!hed out loud as he envisioned ar!uin! be0ore a 9ury that his client had lanned to visit <ount Calvary &a tist Church 0or reli!ious reasons. &etter to sim ly ar!ue that the eAistence o0 the ma roved nothin!. Another iece o0 evidence resented the bi!!est roblem 0or the de0ense. 4he olice had retrieved a co y o0 <ount Calvary>s church bulletin 0rom Stone>s a artment/ dated the day o0 the bombin!. Reverend &radley had in0ormed the olice that seventy+0ive co ies o0 the church bulletins 0or Sunday had been rinted the ;riday be0ore the bombin! and laced on his des3. @e also stated that none o0 the bulletins had been distributed. ;orensic evidence indicated the church had burned to the !round/ reducin! everythin! in the reverend>s o00ice to iles o0 ashes. @ow then/ did Stone !et a bulletin unless he had been in the buildin!I ECumb ass/G :ayson whis ered. Some stu id criminals 9ust couldn>t resist ta3in! a souvenir. %t wasn>t uncommon 0or ra ists and murderers to cut o00 a iece o0 a victim>s clothin! and hide it in their homes. 4hey>d ta3e out the memento and relive their crime/ derivin! sic3 leasure 0rom doin! so. Some even 3e t 9ournals detailin! their acts. <ore than one criminal had been convicted because o0 the eAistence o0 a Etro hy room.G Such evidence could be neAt to im ossible to challen!e. Next to/ but not entirely im ossible/ :ayson thou!ht. @is client mi!ht have entered the church and ta3en a bulletin? erha s as a ran3?but that didn>t mean he had lanted the bomb. :ayson reviewed co ies o0 a 0ew bomb+ma3in! documents ta3en 0rom Stone>s a artment. %t sur rised him that even a0ter the terrorist attac3s on Se tember $$/ "##$/ and the assin! o0 subseJuent anti+terrorism laws/ almost anyone with a com uter and a credit card could obtain am le in0ormation on how to ma3e a bomb. :ayson read throu!h a co y o0 the three+ a!e table o0 contents 0or one boo3. %t 0eatured an arsenal o0 homemade eA losives reci es: i e bombs/ !renades/ na alm/ smo3e bombs/ bomb launchers/ detonators/ the wor3s. .ell/ :ayson reasoned/ a loner>s 0ascination with eA losives didn>t mean he had acted on it. :ayson too3 a dee breath/ stood/ and 0inally reached to the 0ar side o0 the table 0or the ile he had been avoidin! 0or two hours. @e o ened the coroner>s re ort and 0elt his heartbeat accelerate and his alms become sweaty. @e 0orced himsel0 to loo3 at the 0irst icture. 4here it?or she?was/ on the medical eAaminer>s table?the blac3ened cor se o0 twelve+year+old Deronica &radley. She loo3ed li3e a match a0ter it had burned itsel0 out. :ayson closed his eyes. ELord :esus/ !ive eace to that oor child>s soul/G he rayed. ;or a 0ew seconds he thou!ht o0 his recious dau!hter and how he would 0eel i0 her body lay on that cold/ stainless steel table. @e o ened his eyes/ too3 a dee breath and reminded himsel0 that his loyalty rested with his client/ not the victim.

@e read the re ort. 'o sur rises. Ceath had been instantaneous. 4he !irl never 3new what hit her. @e closed the 0ile and tossed it bac3 onto the other side o0 the table. 'othin! there that would hel but lenty that would hurt. ;ortunately 0or his client/ the 9ud!e would allow the coroner>s written re ort to be seen by the 9ury/ but not the hotos. 4oo in0lammatory? ardon the !allows humor. :ayson returned to his seat and lowered his head. %t would be a di00icult case in more ways than one. 4he rosecution had !otten an ei!hteen+month head start. @e had a very un o ular client due to his racist views. 4he story had received a !reat deal o0 re+trial ublicity. ;inally/ 0rom what the 9ud!e and both revious ublic de0enders had told him/ his client could be uncoo erative. :ayson chec3ed his watch and the cloc3 on the wall/ then threw a 0ew a ers into his brie0case. 4ime 0or the main attraction. @e wal3ed to the door and o ened it. EConnie/ can % see you/ leaseIG @e leaned a!ainst the door to 3ee it o en. @is always+ebullient arale!al strutted into the room. As usual/ her s3irt hun! a bit shorter than he thou!ht it should 0or a law o00ice= and/ as usual/ he said nothin! about it. E8ou ran!IG she as3ed. :ayson ointed at the table. E8ou did a !ood 9ob o0 sortin! the stu00 the PCs sent over.G E4han3s.G E% rearran!ed thin!s 9ust a bit/ nothin! serious. Pile everythin! bac3 into the boAes/ 3ee them or!ani7ed and/G he lowered his voice/ Ema3e sure 4eni3a doesn>t see those ics.G Connie !rimaced as i0 she had 9ust suc3ed on a lemon. E% 3now/G she whis ered. E4hey>re terrible/ aren>t theyIG E8eah/G :ayson said. @e ste ed away 0rom the door and s o3e to Connie as it slowly closed. E%>m o00 to the County :ail to meet &rian Stone.G *****

C%A$TE# 'I(E

:ayson waited atiently in the tiny con0erence room at the Su00ol3 County :ail/ located in downtown &oston. 4he o00+white walls/ harsh overhead li!htin!/ and s arse 0urniture?a table and two chairs?!ave the s ace a sterile 0eel. 4he 0acility 0aced the Charles River and had o ened in $((#. 4he architects had desi!ned it with a contem orary loo3 relyin! more on thic3 !lass rather than iron bars 0or security. @owever/ in the s ace where :ayson sat/ the u er third o0 two doors on o osite sides o0 the room contained the only !lass available. Bne door led to the outside section/ where visitors chec3ed in and underwent rocessin!. 4he other door led dee er into the buildin! where the detainees were housed. :ayson had sat in similar rooms throu!hout the 0acility many times. @e had met men ?and even a 0ew women?accused o0 various crimes/ includin! o00enses o0 notorious de ravity and cruelty. <ost o0 the clients he met at the 9ail were indi!ent. A00luent eo le could raise money 0or bail. Accused white+collar criminals/ throu!h their attorneys/ made arran!ements to turn themselves in with assurance they would be released a0ter bein!

0in!er rinted and boo3ed. 4hey would a ear later at their arrai!nments?usually two days 0ollowin! their arrest?dressed in business attire and constantly !lancin! at their watches because they had other a ointments that day. :ayson>s clientele included the indi!ent and the a00luent/ althou!h over the ast 0ew years he had re resented many more o0 the latter. Alle!ed embe77lers aid si!ni0icant retainers u 0ront. Accused dru! dealers could also be es ecially !enerous/ not uncommonly dolin! out their retainers in cash. :ayson had 0ound it increasin!ly di00icult to re resent indi!ent clients because he was inca able o0 merely !oin! throu!h the motions 0or those who had little money. @e usually wor3ed seventy to ei!hty hours a wee3/ includin! wee3end wor3 at home/ so his er+hour rate dro ed reci itously 0or a oor client. @e too3 very seriously the law>s reJuirement that both the rich and the oor be !iven a 0air trial/ and that the state must rove the !uilt o0 the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. @e believed every client deserved his best e00orts. As 0ar as :ayson was concerned/ &rian Stone had a le!al resum tion o0 innocence unless and until twelve im artial 9urors declared him !uilty. @e also too3 very seriously his obli!ation to revent them 0rom reachin! such a verdict. :ayson reached into his brie0case/ !rabbed a 0resh le!al ad and a cou le o0 0olders/ and dro ed them on the table. @e eased his hand inside the oc3et o0 his suit and retrieved a !old+ lated en en!raved with his initials. @e eAamined the en and snic3ered/ rememberin! he had received the eA ensive !i0t several years be0ore 0rom a !rate0ul client with a lon! history o0 arrests 0or sho li0tin!. :ayson had hel ed the woman beat the ra on a technicality. 4he note accom anyin! the en had read/ E4han3s 0or everythin!. :ust a little somethin! % ic3ed u and thou!ht you would li3e.G Primed and ready to !o/ :ayson !lanced at the door leadin! into the detainees> unit li3e a racecar driver waitin! 0or the !reen li!ht. 4he door was o ened and two clean+ shaven white men ste ed into the room: a little man in a blue 9ail uni0orm escorted by a short but hus3y 9ail o00icer. 4he hairy+armed/ middle+a!ed o00icer wore a white/ short+ sleeved shirt and clutched a lar!e set o0 3eys in his ri!ht hand. @e bid :ayson !ood a0ternoon. :ayson returned his !reetin!. E.e 3now this is the 0irst meetin! 0or you two/ so ta3e all the time you need? within reason/G the o00icer said. E4han3 you/G :ayson re lied. @e watched the man leave and a0ter hearin! the 0amiliar sound o0 the door bein! loc3ed/ eAtended his hand to Stone. E%>m :ayson Coo3/ your new attorney.G Stone shoo3 :ayson>s hand without a arent reservation or emotion. :ayson ointed at the table. ESit down. .e>ve !ot a lot o0 wor3 to do.G Stone too3 his osition at the table/ eA osin! his ri!ht ro0ile to the inside door. :ayson sat with his bac3 to the same door/ as was his ractice. :ust in case a detainee became violent/ he>d be able to 9um out o0 his seat/ bac3 edal to the door and ban! on it/ summonin! immediate intervention 0rom the 9ail o00icers. %n his entire career as an attorney/ however/ such action had never been necessary. ESo/G Stone o ened/ Eat last we meet. %>ve been loo3in! 0orward to this.G @is Ar3ansas drawl 0illed the room li3e the heat and humidity in his home state durin! :uly. :ayson raised his eyebrows. E8ou haveIG E8es/G Stone declared. E.ell/ !iven my situation/ at this oint %>m !lad to be meetin! anybody.G @is 0ace remained stoic in s ite o0 his a arent attem t at levity.

:ayson etched a sli!ht smile on his 0ace. E.ell/ %>m !lad you>ve been able to 3ee your sense o0 humor.G @e dan!led his en over the ad/ re ared to write. E%s there anythin! % can do 0or youI Call a member o0 your 0amily/ erha sIG @e always o ened with that o00er to establish himsel0 as someone willin! to hel . @e hal0 eA ected his short/ twenty+0ive+year+old/ baby+0ace client to as3 0or a !lass o0 mil3. Stone shoo3 his head. E4han3 you/ no. %>m a0raid % have no 0amily these days.G :ayson set his en on to o0 the a er. E.ell/ is there anythin! you needI Are they treatin! you alri!ht hereIG Stone shru!!ed. E4hey>re 3ee in! me in the Protective Custody Knit 0or my own sa0ety. <y 0ellow Lresidents> are mostly sus ected in0ormants and child molesters. &ut !enerally everybody leaves me alone and % do the same. 4he story o0 my li0e/ <r. Coo3.G EB3ay/G :ayson said. E<ay % call you &rianIG @is client nodded. ECall me :ayson/ with a 8.G @e ic3ed u his en a!ain. E4ell me/ &rian. About three wee3s a!o :ud!e B>@are as3ed me to ta3e this case. @e said that you and two ublic de0enders hadn>t !otten on very well. %>d li3e to 3now what ha ened and why you s eci0ically as3ed 0or me.G Stone winced/ showin! the 0irst si!n o0 emotion. E.hat ha ened/ :ayson with a 8/ is that both o0 them hated the si!ht o0 me/G he declared calmly and shoo3 his 0in!er. E4he 0irst one/ that woman/ she could barely ma3e eye contact with me. And she 3e t tellin! me to lead !uilty.G @e held u two 0in!ers and continued. E4he same with the second one/ the curly+haired man who loo3ed barely old enou!h to shave. @e acted the same way. 4hey 3e t advisin! me to lead !uilty. Cidn>t want the air they were breathin! olluted by havin! to sit neAt to me. 'either o0 them had the time or interest to even listen to what % had to say.G :ayson listened. 4he man hadn>t resented himsel0 the way he had antici ated. Stone had no colle!e education but a eared to be intelli!ent. Ces ite his thic3 accent/ he didn>t 0it the ro0ile o0 the stereoty ical rednec3 racist. :ayson decided it would serve no ur ose to de0end the ublic de0enders. EB3ay. .here do % 0it inI .hy as3 0or meIG Stone shi0ted in his chair. E&ecause you>re a res ected man in this town/ counselor. <r. <or!an said you 0ou!ht 0or his ri!hts and the church even a0ter you !ot stuc3 with the case when that :ew lawyer too3 sic3.G EPro0essor Greenber!.G E.hatIG E@is name is Pro0essor Seth Greenber!. And % never would have !otten involved i0 he hadn>t as3ed me.G ERi!ht.G Stone held u his hands. E'ow don>t !et me wron!. .e don>t have anythin! a!ainst you eo le?or :ews either. .e 9ust thin3 thin!s would be better i0 everybody 9ust 3ee s to their own and sto miAin!.G :ayson nodded. E% see.G @e had no interest in ursuin! the discussion but resolved to 3ee his client away 0rom the sound bite+hun!ry media under all circumstances. @e could 9ust see Stone>s sentiments as they would loo3 on the local evenin! news. E.ell/ &rian/G he continued/ Ethe 0act is/ %>m your lawyer and you can be assured %>m !oin! to do everythin! % can to see to it that all o0 your ri!hts are rotected and you>re treated 0airly throu!hout this rocess.G @e a!ed throu!h the a ers inside a 0older. E% understand you>ve been denied bail and have been here 0or about a year and a hal0.G

E8eah. 4hat 9ud!e says % mi!ht ta3e o00 i0 % was released/ so they>re 3ee in! me here.G Stone widened his eyes. EAny chance you can !et me out on bailIG ECo you have any way to raise moneyI A car or somethin! you can sellIG Stone chuc3led. E%0 % had any money/ would % be needin! a 0ree lawyerIG E.hat %>m tryin! to tell you is % could 0ile a motion 0or a bail hearin!/G :ayson re lied/ Ebut what would be the oint i0 the 9ud!e reduced your bail to say/ a hundred thousand dollars/ which is the least he would set itI 8ou>d have to come u with ten ercent o0 that to be released.G @e sorted throu!h his a ers and 0ound the ublic de0ender>s notes on Stone>s two revious bail hearin!s. EGettin! bail would be a lon! shot anyway. 8ou>ve !ot no 9ob anymore. 'o money. 'o 0amily. %n the court>s mind you have no ties= nothin! to 3ee you here.G :ayson sli ed the a er bac3 into the 0older. E&etter to s end our ener!y on your de0ense.G Stone shru!!ed a!ain. E.ell/ no harm as3in!.G :ayson ointed at the ceilin!. E'ow here are a 0ew im ortant rules %>m sure you already heard 0rom your revious lawyers. ;irst/ watch what you say here. Con>t tell anyone anythin! you wouldn>t want to see on the news the neAt day. 4al3 about the weather/ the Red SoA>s chances this year/ some 4D model>s bi! boobs/ whatever/ but don>t reveal anythin! about your case or anythin! you and % tal3 about/ and don>t volunteer in0ormation about yoursel0 or your olitical views. 8ou>d be sur rised what the district attorney can use a!ainst you later on. KnderstandIG E%t>s not li3e % ma3e a whole lot o0 0riends wherever % !o/G Stone answered dryly. ES ea3in! o0 that/G :ayson said/ Eis there anybody who>d be willin! to s ea3 on your behal0I A 0riend you made when you were wor3in! at the hos ital or someone bac3 home or a !irl0riend or somebodyIG Stone shoo3 his head. E'o/ nobody.G E4here must be someone you>ve connected with over the?G E.hat art o0 Lnobody> don>t you understandIG :ayson held u his hands. EB3ay/ o3ay. %>m 9ust loo3in! 0or somethin!/ anythin! that mi!ht hel .G @e made a mental note to eA lore Stone>s ersonal li0e more closely when he !ot bac3 to the o00ice. 4he man>s inability to 0orm close relationshi s clearly caused him !reat distress. :ayson had seen it many times?loners seethin! with an!er/ blamin! everyone else 0or their situation rather than themselves. 4hese were the ty es who set 0ires/ committed ra e/ vandali7ed ro erty?and erha s lanted bombs. Stone si!hed. E% learned lon! time a!o not to de end on anyone. Con>t !et too close to eo le/ you 3nowI 4hey only ma3e 0un or let you down or betray you.G :ayson nodded. E%t>s o3ay 0or now. %0 you thin3 o0 someone/ let me 3now.G E8ou>ll be the 0irst.G ELet>s move on/G :ayson su!!ested. E4ell me about what ha ened when the olice sto ed your car.G Stone scrunched u his 0ace. ECon>t you want to 3now i0 %>m !uilty or innocentIG :ayson shru!!ed. E%t doesn>t matter to me. .hat is im ortant is what the state can rove. ;rom what % can tell/ they>ve built a very solid case/ but it>s entirely circumstantial. 4here are no witnesses who can testi0y they saw you lant the bomb.G @e ta ed on the table with his en. E4heir whole case rests on your un o ular olitical belie0s/ the ma alle!edly retrieved 0rom your car and a church bulletin that alle!edly

laces you inside the church sometime be0ore the eA losion. &ut the law says you>re innocent until the state roves otherwise.G Stone loo3ed the room over and stretched out his arms. E%>ll 3ee that in mind when % !o bac3 to my cell.G @e dro ed his arms. EB3ay/ what do you want to 3now about when the olice sto ed meIG E:ust what ha ened.G E.ell/ % was drivin! north on .ashin!ton Street/ you 3now/ ri!ht near Cedham/ and ?G E.hat time was itIG EAbout nine/ maybe nine+thirty in the evenin!.G EComin! 0rom whereIG EA meetin! with some 0riends.G :ayson too3 a dee breath. E.e don>t have time to waste/ &rian. 8ou don>t have any 0riends. .ho were you withIG Stone>s tensed u his 0ace. E<r. <or!an and some !uys 0rom the church.G EBh/ that bunch. Go on.G E.ell/ %>m drivin! and the olice 9ust ull me over.G E.hyIG E4hey say % weaved close to the center line and didn>t come to a com lete sto be0ore % turned ri!ht at a red li!ht.G ECid youIG E'o/ because the li!ht was !reen/ not red/G Stone insisted. E4hen these two co s stand/ one on each side o0 the car. 4hey shine their 0lashli!hts into the car and as3 me 0or my driver>s license and stu00/ you 3now. 4hen they tell me to !et out. Bne o0 them/ the older white !uy !ives me a sobriety test= you 3now/ recite the al habet/ close my eyes/ hold out my hands and touch my nose/ then?G E@ad you been drin3in!IG E:ust one beer. 4hat>s all.G ECid you tell the o00icers thatIG Stone loo3ed embarrassed. E.ell/ they as3ed/ so % told them the truth. % !uess loo3in! bac3 % shouldn>t have.G :ayson continued to write. E4hat>s o3ay. Kee !oin!.G E4hen the other one/ the um/ how do your eo le sayIG @e smir3ed. E4he A0rican American 0emaleIG @e aused/ clearly en9oyin! himsel0/ and continued. EShe !ives the older white !uy a iece o0 a er and whis ers somethin! to him/ and he holds it u in his hand and says/ L.ell/ loo3 what we 0ound sittin! on the 0ront seat in lain viewF>G :ayson chose to i!nore Stone>s baitin!. ELet me !uess/ a hand+drawn ma o0 a nei!hborhood in RoAbury with details about the erimeter o0 the <ount Calvary &a tist Church.G Stone ointed at :ayson. E% can eA lain.G :ayson held u his hands. E'ot yet. .hat % want to 3now is did you draw that ma all by yoursel0I :ust yes or no only/ lease.G E8es.G EAnd was the ma sittin! on the assen!er seat in lain viewIG Stone balled u his 0ist. E'o/ it was in the !love boA.G

:ayson aused to or!ani7e his thou!hts. EB3ay/ % want to 3now about the church bulletin/ but be0ore % do let me tell you about a client % once had.G Stone loo3ed u77led. EB3ay/ i0 you say so.G :ayson scratched his hairless chin. E4here was this 3id accused o0 murder. @e was a member o0 a !an!. @e was char!ed as an adult with 3illin! another boy/ a member o0 a rival !an!. 4here was evidence indicatin! my client had been in the boy>s a artment. See/ he had in his ossession the victim>s ri7ed ossession?a home run baseball the victim had cau!ht and !otten auto!ra hed at a Red SoA !ame when he was a 3id.G ECidn>t that retty much close the dealIG Stone as3ed. E% mean/ they could lace him at the scene o0 the crime and all.G :ayson shoo3 his head. E%t would have i0 we>d !one into court and swore he was never in the a artment. .e couldn>t deny my client had been in the a artment/ but we tried to lant reasonable doubt into the 9urors> minds. <y client admitted he had been there/ but eA lained that he hadn>t been involved in the murder. @e had bro3en into the a artment earlier that day and ta3en the ball as an admittedly mean+s irited ran3.G EAnd they bou!ht itIG :ayson nodded. E;ortunately/ the victim had been 0urious about the the0t and had called two eo le/ cussin! about it. .e called them as witnesses.G E.hat ha enedI 4o your client/ % meanIG E4he rosecutors ar!ued the boy must have returned later and 3illed the other boy/ but the 9ury 0ound him not !uilty.G Stone cac3led. E% 3new you were a smart oneFG :ayson 0rowned. EA smart oneIG Stone winced. E% didn>t mean nothin! by it. 8ou>re the last erson % want an!ry with me. % mean/ my li0e>s in your hands.G :ayson leaned 0orward. ELi3e % said/ %>m your lawyer and will do everythin! % can to a00ord you every le!al rotection our system o00ers. &ut %>m also an o00icer o0 the court. % can>t suborn er9ury.G 4his time Stone 0rowned. E.hat>s thatIG E% can>t ut someone on the witness stand i0 % 3now he or she is !oin! to lie under oath/G :ayson answered. E<y oint is i0 we !o into court and say you don>t 3now anythin! about the church/ had never been there/ so on and so 0orth/ the only thin! that>s !onna 3ee a 9ury 0rom brin!in! in a Juic3 !uilty verdict is i0 they were loo3in! 0orward to a 0ancy meal aid 0or by the state.G @e leaned closer and stared at Stone. ECo you understand what %>m tellin! youIG @e waited/ aware the neAt move had to be Stone>s. @e had !one as 0ar as he could without actually coachin! the youn! man on what to say. &oth men sat Juietly 0or a 0ew seconds. Stone rolled his eyeballs 0rom side to side. A 9ail o00icer chec3ed the room throu!h the door behind :ayson and Juic3ly disa eared. Stone !lanced at the o00icer then returned his attention to his attorney. ;inally/ he cleared his throat and answered. E8eah/ % thin3 so.G :ayson nodded. @e reco!ni7ed the two men had reached an uneasy alliance/ built on a shared !oal. Stone wanted a 0ierce advocate who would 0i!ht 0or his li0e. :ayson wanted to win. @e shoo3 his en. EGood. 'ow let>s move on to the search warrant.G ECo you thin3 % should testi0yIG Stone as3ed. @e scratched his head/ which was covered with a thic3 mo o0 short blac3 hair.

EAbsolutely not/G :ayson re lied/ his voice sli!htly elevated. E%0 you !et on that witness stand the rosecutor will tear you a art and there>d be nothin! % could do to revent it.G E&ut we don>t have any 3ind o0 de0ense/G Stone rotested. E%0 % can>t testi0y/ what witnesses can our side ut onIG @is voice indicated anAiety and 0ear. :ayson leaned even closer and whis ered. E&rian/ i0 this does !o to trial/ we>re not !oin! to ut on any witnesses at all.G *****

C%A$TE# SI)

:ayson 9otted down a 0ew notes on a le!al ad while Samira Rahmani and Bmar Anderson/ two assistant district attorneys/ outlined their ostensibly ironclad case a!ainst &rian Stone. 4he meetin!/ the 0irst serious discussion between the combatants+to+be/ too3 lace at the Su00ol3 County Cistrict Attorney>s B00ice/ which li3e so many other court+ related buildin!s/ occu ied a s ace in downtown &oston. &ecause she wor3ed the resti!ious @omicide Knit/ Rahmani en9oyed the rivile!e o0 a lar!er o00ice than most o0 her collea!ues. @owever/ it a eared much smaller due to a score o0 white boAes stac3ed throu!hout the room. Bne end o0 Rahmani>s des3 hu!!ed the wall/ so the lawyers claimed the three available sides. Rahmani sat behind the des3/ Anderson too3 the s ot to her ri!ht and :ayson made himsel0 com0ortable in a sturdy but old wooden chair o osite Rahmani. She and :ayson dran3 %ranian tea 0rom small/ clear !lasses with no handles/ as was the %ranian custom. Anderson dran3 0rom a twenty+ounce bottle o0 distilled water. :ayson listened olitely. @e had met his client 0or the 0irst time only a wee3 be0ore and still didn>t consider himsel0 Juite u to s eed. @e didn>t mind Rahmani and Anderson Ewol0in!G?as he called it?about their case. Such osturin! was standard/ art o0 the attorney ne!otiatin! !ame. B osin! counsel delineated why each would beat the cra out o0 the other in court. A0ter eAhaustin! themselves with saber rattlin! they would 0reJuently ne!otiate a mutually a!reeable lea. %n this case/ however/ :ayson o00ered very little rebuttal to his counter arts> admonishments. @e 3new they held a hu!e advanta!e and thou!ht it best to obtain rather than divul!e much in0ormation. :ayson had learned in revious dealin!s with her that Rahmani could be very clever and resource0ul. She had the hi!hest conviction rate in the Knit and ossessed a seemin!ly ineAhaustible su ly o0 last minute tric3s. Still/ he li3ed her ersonally and considered the handsome/ thirty+0ive+year+old woman/ who !rew u in America/ to be a very worthy o onent. @e held a less 0avorable o inion o0 her artner. Anderson 9ust seemed to have been born with a dar3 cloud over his bald head. 4he man 0it the stereoty e o0 the crusadin! but sel0+absorbed rosecutor whose ublic cries o0 moralistic outra!e mas3ed burnin! olitical ambition. Rather than bondin! with him as a brother?a 0ellow A0rican American male attorney?:ayson 0ound Anderson to be sanctimonious and 9ud!mental toward those who didn>t share his views on race and reli!ion.

Rahmani studied a thic3/ o en 0older as she 0inished eA lainin! why Stone couldn>t esca e 9ustice. She closed the 0older and a0ter a 0ew seconds o0 silence/ !lanced at Anderson/ who nodded/ a arently indicatin! a mutual understandin! between them. Rahmani cleared her throat. E%n s ite o0 the 0act this is a slam dun3/G she said/ Ewe>re willin! to let your client lead to 0elony murder two.G :ayson slowly sat more u ri!ht. @e had antici ated the o00er but decided to stay with his Eless+said+the+betterG strate!y. E<urder two/G he re eated. E.e>ve !ot you both by the short hairs/G Anderson chimed in/ Ebut a lot o0 eo le don>t want this whole thin! dra!!ed bac3 u a!ain.G E;ace it/ :ayson/ this one>s a lost cause anyway/G Rahmani added. E.e>re 9ust tryin! to save you a lot o0 trouble.G 4he woman 0olded her hands/ dis layin! 0in!ers adorned with bur!undy nail olish/ and rested them on her des3. :ayson ut his ri!ht hand over his heart. E4hat>s so 3ind o0 you/ Samira. 4hat>s one thin! %>m always tellin! my 0riends about !oin! u a!ainst you and Bmar here.G @e tilted his head in the man>s direction. E8ou two are always wor3in! hard to save me a lot o0 trouble.G @e too3 a si o0 the bitter tea/ laced it on the des3 and re!retted havin! declined his hostess>s earlier o00er o0 two su!ar lum s rather than one. E&elieve me/ :ayson/ Samira>s !ivin! you a !i0t/G Anderson insisted. E%0 it were u to me your client wouldn>t !et shit.G E&ut it>s not u to you/ Bmar/ is itIG :ayson as3ed. @e 3new he shouldn>t needle the man/ but couldn>t hel himsel0. 4he thirty+ei!ht+year+old assistant district attorney seemed to be stuc3 in the assen!er seat when it came to tryin! bi! cases/ which he attributed to racism within the Cistrict Attorney>s B00ice. :ayson believed it had more to do with his tem erament and ersonality. Anderson ad9usted the !old/ wire+0ramed !lasses on his hairless 0ace and scowled. E8ou don>t have an ace u your sleeve this time/ :ayson. 4here>s no i!norant 9ury 0or you to 0ool.G :ayson smir3ed. E%t>s interestin! you used the words i!norant and 0ool/ Bmar.G E'ow cut it out you two/G Rahmani said. E4his isn>t !ettin! us anywhere.G E.ell/ he started it/G Anderson whined. E%>m sorry/ my brother/G :ayson moaned/ his voice laced with eAa!!erated sym athy. E% didn>t mean to hurt your 0eelin!s.G EAs one blac3 man to another/ % don>t understand how you can live with yoursel0/G Anderson said. EStone>s the devil himsel0.G E.ell/ don>t strain yoursel0 tryin! to understand too much/ Bmar/ m>man.G E% said sto itFG Rahmani commanded. :ayson lau!hed. EB3ay/ %>m done. Really.G @e reached 0or his tea/ sni00ed it and set it bac3 on the des3. ESeriously/ accordin! to my client/ you wouldn>t bud!e an inch. %t was 0irst de!ree all the way. .hy so !enerous all o0 a suddenIG @e turned his ro0ile to Rahmani and cut his eyes in her direction. E%t wouldn>t be you>re hidin! somethin!/ would itIG Anderson stood. @e tu!!ed on the suit 9ac3et coverin! his nearly siA+0eet 0rame and ste ed to his artner>s side o0 the des3. E% told you he wouldn>t be reasonable/ Samira. Let>s 9ust bury that child 3iller with all we>ve !ot and ut that son o0 a bitch under the 9ail 0or li0e.G

Rahmani turned in her chair and ushed the thic3 hair away 0rom her eye. She leaned bac3 to address Anderson. E&elieve me/ %>m only sorry we>re not in %ran. &ecause i0 we were/ he>d been ut to death by now.G :ayson smiled. EProbably/ but would this have been before or after an %ranian court ut some oor unmarried !irl to death 0or havin! !otten re!nant?a0ter they tortured her into recantin! her claim that she had been ra edIG Rahmani turned and smiled. E4ouchO/ counselor. 'ow that we>ve all !otten in our obli!atory 9abs/ can we !et bac3 to businessIG :ayson !rabbed his !lass o0 tea and/ in a !esture o0 !ood will/ too3 another si . E%>ve !ot my !un in my holster but %>m 3ee in! my hand on it/ 9ust in case.G @e !lanced at Anderson. EA!ain/ why the o00erIG Anderson scowled a!ain. E.hat di00erence does it ma3eIG Rahmani leaned 0orward. E4he mayor and the CA have been tal3in!/G she con0essed. E4hey thin3 a lon!/ drawn out trial would be bad 0or the city>s ima!e/ you 3nowI 4hose cli s o0 white &oston arents in the seventies shoutin! at a busload o0 blac3 3ids still occasionally lay on the news even thou!h it ha ened literally !enerations a!o.G :ayson nodded. E% see. So %>m to convince my client to lead !uilty to murder two so the city o0 &oston doesn>t !et a blac3 eye.G @e chuc3led. EBr white eye/ de endin! on how you loo3 at it.G E8eah/G Anderson said. E% !uess the owers that be have been calculatin! how much the whole thin! would cost the taA ayers: eAtra security durin! the trial/ the trial itsel0/ multi le a eals/ you 3now. % !uess they thin3 it would save everybody some serious money.G E@mm+hmm/G :ayson re lied. ESavin! money is !ood 0or the city/ but it>d be my client rottin! in 9ail 0or the rest o0 his li0e.G EC>mon/ :ayson/G Rahmani said. E8ou 3now he>d robably !et out in twenty or twenty+0ive years. @e>s whatI 4wenty+0ourI @e>d be in his 0orties or 0i0ties= not too old to still salva!e somethin! out o0 his li0e.G Anderson ointed at :ayson. E4hat>s more than he deserves. 4he little &radley !irl doesn>t have a li0e to loo3 0orward to.G :ayson rubbed his chin. E% res ect your o00er. %>ve discussed this ossibility with my client when % met him last wee3/ and % don>t thin3 he>d be interested. 8ou>ve been sittin! on this 0or nineteen months or so. %t>s still retty early in the !ame 0or us.G Anderson ointed a!ain. E%t>s a !oddamn !ood deal. %0 % were you %>d !o to my client and convince him to ta3e it.G :ayson too3 a dee breath. E.ell/ we>ll thin3 it over but we>re still loo3in! over the evidence. % want to tal3 to the arrestin! o00icers/ our throu!h the stu00 you !ave his PCs some more. %>ve !ot a cou le o0 motions in mind/ you 3now the drill.G Rahmani nodded. E% understand/ :ayson. .e can robably 3ee the o00er on the table 0or a little while.G E8eah/ but we>re not !onna 0uc3 around with you two 0or lon!/G Anderson announced/ s ittin! his words. :ayson turned to his le0t. E.hat>s your roblem/ BmarI 8ou still issin! in your ants because o0 that Clemente caseIG E8our client 3illed that boy and you 3now it.G E% don>t 3now that and neither do you?and obviously the 9ury didn>t thin3 so.G

E'ow don>t you two start u a!ain.G E4hat 9ury was 0ooled by your slic3 tal3/G Anderson insisted. :ayson ointed at himsel0. E%>m not the one who hun! his whole case on that baseball.G Anderson shoo3 his 0in!er. EA boy?a youn! blac3 boy?was 3illed and the murderer !ot away with it because he had a cra0ty lawyer who?G ECid his homewor3/ unli3e the ACA who handled the case.G E8ou arro!ant ass shysterFG Rahmani stood. EBmar/ why don>t you let me tal3 to :ayson 0or a cou le o0 minutes aloneIG She o ened her hand/ !esturin! at the door. EPleaseIG Anderson 0rowned/ a arently embarrassed. E.ell/ % !uess it wouldn>t do any harm. <aybe you can tal3 some sense into him. % could use a bit o0 0resh air anyway.G @e stormed out o0 the room and slammed the door. Rahmani ste ed around her des3 and sto ed a 0ew inches 0rom where :ayson sat. She leaned a!ainst the des3 and 0olded her arms. E:ayson/ you>re not li3e this with anyone else but Bmar. .hat is it between you twoIG :ayson shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now. 4he !uy 9ust bu!s me?and he ou!ht to li!hten u on that a0tershave.G E8ou 3now he>s !oin! throu!h a tou!h time. .hy don>t you !ive him a brea3IG :ayson leaned bac3 in his chair. E@ey/ nobody 0orced him to marry that woman.G @e scowled. E;allin! in love with the sister o0 a victim in a case he>s tryin!I .hat was she/ a waitressIG @e rolled his eyes. E'ow don>t !et me wron!/ she was about as 0ine as they come/ but hell/ the woman was what?twenty+three or somethin!I Anybody with eyes could>ve told him he was as3in! 0or trouble.G Rahmani si!hed. E% 3now/ but it destroyed him when she le0t. @e>s tryin! to ut his li0e bac3 to!ether.G She wal3ed ast :ayson to the other side o0 the room and ins ected the lants sittin! in 0ront o0 the window. E8ou men/ you>re all ali3e. 4hin3in! with the little head instead o0 the bi! one all the time.G :ayson sensed ain in her voice. @e stood and reached 0or the two+year+old hoto!ra h on the des3. 4he !lowin! 0aces caused him to smile: Rahmani/ with her lon! hair uncovered as always/ her husband/ and their then 0our+year+old son and two+year+old dau!hter/ durin! ha ier times. @e !ently lowered the icture. E.hy don>t you tell Amir to cut down on those business tri s and stay home more with his lovely wi0e and 3idsIG Rahmani s o3e but continued to 0ace her lants. E@e>s too obsessed with buildin! his em ire to listen to a woman/ unless she>s loo3s li3eHG She aused 0or a 0ew seconds and shoo3 her head. E@e>s still an %ranian man/ even i0 he has s ent most o0 his li0e here.G She s un around and returned to her o00icial demeanor. EAbout Stone= it>s a !ood deal/ :ayson. .e>ve !ot him by the balls and you 3now it. All that racist !arba!e/ the ma / the church bulletin. @e>s toast.G She strolled ast :ayson to the other side o0 the des3 but remained standin!. E8ou>ve leaded !uilty be0ore when you were dealt low cards.G :ayson nodded. E4rue/ but % haven>t turned over all my cards yet to see what %>ve !ot.G EAlri!ht then/ counselor/G Rahmani said/ her voice indicatin! the onset o0 more Ewol0in!.G E&ut i0 you don>t ta3e this o00er soon/ Stone>s !onna !o down hard. 4hen as Bmar would say/ it>s li0e without arole in maA bendin! over 0or a 0ew o0 your bi!!est/ meanest brothers.G

E%>ll tal3 to my client and !et bac3 to you/G :ayson re lied. E@ey/ o00 the record. @ow do you 0eel/ re resentin! this racist bastardIG :ayson shru!!ed. E8ou 3now me/ % never let my ersonal 0eelin!s inter0ere with doin! my 9ob. As 0ar as %>m concerned/ he>s 9ust another de0endant you have to rove !uilty.G EB3ay/ i0 you say so.G E% say so.G ELet me add this/G Rahmani said. E.hen that bomb went o00 two years a!o the 0eds used it as an eAcuse to ic3 u do7ens o0 my eo le?and other <iddle Eastern men?0or Juestionin! under the !uise o0 loo3in! 0or terrorists.G E% heard/G :ayson said. @e !rabbed his brie0case and wal3ed to the door. E%t wasn>t ri!ht.G E.ell/G Rahmani said/ E%>m 9ust lettin! you 3now % mi!ht not be as wound u as Bmar/ but i0 we !o to trial/ 0or all the trouble he caused/ %>m !onna ma3e it my ersonal mission to send your client u 0or the rest o0 his worthless li0e.G :ayson o ened the door and made a hal0+turn to res ond. E.ell then/ we can>t say you didn>t warn us.G N 4wenty minutes a0ter his meetin! at the district attorney>s o00ice/ :ayson ut his mobile hone to his ear. E4eni3a/ s ea3 u / will yaI %>m downtown/ not standin! neAt to you in the o00ice/ you 3now.G @e en9oyed the relie0 the multistoried/ cold cement ar3in! !ara!e o00ered 0rom the warm :une a0ternoon sun. @e wal3ed bris3ly/ clutchin! his hone in one hand and his brie0case in the other/ but continued ins ectin! his surroundin!s to ensure his ersonal sa0ety. E4eni3a/ what>s the matter with youI .hy you soundin! so stran!eI %s everythin! all ri!htIG Suddenly all 3inds o0 wild thou!hts entered his mind. .hat i0 some dis!runtled 0ormer client had 9ust !otten out o0 rison/ come to the o00ice armed with a !un and ta3en everyone?G ECan you hear me nowIG 4eni3a as3ed. E8eah/ what the hell>s !oin! onIG E%>m in your o00ice with the door closed/G 4eni3a said. E.hat 0orI .hy aren>t you at your des3IG E4here>s a woman in the waitin! area.G E.hat womanIG EA slutty loo3in! woman with a sli!ht S anish accent. She>s wearin! a sli!ht s3irt to match.G An uncom0ortable silence 0ollowed her descri tion. E:ayson/ you still thereIG E8eah/ %>m still here.G 4eni3a added more. E8ou 3now/ the one who>s been callin! here 0or the ast month. 4he one you>ve been !ivin! the bum>s rush to. She said her name>s Leslie.G :ayson closed his eyes and !roaned as i0 a shar ob9ect had struc3 him in the chest. E%>ll be a son o0 aHG he whis ered. E.hat did she sayIG EShe 9ust said she wants to see you.G ECid she say what it was aboutIG EShe said you>d 3now.G ECidn>t you tell her % wasn>t inIG

E'o/ % told her you were in your o00ice ta3in! a na /G 4eni3a answered/ her voice e ered with lay0ul sarcasm. EB0 course % told her you weren>t in.G EAndIG EShe said she>ll wait until you !et bac3.G ECamn it.G E.hat do you want me to doIG 4eni3a as3ed. E% mean/ she>s not dan!erous or nothin!/ is sheI % mean/ she>s not !onna whi out a !at and !o cra7y/ is sheIG E'o/ nothin! li3e that/G :ayson re lied. @e reached his :a!uar and aused at the door to consider his o tions. EKm/ tell her % won>t be comin! bac3 to the o00ice today. 4hen call my 0ive o>cloc3 a ointment and reschedule. %0 you can>t reach him/ as3 Connie to stay late and tal3 to him. She>ll 3now what to do.G E4hen whatI .hat about this Leslie characterIG ELet her sit there/G :ayson answered. EShe doesn>t have an a ointment so no one owes her anythin!. %0 you can>t reach my 0ive o>cloc3 and he shows/ can you stay and close u with ConnieIG ESure/ but Dictor>s here. % could as3 him.G :ayson ima!ined Connie 0inally !ettin! Dictor alone in the o00ice. E'o/ %>d re0er i0 you stayed with Connie. She mi!ht be/ um/ a little nervous about bein! alone with a man.G E@aFG 4eni3a lau!hed. ESince whenIG E.ould you 9ust do as % as3/ leaseIG EB3ay/G 4eni3a said. E&ut you 3now/ :ayson/ !o ahead and 0ire me 0or sayin! this/ but % thou!ht you were di00erent. 'ot li3e other men.G :ayson could hear the ro0ound disa ointment and loss o0 res ect 0or him in the woman>s voice/ but had neither the time nor the inclination to eA lain himsel0. ECall me bac3 a0ter she leaves. Got thatIG E8eah.G E4han3s. &ye.G @e ressed the button on his hone and ended the call. E4his can>t be 0ric3in> ha enin! to meFG he eAclaimed. *****

C%A$TE# SE(EN

:ayson listened to a stoc3 mar3et re ort on the radio as he bac3ed into the thirty+0eet+ lon! driveway at his home and ar3ed the car. @e had to drive the car 0orward and bac3 it u a!ain to ma3e sure he had le0t enou!h room 0or Renee to have a clear shot at her side o0 the !ara!e. @e turned o00 the radio but couldn>t recall what he had 9ust heard. Cid the woman with the &ritish accent 9ust re ort that the Cow :ones had been u or down by twenty+nine ointsI %t didn>t matter. @e certainly had more im ortant issues on his mind. All durin! his crawl home throu!h rush hour tra00ic his thou!hts had re eatedly returned to his conversation with 4eni3a. A arently/ Leslie/ unsuccess0ul over the ast month at reachin! him on the tele hone/ had decided to ris3 an unannounced visit on his tur0. 4he woman had some nerve/ :ayson thou!ht/ comin! to his o00ice a0ter they had a!reed she would never do such a thin!. She had embarrassed him and diminished the

res ect a loyal member o0 his sta00 held 0or him. :ayson turned o00 his vehicle>s air conditioner and s eculated about the woman>s reasons 0or wantin! to see him. B0 course/ he !uessed/ there could be only one thin! she wanted. :ayson reached 0or the !ara!e door o ener attached to the car>s sun visor but hesitated. Althou!h he had no additional a ointments scheduled/ he wondered i0 he mi!ht have to leave the house shortly. Should he ut the car in the !ara!eI %0 he did leave the car outside with the windows u it could be over a hundred de!rees inside when he returned to it later. @e sat in the car/ unsure o0 what to do neAt. @e watched his nei!hbor>s buAom/ 0lirtatious/ seventeen+year+old dau!hter saunter to the curb to chec3 the mailboA. She wore a halter+to blouse and a air o0 denim shorts. @er a earance made :ayson uncom0ortable so he averted his eyes by chec3in! his watch. An accusation o0 bein! the bi! bad black wol0 leerin! at some white teena!e !irl would be the last thin! he needed. %t was a little a0ter 0ive+thirty but 4eni3a hadn>t called him yet to re ort that Leslie had le0t the o00ice. 4hat meant 4eni3a>s attem t to cancel his 0ive o>cloc3 a ointment? a client>s corroboratin! witness who had to be interviewed?had been unsuccess0ul. %t would be at least another hal0+hour be0ore he would hear 0rom his o00ice mana!er. :ayson closed his eyes and rubbed his 0orehead. @e had a brutal headache. @e 0inally !ot out o0 the car and sJuinted under the !lare o0 the hot sun. E@ello/ <r. Coo3/G the nei!hbor !irl called. She waved. E@i/ Coris/G :ayson said. @e waved bac3. EKinda warm 0or this time o0 year/G she declared. 4oo warm 0or you to be in that suit.G E8eah/ you>re ri!ht/G :ayson a!reed. @e turned his bac3 to the !irl/ o ened the car>s bac3seat door/ !rabbed his brie0case/ and slammed both car doors closed. 4han30ully/ Coris headed bac3 to her home. :ayson wal3ed to the ed!e o0 his driveway and ins ected the wor3 on the 0ront yard the lawn care crew had er0ormed earlier that day. 4he thic3 !rass had been cut and the under!round s rin3lers had come on durin! the a0ternoon. Peo le in the town o0 &elmont too3 ride in their lawns/ :ayson reco!ni7ed. .ell/ he concluded/ the Coo3>s ro erty could com are 0avorably to any home in the nei!hborhood. As he a roached his 0ront door :ayson noticed that :enni0er had le0t her bicycle in the wal3way/ all but bloc3in! the entrance. @e had told her more than once in the ast not to do that. Already irritated about the intruder at his o00ice/ he 0elt himsel0 !ettin! a little annoyed at his dau!hter. @e entered the 0ront door and immediately smelled <a!dalena>s coo3in!. @e remembered he had mentioned to her a 0ew days a!o that he and his 0amily en9oyed the 0ancy reci es 0rom her many coo3in! classes/ 0or which he and Renee had aid. .hat had they eaten the revious ni!ht/ 0illets o0 lamb with onion sauceI @owever/ sometimes/ he had su!!ested to <a!dalena/ he 9ust wanted somethin! sim le 0or dinner li3e hambur!ers or ba3ed chic3en. Althou!h he had made the statement to <a!dalena as de0tly as he could/ addin! it would mean less wor3 0or her/ he could still see the sli!ht eA ression o0 hurt on his roud house3ee er>s 0ace. @e understood that <a!dalena>s ersonal unha iness contributed to her desire to 3ee busy/ hence her near obsession with ma3in! Renee/ :enni0er and him

ha y. 'evertheless/ 9ust as at wor3/ he could ull ran3 sometimes and sim ly issue a directive that had to be 0ollowed. :ayson entered the house and chec3ed the stac3 o0 uno ened mail on the table neAt to the door. :ust the usual: bills/ a eals 0or money 0rom charities/ and catalo!ues. @e wal3ed throu!h the hu!e livin! room and winced at the si!ht o0 some bu00oonish cartoon characters on the 0orty+two+inch television screen chasin! each other. @e counted 0our o0 :enni0er>s dolls/ alon! with various accessories/ on the 0loor in 0ront o0 the 4D/ but no :enni0er. &ecause o0 the o en desi!n o0 the house/ with no walls se aratin! the 3itchen 0rom the livin! room/ he could see <a!dalena uttin! dishes into the dishwasher. She had her bac3 to him. EKm/ <a!daIG he called 0rom a 0ew 0eet away so not to startle her. She turned/ strai!htened u and smiled. ESe or/ er/ <r. Coo3/ you are home early today.G She cla ed her hands. E%t>s !ood. Cr. Coo3 be home soon too so 0amily eat dinner to!ether.G She ointed at the warmin! tray on the stove and beamed. E% ma3e you hambur!ers?s ecial reci e/ and coleslaw?homemade/ and 0rench 0ries. 8ou li3e/ yesIG :ayson smiled and nodded. E8es. %t loo3s very tasty. 4han3 you/ <a!da.G E% move everythin! so 0amily eat outside/ yesIG :ayson noticed that <a!dalena had already set the 3itchen table 0or dinner rather than the table on the dec3. E'o/ we>ll 9ust eat inside.G E8ou have tea some more with Cuchess :enni0erIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o/ % have/ um/ some wor3 to do in the o00ice u stairs/ so Connie>s ta3in! my 0ive o>cloc3 a ointment.G @e ins ected the 3itchen and s otted :enni0er>s drawin! ad and a boA o0 crayons on the brea30ast table. ES ea3in! o0 the Cuchess/G he said/ Ewhere is sheI @er bi3e>s in the wal3way.G @e ointed at the table. EAnd % bet that>s not your ad and crayons. And how come the 4D>s on and her dolls are all over the 0loorI % don>t thin3 they>re watchin! those stu id cartoons.G <a!dalena stared at the car eted 0loor. EKm/ she u stairs in her room. % tell her ic3 u her thin!s already.G EAndIG EShe say o3ay but she not do yet.G E%s that ri!htIG :ayson re lied/ 0eelin! himsel0 !ettin! even more annoyed. @e did an about+0ace and marched to the stairs. As his 0oot touched the 0irst ste he called bac3 into the 3itchen. E@ow many times did you tell her to ic3 u her thin!s/ <a!daIG EKm/ not so sure/ <r. Coo3.G :ayson removed his 0oot 0rom the 0irst stair. E@ow many times/ <a!+da+len+aIG EKm/ maybe two or three times.G E%t can>t be both.G E4hree times.G :ayson wal3ed bac3 into the 3itchen. E4hree timesIG @e ut his hands on his hi s. EAnd 9ust how lon! have you had to tell her to do somethin! more than once be0ore she does it?eAcuse me/ not do itIG <a!dalena shru!!ed. E<r. Coo3/ lease. She a !ood !irl but she 9ust at that a!e.G E.hat a!eIG :ayson said/ raisin! his voice a little. EShe>s siA years old.G @e ointed at her. E<a!da/ Cr. Coo3 and % made it very clear to you and :enni0er that when we>re not here/ you>re in char!e. %sn>t that ri!htIG E8es.G

:ayson saw the hurt in the woman>s eyes. @e ste ed closer to her/ and so0tened his 0acial eA ression and tone. She could be so sensitive these days. @e had to be care0ul about her 0eelin!s. E4hat>s because you have our total trust. 8ou 3now that.G E4han3 you/ sir.G :ayson si!hed. E% thin3 you and my wi0e have been s oilin! :enni0er.G @e aused and ointed at himsel0. E&ut % haven>t said much about it.G @e turned bac3 around. E&ut enou!h>s enou!h. %>m uttin! a sto to it ri!ht now.G @e bounded u the stairs. ESomebody>s 0or!otten who>s the child and who>s the adult/G he mumbled. @e reached the to o0 the stairs. E:enni0erFG he bar3ed. :enni0er o ened the door to her room and slowly emer!ed into the hall. She wore a air o0 9eans and an oran!e 4+shirt. Ksually she !reeted him with a bi! smile and 9um ed into his arms when he came home 0rom wor3/ but a arently detectin! an!er in his voice/ she decided to try humility. E8es/ CaddyIG :ayson o ened his arms. E;irst a hu! and 3iss be0ore % have to be mean. C>mon.G 4a3in! slow ste s/ :enni0er inched down the stairs. She sto ed at the bottom two stairs/ eAtended her arms and received a hu! and 3iss 0rom her 0ather. E% was 9ust !onna ic3 u my thin!s ri!ht now.G EKm+hmm/ you were/ huhIG :ayson said. E'ever mind that. <rs. Lo e7 told me she as3ed you three times to do 9ust that and you didn>t. %s that ri!htIG :enni0er nodded. EAnswer me in words/ !irl.G E8es/ Caddy. %>m sorry.G ECon>t tell me you>re sorry. 4ell <rs. Lo e7/G :ayson said. E8ou>ve been ta3in! advanta!e o0 that nice lady and % won>t have it another minute. 'ow move your behind ri!ht now/ ic3 u your stu00 in the 3itchen/ turn o00 that 4D/ and !et your bi3e out o0 the 0ront wal3way.G E8es/ Caddy/G :enni0er re lied/ stic3in! out her bottom li . She trud!ed down the last two stairs and assed him. :ayson wal3ed behind her. E4he 3itchen 0irst.G :enni0er entered the 3itchen. .hen <a!dalena saw them she Juic3ly !rabbed a wet/ soa y towel and wi ed 0uriously at the counter to o0 the center island. E8ou eat now or wait 0or Cr. Coo3IG :ayson ut his hands on his hi s a!ain and i!nored the Juestion. %nstead he addressed his outin! dau!hter as she slowly dro ed crayons into a lar!e boA. E4here>s !onna be a 0ew chan!es around here/ youn! lady. ;rom now on/ when <rs. Lo e7 tells you to do somethin!/ you do it ri!ht away the 0irst time/ you hearIG E8es/ Caddy.G :ayson loo3ed at <a!dalena. E.hat>s 0or dessertIG EKm/ butterscotch uddin!.G E.ell/G :ayson said/ Eno dessert 0or :enni0er. 'ot today.G :ust then :ayson heard the !ara!e door o en. @e went to the door connectin! the 3itchen and the !ara!e/ o ened it and waited 0or Renee. .ithin a 0ew seconds she ste ed into the house and they eAchan!ed a brie0 3iss. E8ou>re home early today/G Renee said. E8eah/G :ayson re lied. She loo3ed so beauti0ul and seAy to him/ even in a owder blue business suit. @er entrance con9ured u memories o0 ast years= be0ore :enni0er/

be0ore <a!dalena/ when their assion drove them to immediately ma3e love a 0ew 0eet 0rom whatever door she or he entered u on arrivin! home 0rom wor3. @owever/ at the moment/ he 0elt irritated/ uncom0ortable?and seAually 0rustrated. Leslie>s visit suddenly o ed bac3 into his mind. @e also 0elt a0raid/ a0raid o0 the dama!e the Eslutty+loo3in! woman/G as 4eni3a described her/ could do to his 0amily i0 she ran her mouth. @e 0orced himsel0 to concentrate on his wi0e. %t had been over a wee3 since he and Renee had made love. 4hat>s what he needed?some nail+di!!in!/ hair+ ullin!/ shoulder+bitin! seA. :enni0er dro ed her boA o0 crayons on the table and ran to her mother in tears. E<ommy/ Caddy said % can>t have dessert today.G Renee 3neeled to hu! her dau!hter and raised her head to Juestion :ayson. E.hat>s this all aboutIG :ayson became an!ry. EShe>s 9ust tryin! to divide us/ which isn>t !oin! to wor3.G @e ta ed :enni0er on the shoulder and ointed with his thumb. EGet in that livin! room/ ic3 u your thin!s/ turn o00 that 4D and then !o outside and !et your bi3e li3e % told you.G @is voice !rew louder with each command. EPlease/ <ommy/G :enni0er be!!ed. Renee widened her eyes/ obviously sur rised at her husband>s rare tone. E% don>t thin3 you better cross your 0ather/ :enni0er.G EGo do what % tell youFG :ayson yelled. :enni0er whim ered and bolted out o0 the 3itchen. EAnd don>t 0or!et this stu00 on the table when you>re done/G :ayson added. <a!dalena tossed her towel into the sin3 and dashed toward her room. EEAcuse me/ lease. % have to !o chec3 somethin!.G Renee whi ed her head 0rom le0t to ri!ht/ retracin! the o osite directions :enni0er and <a!dalena had ta3en and snic3ered. E.ell/ royal master o0 the house/ you sure 3now how to clear a room. .hat>s !oin! onIG E'othin!/G :ayson said. E4he !irl>s been ta3in! advanta!e o0 <a!da= not doin! what she>s told.G @e ointed at himsel0. E% drew the line at a 0orty+year+old woman tellin! a siA+year+old !irl to do somethin! three times without results.G EB3ay/G Renee said/ Ebut did you have to yell at herIG EShe>ll !et over it/G :ayson re lied. E8ou and <a!da?and let me add your arents/ too/ you>ve been s oilin! her 0or too lon!. .hen she>s a teena!er and none o0 you can do anythin! with her you>ll re!ret it/ but % bet % won>t have any roblems with her.G Renee ut her arms around her husband and sJuee7ed. E<y/ you>re in a bad mood. 'ot a !ood day at wor3/ % ta3e it.G :ayson 0elt her embrace melt away his an!er. A0ter ten years o0 marria!e she could still warm his heart and soul with 9ust a touch. E%>ve had better days/G he admitted. @is voice had become so0t a!ain. Renee ointed at the 3itchen table. E4hen sit down. %>m a0raid it>s !oin! to !et worse be0ore it !ets better.G She waved a news a er in the air. :ayson too3 it 0rom her. E.hat>s thisIG E%t>s the latest edition o0 the Boston Courier.G EReallyIG :ayson said. E%t wasn>t in the mail with the other stu00?and don>t we usually !et it on SaturdaysIG Renee nodded. E8eah. 4his is a newsstand co y a collea!ue 0rom wor3 !ave me. ELoo3 at it.G

:ayson laced the a er on the 3itchen table and scanned the 0ront a!e. ESo whatIG he as3ed/ eAaminin! the a er. E.hat>s the city council>s 0i!htin! over the &oston Police Ce artment>s hirin! olicies !ot to do with?oh shitFG @e read the headline to the ri!ht o0 the city council story aloud: E&lac3 lawyer ta3es side o0 racist a!ain.G E4hat>s the one/G Renee said. :ayson sat down and read/ occasionally sharin! the news. EHnot the 0irst time Coo3 has sided a!ainst blac3s.Hadvocated 0or the Church o0 the 4rue Savior/ a white su remacist !rou .Hhasn>t lived in the blac3 community 0or years.Hcould not be reached 0or comment.G @e stood and slammed the a er on the table. E4hose idiots wouldn>t 3now the truth i0 it bit them on the ass.G @is attention was diverted when :enni0er returned carryin! an arm0ul o0 dolls and accessories. 4he stony+0ace !irl climbed the stairs without sayin! a word. EGo wash your hands 0or dinner/ lease/G Renee said. E;irst ut away your dolls/G :ayson added/ Ethen !et your ad and crayons o00 the table and ut them away too.G Renee nodded. E4hen wash your hands 0or dinner/ honey.G She 0aced :ayson. ECid a re orter 0rom the Courier call you 0or a commentIG :ayson 0rowned. E8eah/ some re orter le0t a short messa!e on the voice mail at the o00ice last wee3. % called him bac3 but he wasn>t in. @e wasn>t tryin! very hard to reach me/ % bet.G E.hat are you !oin! to do nowIG :ayson shru!!ed. E.hat can % doI 4he dama!e is done.G @e chec3ed the cloc3 on the wall in the 3itchen and waved his hand. E4he hell with it. Let>s eat. Km/ %>m eA ectin! an im ortant call 0rom 4eni3a %>ll have to ta3e. She>ll call because she 3nows % don>t li3e teAtin! anythin! even remotely sensitive.G Renee touched his arm. E8ou>re all tense and crabby. .hat is it/ darlin!IG :ayson smiled. E%t>s 9ust wor3. %>m sorry.G EAnythin! % can doIG E'ow/ no. 4oni!ht/ lenty.G Renee ut her arms around him a!ain and ec3ed him several times on the li s. EB3ay. @ow many timesIG E.here>s the calculatorIG Renee ut her hand over her mouth and !i!!led li3e a newlywed. E%t>s a deal.G She abru tly 0rowned. EBh/ % better !ive you all the bad news.G :ayson too3 one ste bac3. E4here>s moreIG Renee nodded. E% only wor3ed a short shi0t today/ then % went to the church to hel with the cleanu 0rom the yard sale. 8ou 3now Cr. Geter is in :amaica on vacation.G E8eah/ monFG :ayson Jui ed/ with a moc3 accent. E.ell/ we have a !uest reacher this Sunday.G Renee sto ed and bit her lower li . E8eah/ some !uy 0rom Cetroit/ % thin3/G :ayson said. Renee shoo3 her head. E% !uess he had a death in the 0amily and can>t ma3e it. Reverend Snow told me that Reverend %saiah &radley will be reachin! at our church this Sunday. 4he arran!ements were made be0ore the Courier article came out.G :ayson !rimaced. E4he 0ather o0 the !irl my client>s accused o0 3illin!IG E8eah/G Renee answered/ Eand his sermon theme is/ L4he devil you 3now.>G

:ayson ut a sad smile on his 0ace/ lowered his head and whis ered. EPlease don>t do this to me/ Lord.G *****

C%A$TE# EIG%T

ESo there were no roblemsIG :ayson as3ed. @e wi ed his hands 0or the second time on another eAtra+lar!e a er na 3in and strolled into his livin! room 0or rivacy. @e had chan!ed into a air o0 ba!!y denim shorts and a !ray Kniversity o0 <assachusetts6&oston 4+shirt. @e !lanced at the lush/ lon! so0a o osite the 4D but decided not to sit down. E'o/G 4eni3a re lied/ E<iss Leslie slin3ed out o0 the o00ice ri!ht a0ter your 0ive o>cloc3 a ointment came?at nearly 0ive+twenty.G ECid she say anythin!I .as she an!ryIG :ayson as3ed. @e stared out the 0ront window at his car and re!retted not havin! ut it in the !ara!e earlier. @e loo3ed over his shoulder into the 3itchen. Renee and :enni0er whis ered to each other while stealin! 0urtive !lances in his direction. 'o doubt :enni0er viewed his absence as an o ortunity to submit oral ar!uments concernin! her sentence o0 no dessert a0ter dinner. :ayson too3 0or !ranted that Renee Coo3>s A ellate Court would certainly deny the child>s a eal. E'aw/ she didn>t seem an!ry/G 4eni3a answered. E:ust said she>d be bac3. 'o attitude or anythin!/ li3e she hadn>t been waitin! 0or an hour and a hal0 0or nothin!.G :ayson heard <a!dalena in the 3itchen and chec3ed over his shoulder a!ain 0or rivacy. 4he constantly busy woman searched the cabinets 0or somethin! and aid him no attention. %n siA years o0 em loyment with the 0amily she had never shown any si!n o0 nosiness. EB3ay. %>m !oin! to !et bac3 to dinner/G :ayson said. E4han3s 0or callin!.G E8ou !onna let me in on what>s !oin! onIG ELater.G EB3ay/ but there>s one more thin! you mi!ht want to 3now.G EGo ahead.G ELittle <iss 4han! sure attracts a 0air amount o0 attention.G :ayson 0rown. E.hat do you meanIG EBh/ she and Connie were chattin! on and o00 in S anish li3e a cou le o0 old army buddies/ you 3nowIG E.ell/ you 3now how Connie is. She>d tal3 to?G E4hen Dictor 3e t 0indin! reasons to !et acJuainted/G 4eni3a re orted/ and imitated Dictor>s voice. EL%>m a third+year law student and <r. Coo3>s intern> and LCan % !et you some waterI> and L4he restroom is ri!ht down the hall.> %>ve never seen him wantin! to be so hel 0ul when other eo le ta3e a seat and wait.G :ayson didn>t li3e the news but decided not to call any more attention to Leslie>s visit. ECoesn>t sound li3e much/G he said. ESee you tomorrow.G @e had heard a hi!h+ itched bee in his ear mid+sentence. E&ye.G @e ushed the 0lash button on the hone. E@ello.G E@ello/ :ayson Coo3/ leaseIG the 0emale voice on the other end reJuested. E4his is he/G :ayson re lied. @e was in no mood 0or a sales itch. %0 this was a telemar3eter/ he would?

E:ayson/ this is <ichelle Lin! 0rom Channel Ei!ht 'ews/G the woman declared. E% called you at your o00ice twice but you weren>t in. % still have your home number you !ave me/ must be three years a!o/ when you were re resentin! Gre!ory <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior. % wouldn>t have used it but %>ve !ot a deadline.G :ayson si!hed. So the Courier story had started the media ball rollin!. @e res ected and li3ed <ichelle Lin!. She had interviewed him a 0ew times since the 4rue Savior case and had always been 0air. 4hey had recently abandoned 0ormalities and started callin! each other by 0irst names. E%t>s o3ay/G he said. E% can>t !ive you but a minute. %>m havin! dinner.G E%t won>t ta3e lon!/G <ichelle insisted. E.e>re doin! a story about the Stone case that could air as soon as toni!ht on the eleven o>cloc3 news. 8ou>re his attorney now/ ri!htIG E4hat>s ri!ht.G EAssistant Cistrict Attorney Rahmani saidHG She aused 0or a 0ew seconds/ a arently chec3in! her notes. E...never in her career has she seen a murder committed in such a cold+hearted 0ashion. She said the eo le o0 the Commonwealth o0 <assachusetts will only be sa0e when Stone receives the maAimum sentence under the law. Co you have any res onseIG E8es % do/G :ayson said. @e su ressed the ur!e to o00er a snide remar3. Samira should !et some new material. @ow many times had she never seen a murder committed in such a cold+hearted 0ashionI E<y client is bein! un0airly rosecuted because o0 his ersonal belie0s/ in violation o0 his ;irst Amendment ri!hts !uaranteed under the Constitution. @e>s been held in 9ail 0or over a year and a hal0/ violatin! his SiAth Amendment ri!ht to a s eedy trial.G EKm+hmm/ um+hmm/G <ichelle !runted ra idly. EGo on.G E&ut our system o0 9ustice eAtends to everyone/G :ayson asserted/ Eincludin! this twenty+0our+year+old/ im ressionable youn! man who 0or virtually his entire li0e has been searchin! 0or somethin! to ma3e u 0or a disastrous childhood.G ESo your client admits he was a member/ so to s ea3/ o0 <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior and endorses that !rou >s hiloso hyIG E<y client>s belie0s are not the issue/G :ayson insisted. E.hat is the issue is whether the Commonwealth has the evidence necessary to convince a 9ury that &rian Stone is !uilty o0 remeditated murder. 4ime will show it does not. And time is another issue/ because a0ter &rian Stone is 0ound innocent o0 all char!es/ where will he !o to !et bac3 the robably two years he would have lost sittin! in 9ailIG EKm+hmm/G <ichelle muttered a!ain. EAnd what>s your res onse to?G E<ichelle/ can>t a man en9oy dinner with his 0amilyIG :ayson teased. EB3ay/G the re orter said. E:ust one more: .hat>s your res onse to those who claim once a!ain you>re ta3in! the side o0 a racist a!ainst your own eo leIG E<y res onse is that % was as3ed by :ud!e B>@are to ta3e this case because he 0elt it>s the best way to ensure that my client receives a 0air trial/G :ayson answered. EAnd % lan to do everythin! in my ower to see to it he !ets a 0air trial/ 9ust as %>ve done with all o0 my clients re!ardless o0 race.G EB3ay. .e ou!hta be able to sJuee7e in some o0 this between all those commercials we air 0or car dealershi s/G <ichelle said hal0+9o3in!ly. E@ey/ :ayson?% 9ust !ot an idea.G

E<y dinner>s !ettin! cold/ <ichelle.G E8ou 3now/ we>ve !ot some stoc3 0oota!e o0 your client bein! led to his arrai!nment we can use and we>ve !ot Rahmani>s statement today on ta e. .hy don>t % meet you somewhere and you can say all this on cameraI %t>ll be 0airer. <aybe we could chat o00 the record 0or a cou le o0 minutes a0ter. @ow about itIG :ayson thou!ht 0or a 0ew seconds. She had a oint. Samira>s on+camera statements would carry more wei!ht with the viewin! ublic than his o00+camera remar3s. EB3ay/G he a!reed/ Ebut %>ll need an hour. %>ve !ot to chan!e. And you as3 only the same Juestions. 'o curve balls. % mean it. CealIG ECeal.G :ayson stared at his 0eet/ covered with com0ortable moccasins <a!dalena had sewn and !iven him 0or Christmas. @e decided to call Dictor and as3 him to accom any him. <ichelle s o3e Chinese. So did Dictor. She was a little older than his intern/ but he recalled <ichelle eA ressin! an interest in meetin! a nice Chinese man to lease her arents. :ayson li3ed the idea o0 introducin! them. Perha s Dictor could wi!!le some inside in0ormation 0rom her every now and then. @e s o3e Juic3ly. EB3ay/ so where should we meetIG N 4he 0ollowin! Sunday :ayson stared strai!ht ahead and listened to the sweatin! minister who strutted bac3 and 0orth on the altar lat0orm li3e a roc3 star= so much 0or the news re orts about the Reverend %saiah ;. &radley wal3in! with a cane 0or the rest o0 his li0e. 4he man had been reachin! to the enthusiastic con!re!ation at Cross o0 Christ &a tist Church 0or nearly a hal0+hour. SiA middle+a!ed to elderly church o00icers sat in hi!h+bac3/ re!al+loo3in! chairs behind him cheerin! li3e Red SoA season tic3et+holders. All the windows had been o ened and ten 0ans/ dan!lin! 0rom the thirty+0eet hi!h ceilin!/ rotated at 0ull s eed. 4he buildin!>s a!e/ the crowd and the warm weather roduced a musty/ sweaty smell. :ayson surveyed the area. 4he church/ with its dar3 interior/ seemed to be more 0ull than usual 0or :une. <ust have been three hundred eo le in attendance. Even God+ 0earin! Christians 9ust couldn>t miss the o ortunity 0or a 0ree show. @e harbored no doubt that word o0 an im endin! &radley+Coo3 0ace+to+0ace meetin! had s read li3e dandelions in the s rin!. :ayson rested his eAtended ri!ht arm on the wooden ew. Renee cuddled neAt to him. @e stro3ed her shoulder with his 0in!ers and 0elt re!ret at the discom0ort the reverend>s words no doubt caused her. :enni0er had been sent to Sunday school in the basement o0 the church/ an im ressive/ si7eable structure located in Corchester/ a lar!e inner+city community in &oston. :ayson and Renee had become two o0 its three hundred?now 0our hundred?members shortly a0ter :enni0er had arrived. At 0irst/ no one had sat neAt to the Coo3s/ but as the room 0illed u / eo le :ayson had never seen be0ore sJuee7ed alon!side them/ includin! two youn! women bearin! no weddin! rin!s/ each with two bratty 3ids who had been sJuirmin! and 0id!etin! 0or an hour. :ayson assumed they were visitors. :ayson and Renee had lotted their strate!y 0or the 0ate0ul Sunday well be0orehand/ down to what they each/ includin! :enni0er/ would wear. :ayson had chosen a li!htwei!ht/ tan+colored suit. Renee had decided on a loose+0ittin!/ o00+white/ sleeveless

dress with a matchin! shawl 0or the occasion. She had ic3ed out a each+colored dress 0or :enni0er. 4hey believed li!hter colors would ma3e them a ear more cheer0ul. 4hey had a!reed to be u beat. 4hey had also decided that althou!h they usually sat at the middle o0 the church they would sit 9ust three or 0our seats 0arther bac3/ so not to rolon! their eAit. E4he devil isn>t who we thin3 he is/G Reverend &radley cautioned. E@e>s not that crimson+colored rascal with the horns and itch0or3 you see on 4D.G E4hat>s ri!ht/G a 0ew scattered voices a!reed. E@e could be any color/G the reverend said. E4hat>s true/G several arishioners a00irmed. E@e could be whiteFG E8es/ yes/ yesFG E@e could even be blac3.G EKm+hmm.G E@e could be sittin! ri!ht here in this churchFG the man in the blac3 robe eAclaimed/ wavin! his arms but starin! at :ayson. EGo on and shame that devil/ reacherman/G a hus3y+voice woman sittin! in 0ront o0 :ayson shouted while vi!orously 0annin! hersel0 with the day>s bulletin. :ayson nodded alon! with the con!re!ation. @e didn>t see the oint in !ettin! u set about the minister>s sermon. As a trial lawyer/ he had am le eA erience sittin! stoically while someone a 0ew 0eet away ointed in his direction and called his client a monster/ tossin! in a 0ew thinly veiled/ barely admissible insults at him as de0ense counsel. Reverend &radley seemed to be en9oyin! himsel0/ :ayson thou!ht. 4he eyes o0 every adult in the room were robably shi0tin! 0rom the reverend to him/ he sus ected/ ho in! to catch some !limmer o0 embarrassment. .ell/ they wouldn>t !et it. Reverend &radley wi ed his 0ace with a white hand3erchie0 and leaned a!ainst the ul it he had vacated 0or the ast 0i0teen minutes. E8ou 3now/ % used to tell my little an!el/ Deronica/ God rest her soul/ now with her sainted mother: not all eo le who say they>re your 0riends are tellin! you the truth.G EAmen/G Renee said. :ayson smiled. Renee had told him enou!h horror stories about 9ealous doctors and bi7arre hos ital olitics to warrant such a res onse. Reverend &radley continued. E4hat was be0ore the devil ut such hate in another man>s heart and told him he better silence this blac3 man...G @e aused and ointed at himsel0. E...0or s ea3in! out a!ainst the u!ly racism and bi!otry that>s still alive and thrivin! in this Knited States o0 America.G 4he eo le in attendance re!istered vi!orous amens/ obviously a!reein! with the man while 0eelin! his ain. 4he call+res onse resumed. E% used to say to my baby !irl/ L@oney/ don>t let Satan ma3e you 9ust li3e them.>G ECon>t you let himFG E8ou>ve !ot to ray 0or them.G EPray 0or themFG E8ou>ve !ot to 0or!ive them because that>s what :esus said we>ve !ot to do.G E;or!ive themFG E8ou>ve !ot to hate their sin without hatin! them.G E@ate their sinFG

E&ut you>ve !ot to tell them li3e :esus told the devil/ LGet behind me/ SatanF>G EGet behind meFG Reverend &radley ste ed to the ed!e o0 the lat0orm. E&ut be0ore you can do thatHG @e aused 0or dramatic e00ect. E.ellIG E4ell usFG EPreachFG 4he reverend leaned 0orward/ so 0ar :ayson 0eared he mi!ht tumble into the 0ront ew. E8ou>ve !ot to see that rascal/G Reverend &radley cried/ Eand reco!ni7e him 0or who he is?even i0 he>s the devil you 3now.G @e did a little 9i! and ste ed bac3ward and sideways toward the ul it. 4he con!re!ation bro3e into thunderous a lause. 4he or!anist who had accom anied the reverend unched out a 0ew notes to unctuate his words. :ayson and Renee 9oined the a lause without hesitation. :ayson !lanced at his watch. @e had witnessed enou!h sermons to 3now the reverend had made his oint and soon would have to do what most ministers absolutely hated to do: surrender the micro hone. Reverend &radley had ut on a !ood show and !otten his 3ic3s reachin! to?or entertainin!/ de endin! on one>s oint o0 view?a crowd much lar!er than his own <ount Calvary con!re!ation. 4he reverend would en9oy numerous handsha3es and accolades 0rom scores o0 :ayson>s 0ellow arishioners. Eventually/ thou!h/ :ayson reco!ni7ed/ the visitor would return to his own 0loc3 while those inclined to !ossi at Cross o0 Christ would 0ind new 0odder 0or the 0ollowin! wee3. ;orty minutes later :ayson stood in line/ with Renee in 0ront o0 him/ waitin! to sha3e Reverend &radley>s hand and con!ratulate him on a 9ob well done. 4he visitin! minister stood at the dividin! line se aratin! the hu!e/ dar3 nartheA 0rom the hu!e/ dar3 sanctuary. @undreds o0 mostly blac3 eo le scurried about on both sides o0 the line. Some s o3e brie0ly with the !uest reacher/ then turned le0t/ eAitin! the buildin! Juic3ly and ste in! ast the !i!antic/ o en double wooden doors into the 0resh air. Darious mothers searched 0or their children. Darious children ran bac3 and 0orth/ relieved to be 0inished with Sunday school. :ayson 0elt his heartbeat accelerate as he neared the reverend. @e sJuee7ed Renee>s shoulders and leaned 0orward to whis er in her ear. E8ou o3ayIG She nodded. E%>m 0ine. 8ou want to !et :enni0er and !o homeIG E'o/G :ayson said. E.e>ll stay a while and share God>s love with our 0riends li3e we always do.G :ayson rolled his eyes as Sister Almetra/ a slender/ elderly woman en!ul0ed by a wide+brim hat/ held u the line s ea3in! at len!th to Reverend &radley. :ayson couldn>t hear what she said but heard the man>s re ly. E4han3 you/ sister. % will.G ;inally/ the moment came. Renee shoo3 hands with the minister and said !ood mornin!/ then ste ed into the crowd searchin! 0or :enni0er without a bac3ward !lance. :ayson could see the man trace his wi0e>s body with his eyes. .ell/ at least he had !ood taste in women. 'eAt/ Reverend &radley and he 0aced each other. EGood mornin!/ Pastor/G :ayson said. @e wasn>t sure why he used the term E astor.G 4he word wasn>t a common title used at Cross o0 Christ.

Reverend &radley maintained a olite smile on his 0ace. EGood mornin!/ &rother Coo3/G he re lied. E% saw you on the news a cou le o0 days a!o. At last we meet.G @e used both hands to sJuee7e :ayson>s hand ti!htly without sha3in! it. E% !uess we>ll be seein! each other a!ain real soon/G he said/ continuin! to sJuee7e the lawyer>s hand. :ayson detected a hint o0 sarcasm in the man>s voice. E.ell/ % loo3 0orward to that/G he declared/ ullin! his hand out o0 the man>s !ri . @e moved 0orward and heard the reverend>s last artin!/ ominous shot. E8es/ real soon/ my brother.G N 4he 0ollowin! <onday Connie entered :ayson>s o00ice and closed the door. E.hat>s this about you ta3in! Dictor with you to meet that s3an3y Channel Ei!ht re orter last wee3IG she as3ed/ brea3in! into a smile to let him 3now she wasn>t com letely serious. :ayson couldn>t hel but lau!h out loud. E%>m sorry/ Connie/ but % thou!ht Dictor would be hel 0ul. 8ou !o with me when % have Latinos to s ea3 to.G E8eah/ but that>s to hel you translate.G :ayson tried to su ress his lau!hter/ but ended u sha3in! his shoulders instead. EConnie/ you 3now % s ea3 0luent S anish mysel0.G E8eah/G Connie admitted/ Ebut you have an accent.G She stuc3 out her lower li / eAa!!eratin! a out. ECid that woman ma3e a move on my manI L%0 she did %>ll?G E.aitaminute/G :ayson interru ted/ Ewhat ha ened to what>s+his+0aceI 4he olice o00icerIG Connie waved her hand. EPuh+lee7F % cut that old !ee7er loose lon! time a!o.G :ayson chuc3led. E@e was what?ei!ht years older than youI 8ou told me your dad was twelve years older than your mom.G EAnd still chases every women in town/G Connie added with dis!ust. E4hat>s di00erent. 4hat>s them. 4his is me. % 3now what % want and?G ECidn>t you say the same thin! about this last oneIG Connie sat down and retended to search her memory. E@mmmH% don>t remember.G 4he two lau!hed/ and Connie ran her hand throu!h her lon!/ wavy hair. ECome on/ :ayson/ tell me. Cid anythin! ha en between themIG :ayson li0ted a stac3 o0 0olders and dro ed them bac3 on his des3. EConnie/ %>ve !ot lenty o0 wor3 to do/ and do % need to remind you that so do youIG @e stared into his le!al assistant>s brown eyes/ artially hidden underneath layers o0 eye shadow/ eye liner and mascara/ and reco!ni7ed an eA ression o0 real concern. She was a lovely/ intelli!ent woman/ but a arently had learned early on? erha s 0rom her mother?that a woman>s ha iness de ended on 0indin! a man. Connie had disclosed to :ayson that she itied her mother/ now middle+a!ed and married but lonely. :ayson 0eared Connie would one day su00er the same 0ate. @e shru!!ed and delivered the re ort. EDictor s o3e to her in Chinese 0or a 0ew minutes a0ter the interview. 4hat>s all.G Connie stood/ obviously not satis0ied. E.hat they sayIG :ayson o ened his arms. E@ow would % 3nowIG @e considered as3in! 0or details about her own brie0 verbal eAchan!es with Leslie a 0ew days be0ore/ but decided it would be better not to remind anyone about the visit. Connie ointed toward the door and chan!ed the sub9ect. ESo it>s started u a!ain/ huhI 4hree on the voice+mail a0ter we closed and one 0irst thin! this mornin!.G

:ayson 0rowned. E% 3now. 4he olice have been noti0ied. @ow>s 4eni3aIG EShe>s o3ay/G Connie re lied and twisted her sha ely body to ee3 at the outer o00ice throu!h the !lass door. EShe 9ust ste ed out 0or a 0ew minutes. Dictor said he>d hel out on the hones until?G She sto ed tal3in! and ointed. E%t>s Dictor. @e wants me.G ECon>t you wish/G :ayson 9o3ed. Connie o ened the door. E'o/ really. % thin3 he>s !ot one.G :ayson ste ed 0rom behind his des3 and wal3ed slowly into the neAt room/ sto in! in 0ront o0 4eni3a>s des3/ where Dictor sat with the tele hone receiver ressed to his ear. Connie sauntered behind the youn! man and ut her hand on his shoulder. Dictor widened his eyes as he listened/ but said nothin!. A0ter a 0ew seconds he hun! u . E.as that another oneIG :ayson as3ed. Dictor nodded. EKm+hmm. 4he return in0ormation was bloc3ed.G E.hat>d he sayIG Connie as3ed. Dictor shru!!ed. E@e said that you...G @e ointed at :ayson. E...were a sell+out/ Kncle 4om/ shit+eatin! mother0uc3er.G E8ou o3ayIG :ayson as3ed. Dictor nodded. E4hat>s the second live one today/G Connie announced. ELi3e % said/ it>s started u a!ain.G *****

C%A$TE# NINE

A wee3 a0ter receivin! the 0irst nuisance call about the Stone case/ :ayson studied the ti!ht 0aces o0 Gary Scott and AleAis .ashin!ton. Bmar Anderson sat between the two uni0ormed &oston olice o00icers/ ta!!in! alon! as their Eobserver.G 4he three had ositioned themselves around a wobbly 0oldin! table in a small con0erence room located on the tenth 0loor o0 the <cCormac3 Courthouse. 4hey si ed canned sodas urchased by :ayson 0rom the Su erior Court>s ca0eteria. :ayson didn>t believe hal0 o0 what B00icers Scott and .ashin!ton told him. 4he !ru00/ 0ortysomethin! Scott/ a middle+a!ed white male/ did most o0 the tal3in!. @is artner/ a youn!/ attractive woman with dar3 brown s3in/ 0reJuently !lanced at her watch. E% 3now we>ve !one over this already/G :ayson admitted/ Ebut % want to !o over it a!ain 9ust to be sure % understand.G @e !lanced at Dictor/ sittin! neAt to him. 4he youn! man occasionally too3 notes/ sto in! lon! enou!h to run his 0in!ers over the 3eyboard o0 his wireless tablet com uter. E%>m sure you can a reciate that we>re all very busy/G Anderson declared. EAnd %>m sure you can a reciate that a youn! man>s li0e is at sta3e/G :ayson re lied/ Eand %>ve been tryin! to arran!e this meetin! 0or a cou le o0 wee3s.G @e s3immed over his notes 0rom the initial interview he had conducted with &rian Stone/ then did the same with the ones he had 9ust made/ and resumed his Juestionin!. EEAactly where were you two comin! 0rom ri!ht be0ore you 0irst saw my clientIG E.e were on routine atrol in the nei!hborhood/G Scott answered.

EAnd you were in your cruiser. %s that correctIG :ayson as3ed. E8es/G Scott said. E.ho was drivin!IG Scott ointed at himsel0. E<e.G EAnd what had you been doin! ri!ht be0ore you saw my client>s vehicleIG Scott shru!!ed/ E.e were doin! our 9obs/ counselor. :ust drivin! around 3ee in! our eyes and ears o en 0or bad !uys.G @e 0olded his arms across his chest. :ayson nodded and turned his attention to .ashin!ton. EB3ay/ but what % mean is/ had you sto ed anyone rior to that?you 3now/ 0or s eedin! or runnin! a red li!ht or somethin!IG .ashin!ton !lanced at her artner. E.ellHG Scott leaned 0orward. E.e can>t remember i0 we sto ed somebody over a year and a hal0 a!o/ counselor.G @e o ened his hands. E% mean/ c>mon.G :ayson made eye contact with Scott/ then .ashin!ton. E.eIG E% don>t remember/G .ashin!ton declared in a so0t voice. :ayson turned to Dictor and held out his hand. 4he intern reached into a yellow 0older/ roduced a sheet o0 a er and handed it to him. E.ell/ would it re0resh your memory i0 % in0ormed you that accordin! to your lo! that day/ nearly two hours had assed between your revious sto and the encounter you had with my clientIG Scott smir3ed and danced his eyes around the room. E%s that ri!htI <usta been a slow day.G @e ointed at himsel0 and his artner. E.e don>t sto eo le without robable cause. .e res ect the rule o0 law. %>m sure you can a reciate that.G :ayson smiled. E.ell/ B00icer Scott/ % sure wish there were more eo le li3e you and B00icer .ashin!ton on the 0orce. %t would ma3e my 9ob so much easier.G ECan we !et on with itIG Anderson demanded/ !esturin! at his watch. EB3ay/G :ayson said. ECould you lease tell me what you did 0or nearly two hoursIG EScott shru!!ed. E.e drove around/ ma3in! the city sa0e 0or you and your 0amily/ <r. Coo3.G E.hereIG E:ust around.G E:ust around whereIG Anderson 9um ed in. E:ayson/ these o00icers aren>t on the witness stand. 4here>s no need to cross+eAamine them.G :ayson smiled. EBh/ % didn>t thin3 % was bein! hostile or anythin!/ Bmar. &ut %>d sure li3e to 3now how they s ent two hours be0ore they sto ed my client.G E%t was a lon! time a!o. .e don>t remember/G Scott said. EB3ay/G :ayson said/ Elet>s see what Lwe> do remember. .hat rom ted you to sto my clientIG Anderson leaned 0orward/ restin! his elbow on the table. E:ayson/ they answered this already. 4hey advised you that your client was weavin!/ he strayed close to the center line and he didn>t come to a com lete sto be0ore ma3in! a ri!ht turn at an intersection. %t>s not com licated.G @e sat u ri!ht and loo3ed at Dictor.G .e>re not here 0or you to teach basic interviewin! techniJues to law students. %0 you have any new material you>d li3e to cover/ 0ine. Btherwise %>m !oin! to declare this little !et+to!ether over.G

:ayson !lanced at Dictor/ who showed no si!n o0 emotion. Still/ the veteran criminal de0ense attorney didn>t a reciate Anderson>s remar3. E@ow lon! have % been as3in! JuestionsIG Dictor/ clad in a shirt and tie/ ushed his shirtsleeve bac3 and chec3ed his watch. E4wenty+siA minutes.G :ayson leaned 0orward. EB3ay/ Bmar. %0 that>s how you want to lay it/ tell you what %>m !oin! do: Either % as3 all the Juestions % need to as3 today/ ri!ht now/ or %>m !oin! to reJuest a re+trial con0erence with the 9ud!e and tell him that a0ter stallin! me 0or a cou le o0 wee3s/ the rosecution wouldn>t even let me have an hour with the two o00icers whose discovery was the basis 0or my client>s arrest.G @e closed his 0older/ stood/ and a0ter buttonin! the 9ac3et o0 his suit/ addressed Dictor. EPlease note the time and how lon! this Llittle !et+to!ether> lasted.G EB3ay/G Dictor re lied. Anderson stood also and raised his hands. E'ow there>s no need to !et all bent out o0 sha e/ :ayson/G he whined. E% 9ust don>t see what !ood it does to as3 the same Juestions over and over.G @e ointed and swun! his hand to the le0t and ri!ht. EB0 course these two ublic servants would be ha y to answer any Juestions you have/ but let>s not 3ee them with re etition/ o3ayIG :ayson allowed the room to remain silent 0or a 0ew seconds. @e had called Anderson>s blu00 and embarrassed him in 0ront o0 three others. 'ow he would have to !ive the man somethin! to salva!e his di!nity. Btherwise/ dealin! with him in the 0uture would be even more contentious and hostile than usual?and there0ore harm0ul to his clients. E8ou>re ri!ht/ Bmar. % a olo!i7e.G @e returned to his seat/ as did Anderson. E% 9ust need to clari0y a 0ew thin!s. %t won>t be much lon!er/ o3ayIG Scott/ .ashin!ton and Anderson nodded. :ayson o ened his 0older. EB00icer .ashin!ton/ would you lease tell me a!ain 9ust how you 0ound the ma on the 0ront assen!er seat in clear viewIG @e em hasi7ed the last three words to indicate his disbelie0. EKm/ wPwell/ umHG .ashin!ton stuttered/ EitPit was 9ust/ um/ lyin! there.G EReallyIG :ayson as3ed. ELyin! there all by itsel0IG EKm/ yeah.G E@ow about thatFG :ayson eAclaimed/ archin! his eyebrows and 0li in! throu!h a cou le o0 hoto!ra hs in his 0older. E4hese ictures here show my client>s 0ront and bac3seat cluttered with boo3s/ news a ers/ clothes/ tools= all 3inds o0 ob9ects.G @e dro ed the hotos inside the 0older/ closed it and leaned bac3 in his chair. E.ell/ um/ % !uess the ma was lyin! on to o0 that stu00/G .ashin!ton insisted. EKm+hmm/G :ayson re lied. E&ut you 9ust said the ma was 9ust lyin! there all by itsel0 when you 0ound it.G EKm/ maybe % didn>t hear your Juestion ri!ht/G .ashin!ton mumbled/ starin! at her 0in!ers. :ayson nodded. EAnd did you o en the vehicle>s door or 9ust reach into the o en window to retrieve the ma IG E.ashin!ton aused. E%P% reached into the o en window.G :ayson 9er3ed his head bac3 as i0 he had been sla ed. EReallyI 4he window was down in CecemberI .ith the tem erature in the thirtiesIG .ashin!ton loo3ed hel lessly at her artner/ then bac3 at :ayson. ERi!ht. % mean?G

Scott 9um ed in a!ain. E%0 my artner says the ma was in lain view then it was.G EDery interestin!/G :ayson remar3ed. @e ointed at Dictor. E8ou 3now what this bri!ht youn! man discovered while !oin! over your lo!s and olice re ortsIG E'o/G Scott re lied. EPlease tell us.G :ayson stared at the senior o00icer. ESince you artnered u with B00icer .ashin!ton here/G he aused and ointed at the woman/ Eyou>ve 0ound more than your share o0 incriminatin! evidence in lain view on the assen!er seat.G Scott smir3ed and shru!!ed. E.hat can % sayI % !uess criminals have been !ettin! more stu id lately.G :ayson shru!!ed also. E.ould it sur rise you to 3now my client claims his drivin! that ni!ht shouldn>t have !iven any honest olice o00icer reason to sto himIG Scott>s smir3 eva orated. E@e did/ huhI .ell/ % !uess he>s?G E<y client also claims/G :ayson interru ted/ Ethe ma wasn>t anywhere in clear view as you?well?your artner claimed/ but in the !love com artment.G E.ell/G Scott said/ E% !uess it>s the word o0 a man who burned a child to a cris a!ainst the word o0 two olice o00icers/ one with over nineteen years on the 0orce.G EAnd you/ B00icer .ashin!ton/ how many years do you have on the 0orceIG EAlmost three/G she re lied. E4hree years/G :ayson re eated. ESo when you sto ed my client you would>ve had maybe a little over a year on the 0orce. %sn>t that ri!htIG ESo whatIG Anderson demanded to 3now. ESo o enin! the !love com artment on a routine tra00ic sto is the 3ind o0 mista3e a youn!/ unseasoned o00icer mi!ht ma3e/G :ayson re lied/ noddin! in .ashin!ton>s direction. E4hat>s ure s eculation/G Anderson said. E% thin3 a 9ud!e would disa!ree/G :ayson su!!ested. E4here was no robable cause to o en the !love com artment/ so whatever was 0ound would be inadmissible. And since all your evidence was obtained with a 0aulty search warrant/ whatever was 0ound in my client>s a artment would also be inadmissible. %n other words/ you>d have no case.G E:esus Christ/ :ayson/G Anderson !rowled/ Ethat man 3illed a twelve+year+old child.G E.ho>s !onna ta3e that racist i!>s word over oursIG Scott as3ed/ raisin! his voice. E4a3e it easy/ Gary/G .ashin!ton cautioned. E:ud!es si!n search warrants/G :ayson declared/ his voice steady and calm/ Eand they don>t li3e to be lied to.G Anderson rolled his eyes. EEven i0 your theory>s correct and she o ened the !love com artment/ you 3now the courts don>t throw out evidence based on honest mista3es.G :ayson ta ed his indeA 0in!er on the table. E4he mista3e has to be in !ood 0aith/ Bmar. Lyin! to a 9ud!e about how the ma was obtained doesn>t constitute !ood 0aith and you 3now it.G E% didn>t lie to nobody/G .ashin!ton blurted out. :ayson ointed at the youn! o00icer. E'ow that>s an issue 0or a 9ud!e to decide.G @e so0tly ta ed Dictor on the 3nee and continued. E&ut remember/ a sJuad car 0lashin! its li!hts !enerates a lot o0 attention 0rom assers+by and residents in the nei!hborhood. .ouldn>t it be interestin! i0 % roduced a witness who>s able to swear my client>s tellin! the truthIG @e o ened a 0older and retended to read. E8ou 3now how it is nowadays: everybody>s !ot a video recorder or camera or hone and 9ust love to ta3e ictures.G

Anderson chec3ed his watch and stood. ECo you have any more Juestions/ :aysonIG :ayson turned to Dictor. EAnythin!IG Dictor shoo3 his head/ and :ayson turned bac3 to Anderson. E'o e/ we>re done.G @e stood also. E4han3 you 0or your time.G @e watched as the two o00icers and Anderson le0t the room with 0aces as i0 they had 9ust suc3ed sour lemons. @e turned to Dictor a!ain and whis ered. E8ou watch her a0ter % ta ed youIG E8eah/G Dictor answered. E% !ot the si!nal.G E@ow>d she react when % !ave her that Leyewitness> lineIG Dictor ta ed the screen to turn o00 his com uter and stood. EShe loo3ed sur rised? and scared.G :ayson nodded. E8eah. She>s the wea3est lin3 in their case.G @e !lanced at his watch. ELet>s di! a little dee er into both o00icers> bac3!round.G ECo you thin3 you should 0ile a motion to eAamine their ersonnel 0ilesIG :ayson leaned a!ainst the table and eAamined the scarred/ worn tile on the 0loor. E4heir credibility>s an issue/ but % don>t thin3 a 9ud!e is !oin! to let us o3e around in their 0iles based on Stone>s claims.G @e stood erect and reached 0or his brie0case. E'o. .e>ll see what we can 0ind out on our own. And %>ll as3 Connie to chec3 with a cou le o0 eo le she met on the 0orce when she was datin! what>s+his+name.G E@ow about a motion to su ressIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o e. Same deal. 'o 9ud!e is !oin! to throw out mountains o0 evidence Lcause Stone said the ma wasn>t on the seat. % was the one wol0in! that time.G EB3ay/G Dictor said/ and !rabbed his brie0case and com uter case. E%>ll do some di!!in! when % !et bac3 to the o00ice. 8ou>ll be bac3 later/ ri!htIG :ayson nodded. E8eah. %>ve !ot a motion u stairs on the Garcia case. %>ll see you be0ore you leave 0or the day.G @e sla ed Dictor on the bac3. E%n the meantime/ maybe you can chat u <ichelle Lin!.G @e wal3ed to the door and s o3e without turnin! around. E% assume you have her tele hone number.G Dictor blushed. E%/ um/ well/ yes. % thin3 she 3inda !ave it to me.G E.ell/ 3inda !ive her a call.G 4eacher and student eAited the room and 9oined thron!s o0 eo le hurryin! about in the corridor. As they waited 0or an elevator?:ayson to ride u and Dictor to ride down? they eAchan!ed o inions about the &oston Red SoA>s ennant chances. A0ter thirty seconds/ the EdownG elevator door o ened/ revealin! two men and two women/ a arently stran!ers/ who had each sta3ed out a corner o0 the tiny s ace. :ayson sla ed Dictor on the bac3 a!ain as the intern !rabbed his belon!in!s. E8ou>ve been doin! a !reat 9ob. Kee u the !ood wor3.G Dictor ste ed into the middle o0 the elevator and turned to 0ace :ayson. E4han3 you/ sir/G he said/ his 0ace beamin!. :ayson ointed at him and dis layed a lay0ully an!ry eA ression. E@ey/ what>d % tell you about thatIG Dictor smiled. E% mean/ than3 you/ !ayson.G 4he elevator door closed. :ayson 0elt a sudden rush o0 ride and a00ection toward his rotO!O. @e ste ed into the elevator neAt to the one which had carried Dictor away and wondered how he would have 0elt i0 he and Renee had brou!ht home a son instead o0 a dau!hter. @e absolutely adored :enni0er/ but tended to de0er to Renee about the child>s u brin!in!/ assumin! a mother ossessed more insi!ht about rearin! a !irl than a 0ather.

Althou!h only thirty+0ive years old/ :ayson acce ted the reality that :enni0er would be their only child. Even with 0ull+time domestic hel / he and Renee barely had enou!h time 0or one. Still/ he thou!ht/ it would have been a thrill to have had a little boy/ maybe even a little :ayson. 4he idea caused him to curl u the corners o0 his mouth. @e !radually ad9usted his eA ression to a more a ro riate o3er 0ace as he entered the cram ed courtroom on the 0ourteenth 0loor. 4he room showcased hi!h ceilin!s/ dar3 wood anelin! on all the walls/ and lar!e ictures o0 three o0 the !rimmest+loo3in! deceased white male 9ud!es he had ever seen. Court o00icers wearin! white/ short+sleeved shirts stood on the other side o0 the bar se aratin! the s ectators 0rom the well and escorted handcu00ed detainees?all males?in and out o0 a side door. :ud!e Allen Dan &uren/ a 0ortyish/ im atient man whose blond hair had turned mostly !ray a0ter 0ive years on the bench/ 0everishly wor3ed to li!hten the Commonwealth>s doc3et with the hel o0 two middle+a!ed 0emale cler3s. Lawyers had already be!un ta3in! bets on how lon! it would ta3e be0ore Dan &uren would dro dead 0rom a heart attac3/ erha s while erched on his throne in the courtroom. :ayson 3new his client wouldn>t be resent durin! the hearin!/ but he searched the room 0or other 0amiliar 0aces. @e reco!ni7ed a 0ew but didn>t s ot Samira Rahmani/ his worthy o onent 0or the hearin!. 4hey were scheduled to do battle over a s eedy trial motion he had 0iled on behal0 o0 a twenty+one+year+old indi!ent woman awaitin! trial 0or nearly two years. :ayson believed the rosecution re eatedly reJuested delays on a very wea3 ossession with intent to distribute case to ressure his client/ who s o3e very little En!lish/ into !ivin! evidence a!ainst her 0ormer boy0riend/ an alle!ed murderer. Rahmani ossessed a hu!e ba! o0 tric3s/ but :ayson 0elt con0ident his motion would be !ranted. :ayson sat in the bac3 o0 the court/ away 0rom the door/ and reviewed his notes 0or oral ar!uments/ occasionally chec3in! the tall/ added double doors 0or Rahmani>s entrance. She eventually arrived and saw him but sat close to the door and be!an chattin! with a youn! woman :ayson reco!ni7ed as a ublic de0ender. Rahmani layed the !ame well/ :ayson admitted to himsel0. She didn>t want to a ear too ea!er to ma3e a deal. <a3e him wait. @e watched her out o0 the corner o0 his eye 0or a cou le o0 minutes then returned to his notes. Eventually/ he reasoned/ Rahmani would a roach him and o00er a deal 0or time served. @e would hold out 0or a misdemeanor lea. She would wol0 0or a cou le o0 minutes but both would tacitly ac3nowled!e he held the hi!h cards on this one. :ayson heard the sound o0 li!ht 0ootste s and 0elt the 0loor sha3e as a body lo ed down into the seat behind him. EAre we ready to tal3/ counselorIG he heard the woman behind him whis er. @e nodded/ re ared to ne!otiate with Rahmani/ but the uneA ected 0aint smell o0 lavender sur rised him. @e !lanced by the door to see Rahmani twelve 0eet away/ still whis erin! to the ublic de0ender. @e closed his eyes and si!hed in resi!nation as he 0elt a air o0 so0t/ li!ht brown hands !ently caress his shoulders. Eventually/ Leslie <elende7 leaned 0orward/ holdin! her lovely/ smooth/ li!ht brown 0ace arallel to his. E8ou>ve been such a nau!hty boy/ avoidin! my calls/ :ayson/G she moaned so0tly. E'ow you have to buy me a drin3.G :ayson !round his teeth to!ether and si!hed. ESorry/ %P% can>t/ Leslie/G he said. E% have to ta3e care o0 some business here.G E%>m a0raid %>m !onna have to insist/G the woman whis ered. E8ou don>t want me to ma3e a scene here in 0ront o0 all your 0riends/ do youIG

:ayson si!hed a!ain. @is case could be called neAt. She had him inned down with no esca e. As 4eni3a testi0ied/ Leslie>s seAy a earance and coJuettish manner !enerated a !reat deal o0 attention. @is best move would be to !et her out o0 the room as Juic3ly as ossible. EB3ay/ o3ay/G he conceded. E.ait 0or me on the bench outside the room and we>ll !o somewhere and tal3.G EB3ay. % trust you/G Leslie urred. E%>ll be waitin!.G She !ot u and sauntered out o0 the room as slowly as she could. :ayson 3e t his eyes on his notes. A0ter a 0ew seconds Rahmani too3 the seat neAt to his. EGod/ she>s beauti0ul?in a street 3ind o0 way. .ho is sheIG ESomeone % have to deal with/G :ayson muttered. *****

C%A$TE# TEN

An hour a0ter waylayin! :ayson in the courtroom/ Leslie <elende7 !rabbed her urse and slun! the stra over her shoulder/ lay bare by a sil3y/ red to that hu!!ed her hour!lass 0i!ure. E%>ll be ri!ht bac3/G she whis ered/ and slid out o0 her seat o osite :ayson>s. EBrder me a &randy AleAander.G EB3ay/G :ayson said/ and out o0 habit/ stood. @is 0ather had tau!ht him to stand when a woman a roached or le0t the table/ which in this case rested in the corner o0 a s acious but very dar3 room. @e sat and chec3ed his watch/ which indicated it was almost 0ive in the a0ternoon. @e wouldn>t ma3e it bac3 to the o00ice be0ore Dictor le0t 0or the day. E'ow don>t !o away/G Leslie teased. :ayson said nothin!. @e watched the youn!/ admittedly beauti0ul woman in her ti!ht 9eans and hi!h+heel shoes as she sashayed down a lon! corridor leadin! to the ladies room. :ayson 0elt a little !uilty about o!lin! the woman>s sha ely 0i!ure/ but hell/ he was still a man?a man with a s arse seA li0e. A short/ thin waiter in his early twenties ste ed into :ayson>s 0ield o0 vision/ divertin! his attention away 0rom his Edate.G 4he youn! man/ who wore a white shirt/ red tie/ blac3 ants and an a ron/ held an order ad. E.hat can % brin! youIG E&rin! me any 3ind o0 diet soda?and a &randy Al 0or the lady ri!ht away/ lease/G :ayson instructed/ Eand ma3e sure her drin3 is stron!.G 4he man !lanced in the direction o0 the ladies room/ indicatin! that he had seen Leslie. ESure/ % !et it/G he cac3led/ and !ave :ayson a win3. :ayson 0rowned as the waiter rushed o00 to 0ill the order. Sittin! alone/ he counted heads and concluded the lace o00ered adeJuate rivacy. 4he atrons in the hal0+0ull bar ?mostly ro0essionally attired men with much youn!er/ attractive women han!in! on their arms? aid him no attention. @e had driven Leslie to an out+o0+the+way s ot near K<ass6&oston. A 0ormer client whom he had success0ully de0ended 0or taA evasion owned it. ;orever !rate0ul to have esca ed what 0our revious attorneys had advised would be a certain one+to+0ive+year stretch/ the ro rietor had assured his savior i0 he ever needed a 0avor/ all he had to do

was as3. ;orty+0ive minutes be0ore arrivin! at the bar/ :ayson had called and as3ed 0or a Juiet/ very rivate table. <odern instrumental 9a77 see ed throu!h circular s ea3ers hoverin! alon!side dim recessed li!hts in the ceilin!. :ason hardly noticed the music as it blended with the low/ indeci herable murmur o0 the room>s occu ants. @e layed with the small table lam sha ed li3e a lantern/ s innin! it around/ and wei!hed his o tions. @e had success0ully avoided Leslie 0or over siA wee3s/ but had 3nown sooner or later she would catch u with him. @e had to consider the best way to !et her out o0 his li0e? ermanently. 4oo bad he had scru les and believed in God. %n his line o0 wor3 he had met more than one man who/ 0or the ri!ht rice/ would be willin! to remove Leslie 0rom the 0ace o0 the earth. :ayson 3new he ossessed 0ar more education and li0e eA erience than Leslie/ a twenty+0our+year+old Costa Rican native who hadn>t 0inished hi!h school/ but he 3new he shouldn>t ma3e the mista3e o0 underestimatin! her. She ossessed 3een survival s3ills and street smarts. ;or the time bein!/ he decided his best bet would be to ly the woman with alcohol/ listen to her demands and stall. 4he waiter returned with the drin3s and win3ed at :ayson a!ain be0ore headin! bac3 to the bar area. :ayson 0elt reassured by the stron! bouJuet o0 Juality brandy comin! 0rom Leslie>s !lass. She returned and eased bac3 into her seat and immediately be!an slur in! her drin3. E@mmm. %t>s delicious/G she declared/ and ushed her lon!/ curly hair away 0rom her 0ace. EAren>t you havin! oneIG E%t>s a little early 0or me and %>m drivin!/ rememberIG :ayson re lied. @e raised the !lass containin! his diet soda. E%>ll 9ust stic3 with this.G ESuit yoursel0?and oh my/ it>s a nice suit/ too/G Leslie !ushed/ ins ectin! :ayson. ESo it loo3s li3e you>re doin! retty !ood. .hen>d you !et that :a!IG ELast year/G :ayson said. E%t>s 9ust a car.G Leslie !ul ed her drin3 and shoo3 her head. EPeo le with money always tal3 li3e that. 4hey live in some castle in &elmont with a maid and say Lit>s 9ust a house> or drive a :a! or &eemer and say Lit>s 9ust a car.>G :ayson reco!ni7ed her warnin! shot. She had discovered where he lived. Althou!h alarmed/ outwardly he 9ust shru!!ed. EPeo le blessed with some money o0ten wor3ed hard or made sacri0ices/ Leslie. A lot o0 times they went to colle!e and studied their asses o00.G E4hat how you andHwhat>s your wi0e>s nameIG :ayson 0elt himsel0 become an!ry but dis layed no outward si!n o0 emotion. ERenee.G Leslie nodded. EKm+hmm. 4hat how you and Renee !ot all that moneyIG :ayson leaned bac3 in his chair. E.hat is it you want/ LeslieIG She slowly raised her !lass to her mouth/ showin! o00 a set o0 elaborately decorated arti0icial 0in!ernails/ then slammed the !lass/ almost em ty/ on the table. E;irst/ % want some res ect around here 0rom you/ counselor. .ho do you thin3 you are/ !ivin! me the runaround 0or two 0uc3in! monthsIG :ayson nodded. E8ou>re ri!ht. % shouldn>t have done that. % a olo!i7e.G @e si!naled 0or the waiter. EAnother 0or the lady ri!ht away/ lease.G A0ter the waiter le0t/ :ayson continued. E&ut we>re here now. And % assume this isn>t a social call.G Leslie ut a coy smile on her 0ace. E%t could be.G :ayson ti!htened his. EPlease/ Leslie.G

E.ell/ % did have somethin! in mind/G Leslie announced. She aused 0or a 0ew seconds/ a arently waitin! 0or :ayson to solicit more details. @e didn>t/ so she resented her case. E% tal3ed to a lawyer?one o0 those 0eminist dy3e ty es?about our little arran!ement years a!o.G She aused a!ain and waited/ but :ayson still o00ered nothin!. EAnd she told me !ivin! a woman money 0or her baby amounted to baby+sellin! and is a!ainst the law in <assachusetts.G :ayson o ened his hands. E% still don>t 3now what you want/ Leslie.G Leslie brou!ht the !lass to her li s a!ain and set it down more !ently. E4his lawyer tells me % could !o to court and tell my sad story?you 3now/ how siA years a!o a oor/ i!norant ei!hteen+year+old !irl/ all alone with no man/ wanted to !ive u her baby 0or ado tion/ but couldn>t ma3e u her mind who would be the best arent until?G :ayson ointed at the a roachin! waiter who dro ed o00 another &randy AleAander. E4han3 you/G he said. Leslie 0inished her 0irst drin3 and !rabbed the second one. She stirred it 0or a 0ew seconds/ too3 a hu!e swallow and resumed her tale. EKntil one day this lawyer aid her a visit and o00ered to !ive her 0ive thousand dollars i0 she would a!ree to let him and his doctor wi0e ado t her beauti0ul/ recious dau!hter.G :ayson si!hed. ELeslie/ don>t tell me that a0ter all this time you suddenly miss :enni0er and want her bac3IG Leslie winced. EL:enni0er/> huhI .hatsthemattaI L8esenia> wasn>t !ood enou!hI 4hat>s the name % !ave her.G E%t wasn>t that/G :ayson said. E:enni0er was my wi0e>s !randmother>s name. :enni0er>s middle name is 8esenia.G ECoes Coctor <rs. :ayson>s wi0e 3now about our arran!ementIG :ayson s o3e slowly. E.hat do you want/ LeslieIG Leslie chu!!ed down her second drin3 and waited as :ayson si!naled 0or another. ELi0e hasn>t been so !ood 0or me 0or the ast siA years. % went bac3 to Costa Rica but 0ive Gs don>t !o very 0ar/ even there.G She shru!!ed. E% was able to land a cou le o0 o ortunities/ thou!h.G A cou le o0 men you mean/ :ayson thou!ht. E&ut the country>s a mess. So % came bac3 here. % !ot an aunt livin! here. She wor3s at one o0 the hotels and !ot me a 9ob with her doin! house3ee in!.G She !rimaced. E&ut % couldn>t 0uc3in! stand it.G ELeslie/ lease !et to the oint.G EGoddamn itF % need money/ o3ayIG Leslie snarled. E4here. % said it.G :ayson shru!!ed a!ain. ESo !et another 9ob/ one more to your li3in!.G ECon>t be a smart ass/ counselor/G Leslie ordered. She ointed. E8ou and <rs. Coctor !ot lenty.G She leaned bac3 in her chair and ushed out her am le bosom. E&ut % ain>t !reedy. % 9ust need a little somethin! to hel me !et by.G E@ow much would hel you !et byIG E% thin3 % should be able to ma3e do withHG She sto ed tal3in! when the waiter returned with her drin3. @e !rabbed the other two em ty !lasses and Juic3ly disa eared. E...twenty+0ive thousand dollars.G :ayson moved his eyebrows close to!ether. E4he ado tion was 0inal years a!o/ Leslie. 4he transaction you described would certainly have been in cash/ so there>s no roo0 to your claims. 8ou>ve !ot no bar!ainin! chi s.G

Leslie ointed at him a!ain. E'ow that>s where you>re wron!. % don>t need to rove shit. % 9ust need to sta3e a claim. <aybe % could !et my icture in the a er showin! a little s3in and cleava!e/ and maybe add a little 0lavor to my story.G E;lavorIG E8ou 3now/ tell everyone % was you mistress.G Leslie made thrustin! movements with her hi s. E4hat you started ban!in! me a0ter we met/ you 3now/ com lainin! your wi0e was too busy at wor3 to o en her le!s 0or you.G :ayson 0elt himsel0 becomin! enra!ed but 0orced himsel0 to breathe re!ularly. ELeslie/ i0 % remember correctly/ you o00ered but % declined.G E4hat don>t matter/G Leslie retorted/ slurrin! her words a bit. E<en see me and want to 0uc3 me. ;rom my no !ood ass ste 0ather when % was twelve years old to that droolin! riest at the church in the rovince where % !rew u .G She slowly ran her hands over her breasts and down to her waist. E'o one>s !onna loo3 at me and believe you were stu id enou!h to turn this luscious shit down.G :ayson thou!ht 0or a 0ew seconds. :enni0er 3new she had been ado ted but she had no idea how 0ortunate she had been to !et Renee 0or a mother rather than the one God had !iven her. B0 course Leslie would never !et :enni0er. She didn>t even want the !irl. She 9ust wanted money/ and the clearly ruthless viAen did have some levera!e. She could severely dama!e his re utation and his 0amily>s li0e i0 she made !ood on her threat. ELeslie/ you 3now % can>t do this/G he said. E% !uess what % did was wron!/ but my wi0e too3 one loo3 at the hotos o0 that little an!el and 0ell in love with her. So did %. .e>ve been !ood arents/ not that you>re interested/ obviously.G @e ointed. EAll this time and you haven>t as3ed even once how your dau!hter is.G Leslie chan!ed her demeanor. She smiled and s o3e tenderly. ELoo3/ :ayson/ you don>t have to !et nothin! out o0 this 0or yoursel0.G She di ed her 0in!er into her drin3/ stuc3 out her ton!ue and slowly lic3ed it. E% 3now you li3e what you see. And % don>t mind tellin! you % thin3 you>re very handsome and seAy. %>ve always had a thin! 0or blac3 men. 8esen?um/ :enni0er>s 0ather was blac3/ you 3now.G She reached across the table and sJuee7ed :ayson>s hand. E8ou could still ta3e me u on my other o00er. 4rust me. 8ou>d !et your money>s worth.G :ayson slowly ulled his hand away 0rom hers and stared at her. 4he air conditionin! had 3e t the room chilly. @e could see the outline o0 her ni les throu!h her ti!ht blouse. 4rue/ she was beauti0ul. Still/ he 0elt re ulsed by her. E% don>t thin3 so/ Leslie.G E% can tell 9ust by loo3in! at you that <rs. Coctor Renee hasn>t been !ivin! you re!ular doses o0 your medicine.G ELeave it alone/ Leslie.G E8ou>re missin! out on some wonder0ul a00ection.G <ore li3ely an infection/ :ayson thou!ht. ELeslie/ we both 3now you>d never !et anywhere with this. .hy come bac3 here and hurt :enni0erIG Leslie 0inished her third drin3. E%>m not loo3in! to hurt the 3id but %>ll do what % have to do.G She slowly stood and clun! to the chair to steady hersel0. ELet me thin3 about this 0or a while/G :ason re lied. ECo you have a number where % can reach youI .here are you stayin!I %>ll drive you home.G E% ain>t stu id/G Leslie insisted and held out her hand. EGive me some money 0or a 0uc3in! cab.G :ayson ste ed around the table and too3 Leslie by the arm.

She ulled away. E8ou don>t touch 0or 0ree/ ni!!a. @ow many times % !otta tell you muh0uc3as thatIG EB3ay/G :ayson whis ered/ raisin! his hands in the air. @e reached into his oc3et/ ulled out a 0ew bills and dro ed them on the table. E% saw a cou le o0 cabs outside when we !ot here. %>ll !et you one.G @e wal3ed alon!side the sha3y woman and o ened the 0ront door 0or her. 4he warm/ mu!!y/ late :une evenin! air !reeted them. :ayson didn>t relish the thou!ht o0 standin! outside where the two o0 them could be seen. ;ortunately/ a cab ulled u a 0ew 0eet away and another cou le !ot out. :ayson couldn>t hel but stare at them. 4he woman was youn! enou!h to be the distin!uished/ white+ haired man>s !randdau!hter. :ayson a roached the yellow automobile and held the door 0or Leslie/ who all but 0ell inside and stretched out across the bac3seat. E4a3e care o0 the driver/ :ayson/G she commanded throu!h a lon! yawn. :ayson closed the door and wal3ed to the driver>s side. E.here to/ ami!oIG as3ed a 0i0tyish Latino with a thic3 accent and ci!arette breath. :ayson handed the man two twenty+dollar bills and s o3e to him in S anish. E4a3e her wherever she wants to !o.G @e sli ed the man his business card and whis ered. EAnd there>s another 0i0ty 0or you i0 you call me tomorrow recisely at nine a.m. and tell me where you dro ed her.G 4he cabby cran3ed his nec3 to !ive Leslie the once+over. @e turned and win3ed at :ayson. ESure. % !et it.G E'ot until you call me/ then you !et it/G :ayson 9o3ed. E.hat>s your nameIG E:uan.G ECon>t tal3 to anyone but me and say it>s :uan the cab driver.G 4he man lau!hed. EB3ay/ ami!o.G @e drove o00. :ayson whi ed out his mobile hone/ but a0ter a 0ew seconds o0 indecision/ ut it bac3 in the breast oc3et o0 his suit 9ac3et/ and eeled the 9ac3et o00. @e wal3ed toward his car/ ar3ed a bloc3 away/ and considered his o tions. Should he tell Renee about his meetin! with LeslieI 'o. Perha s he could deal with her without involvin! ReneeH. *****

C%A$TE# ELE(EN

4wo days a0ter his meetin! with Leslie/ :ayson chatted with Connie as he maneuvered throu!h con!ested downtown tra00ic en route to the Su00ol3 County :ail. Bnly a 0ew clouds coasted alon!side them/ li3e secret service a!ents ridin! alon!side the resident>s motorcade. 4he noonday sun/ stationed directly overhead/ could be 0elt but not directly seen. %ts rays beat down on :ayson>s car less severely than it had in ast days. 4he humidity had also subsided si!ni0icantly. :ust the same/ :ayson 3e t the windows u / the air conditioner on/ and so0t 9a77 music layin! in the bac3!round. 4he latter hel ed him endure Connie>s nonsto chatter. @e rolled his eyes when she 0li ed the mirror on her sun visor and ins ected her hair and ma3e+u 0or the second time. Renee would do the same thin! at least once whenever they rode to!ether.

E%t>s nice today/G Connie observed 0or the third time. E% hated all that heat and humidity/ you 3nowIG E8eah/ and it>s still only :une/G :ason answered. ECid you 0ind out anythin! about the two co s who sto ed StoneIG E8eah. % tal3ed to a 0riend/G Connie said/ Ea detective/ who wor3s at their recinct. % met her at a arty a while bac3 and we hit it o00. She told me the woman/ .ashin!ton/ had the re utation o0 bein! an a00irmative action hire. 4his detective says .ashin!ton did 9ust well enou!h on the eAam and cadet trainin! and all to !et her bad!e/ but she scored at the bottom hal0 on everythin!.G :ason shru!!ed. ESo did hal0 her class/ not includin! those who washed out. 4here>s always that 3ind o0 tal3 0or eo le o0 color with the 0ire or olice. .hat about ScottIG EShe told me Gary Scott>s a 0ascist. Ksed to be military olice in the army. @e believes the law allows eo le too much 0reedom.G ESo do a cou le o0 hundred other o00icers on the 0orce/G :ayson droned. ESo whatIG E.ell/ there>s a rumor that he and some other co s are in some 3ind o0 secret society.G :ayson !lanced at Connie. E.hat 3ind o0 secret societyIG Connie shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now. She didn>t say.G E.hat does this Lsociety> doIG EShe didn>t say that either/G Connie re lied. E4his detective and % are !onna !o out on the town tomorrow ni!ht= you 3now/ hit the clubs. %>ll !ather more intelli!ence then.G Clearly overcome with sel0+satis0action/ she made drummin! motions on her le!s/ covered with sheer/ blac3 antyhose. E'ot too shabby 0or my 0irst reconnaissance mission/ huhIG :ayson smiled. E8ou did o3ay. Stay on it and see what else you can 0ind out.G E.e ou!hta !et rid o0 those rivate dic3s you use and 9ust have me do the investi!ations 0rom now on?0or some eAtra dinero/ o0 course.G Connie rubbed her 0in!ers to!ether. :ayson chuc3led. E.ell/ % won>t be eA ectin! to catch LConnie Gon7ale7/ P.%.> on 4D anytime soon.G @e chan!ed the sub9ect. E% wanted you to come with me to see Stone because %>ve met with the !uy three times and % don>t seem to be movin! 0orward with him.G E.hat do you meanIG E@e>s not the easiest man in the world to tal3 to. @e>s the assive+a!!ressive ty e: ma3es snide remar3s meant to irritate you.G Connie winced. E8ee+uc3. Con>t you 9ust hate themIG :ayson nodded. E@e can>t be more than 0ive+0oot+0ive/ but he>s !ot a chi on his shoulder ten 0eet lon!.G Connie lau!hed. E.ell/ what>d you eA ectI 8ou saw that stu00 in his a artment. 4he man>s a racist. @e hates blac3s/ :ews/ Asians?and he ain>t too 0ond o0 my eo le either.G E8eah/G :ayson said. EAll true/ but %>m ho in! he mi!ht be more willin! to tal3 to a woman.G @e slowed down and sto ed behind a lar!e truc3 to wait 0or the li!ht to chan!e. 4he smell o0 burnin! diesel 0uel blowin! out o0 the truc3>s eAhaust i es caused him to wince. E.e can>t ut Stone on the stand. Samira would tear him a art.G E4hat>s 0or sure/G Connie a!reed.

4he li!ht turned !reen and :ayson ste ed on the accelerator. ESince we>ve !ot no de0ense we can actually ut on/ the only thin! le0t to do is ut the rosecution>s case on trial as wea3 and circumstantial. %>ve been tryin! to ortray Stone to the media as a con0used/ dama!ed little boy who 0ollowed the wron! ath.G Connie snic3ered. E;rom those ictures % saw o0 all those smutty ma!a7ines and movies in his a artment/ %>d say our little boy>s all !rown u .G ELet>s see i0 we?you?can !et him to tell us more about himsel0/G :ayson said. E%t>d hel i0 we could !et someone to sit near him in court?maybe a lon!+lost aunt or somethin!.G E<aybe we can sub oena his dominatriA/G Connie 9o3ed. EShe can come to the court in her 0ive+inch stiletto heels and testi0y that little &rian ta3es an ass+whi in! better than any ervert she 3nows.G :ayson lau!hed out loud but sto ed when he saw the 9ail come into view. @e scrutini7ed Connie>s a earance. She had a lied too much ma3e+u / as usual. @er blac3 s3irt hun! too short/ as usual/ and she wore a red 9ac3et over a white/ low+cut blouse showin! too much cleava!e. She had recently ainted her 0in!ernails ruby red. E% thou!ht % told you to dress conservatively today/G :ayson olitely scolded. @e decided not to mention her 9asmine+scented er0ume. Connie ulled down the sun visor>s mirror and chec3ed her li stic3 and earrin!s/ sim le !old twisted hoo s. She loo3ed over her out0it and li0ted her arms. E% didFG N E8ou loo3 well/ &rian/G :ayson o ened. @e shoo3 hands with his client in the same attorney consultation room where they had met three times be0ore. E4han3 you/G Stone re lied/ and slowly observed Connie 0rom head to toe. E%P% see we have com any.G E4his is Connie Gon7ale7/ my le!al assistant/G :ayson said. EShe>ll be assistin! me durin! your trial.G Connie held out her hand. E<r. Stone.G .ithout ma3in! eye contact/ Stone too3 only a second to sha3e her hand. EKm/ call me &rian/ lease.G @e !estured. E%>m sorry % can>t o00er you some re0reshments but since % didn>t 3now you were comin!/ % !ave the maid the day o00.G @e stared at the numerous scu00 mar3s on the 0loor/ a arently embarrassed by his attem t at levity. Connie smiled. E%>m 0ine. 4han3 you.G Stone dashed to the table and held out a chair 0or her. EPlease ma3e yoursel0 com0ortable.G @is thic3 southern drawl sounded even heavier than usual. :ayson sat neAt to Connie. @e watched Stone ull out a chair on the other side o0 the table and sit 0acin! Connie. :ayson o ened with his usual line. E%s there anythin! we can !et 0or youI Anyone we should contact 0or youIG Stone continued to stare at Connie. E'othin!/ than3 you.G E.ell/ % want to let you 3now what ha ened so 0ar/G :ayson said/ Eand % have a 0ew Juestions.G E@ow lon! have you lived in our country/ <issIG Stone as3ed. Connie !lanced at :ayson/ then 0aced Stone. E&rian/ we don>t have a lot o0 time. %t>s best we use it to discuss your case.G Good !irl/ :ayson thou!ht.

EAnd %>m a Knited States citi7en/ 9ust li3e you.G E&ut you have an accent.G ESo do you.G &ad !irl/ :ayson thou!ht. @e interru ted. E&rian/ li3e Connie said/ we>re limited on time. .e should use it to discuss your case.G E%>m sorry/G Stone said. EPlease 0or!ive me. %t>s 9ust that it>s not every day % !et such a retty visitor.G :ayson ointed at himsel0. E'ot true. "ve come to see you three times.G All three o0 them lau!hed. :ayson>s 9o3e seemed to ut everyone at ease. Connie !lanced at :ayson. E%t>s o3ay/ &rian. 4his must be very di00icult 0or you.G :ayson o ened his brie0case and dro ed several 0olders on the table/ then reached into the breast oc3et o0 his suit 9ac3et and roduced a !old en. @e waited as Connie too3 out a le!al ad/ a en and several 0olders 0rom her own brie0case. E&rian/G :ayson said/ E% reviewed the witness list the rosecution !ave me.G @e o ened a 0older/ !rabbed a sheet o0 a er and handed it to Stone. E<ost o0 the eo le on the list are eA ected: olice o00icers/ the 0orensic atholo!ist/ that 3ind o0 thin!. &ut there>re a cou le o0 names on the list % don>t reco!ni7e. % want you to loo3 at the names %>ve circled and tell me i0 you reco!ni7e these eo le and tell me what they could ossibly say that would hel the rosecution.G Stone held the list 0or a 0ew seconds then dro ed it on the table. E% don>t 3now any o0 these eo le.G :ayson si!hed. E&rian/ lease ta3e another loo3.G Stone snatched the a er/ eAamined it a!ain and shoo3 his head. E'o e. 'obody.G ELoo3 at their 0irst names and then their last names/G :ayson instructed. EAre they eo le who lived in your a artment buildin!I Someone you wor3ed withI Someone?G ECamn it/ % said % don>t 3now themFG Stone shouted/ tossin! the a er bac3 to :ayson. E@ow many times do % have to say itI % don>t 3now anybody. % haven>t made any 0riends here.G @e sat bac3 in his chair and 0olded his arms across his chest. E% don>t 3now how to ma3e it any clearer.G :ayson ut the a er in the 0older and closed it. E% don>t understand you/ &rian. Every damn time % come here it>s li3e ullin! teeth to !et you to coo erate.G Stone i!nored :ayson and turned his attention to his 0emale visitor. E.here were you born/ ConnieIG EKm/ my 0amily came here 0rom the Cominican Re ublic.G E% see. .ere they le!alIG :ayson slammed his o en hand on the table. E&rian/ %>ll let you ma3e your stu id remar3s to entertain yoursel0 at my eA ense/ but %>m not !oin! to sit here and let you insult a woman who % as3ed here to hel you.G Connie !rabbed :ayson>s 0orearm and sJuee7ed hard. E%t>s o3ay. %t>s his Juarter. Let him s end it.G She made eye contact with Stone. E8es/ they were le!al/G she in0ormed him so0tly. E&ut % understand you didn>t 3now your real arents. 4hat>s a shame.G Stone sco00ed. E:ust as well. 4hey were no !ood.G E.hat about the eo le who brou!ht you u . .hat were they li3eIG E.hich onesIG Stone as3ed. E4here were so many o0 them.G :ayson arched his ri!ht eyebrow. Stone>s sel0+disclosin! re ly sur rised him. Connie 0olded her hands. E.ere any o0 them niceIG

E.hoIG E4he eo le who hel ed brin! you u /G Connie re lied. E.ere any o0 them niceIG Stone shru!!ed. ESome were o3ay. <ost 9ust rovided a roo0 over my head and a lace to eat. % was in nine di00erent 0oster homes !rowin! u .G :ayson watched the eAchan!e between the two. @e had seen Connie success0ully solicit in0ormation 0rom clients be0ore= bi! brawny men sometimes accused o0 committin! brutal murders with their bare hands. &eneath her veneer o0 Latina arty !irl lay a com assionate woman who could reach the coldest heart. Connie smiled. E4hat must>ve been tou!h. &ut there must>ve been a cou le o0 0amilies that too3 you in were better than the others/ yesIG Kee !oin!/ !irl/ :ayson thou!ht. Stone o00ered no re ly 0or a 0ew seconds/ then a sli!ht smile etched on his 0ace. E4here was this one 0amily= blac3 too. 4he state ut me there because the home o0 the eo le % was stayin! with cau!ht 0ire. % was su osed to stay with them 0or a wee3 or two but % stayed there 0or about a year when % was twelve or so.G Connie nodded. E8ou li3ed themIG Stone nodded. E4he old woman there was nice. Reli!ious/ you 3nowI Read the &ible every day. 4here were ten other 3ids there?% was the only white 3id?and she made sure the other 3ids treated me o3ay. .e had to call each other L&rother ;ran3lin> or LSister <arilyn> or me/ % was L&rother &rian.>G E4hat sounded li3e a !ood lace/G Connie remar3ed. E.hat ha enedIG Stone balled his hands into 0ists. E4he ni!?% mean/ blac3 3ids at school hated the si!ht o0 me. Ksed to beat me u and call me names li3e Lcrac3er> and L!host> and stu00. So they too3 me out o0 there and ut me with a white 0amily where % belon!ed.G :ayson ulled out a le!al ad and be!an to ta3e notes. Connie shoo3 her head. E4hat wasn>t ri!ht/ the way those 3ids treated you. Cid you ma3e any 0riends later on/ li3e in hi!h schoolI <aybe a !irlI % bet you had a 0ew crushes.G Stone shoo3 his head a!ain. E% 9ust never learned how to tal3 to !irls. % didn>t have a real mama to teach me those thin!s. Girls used to lau!h at me and ma3e 0un. 4he way % tal3ed. 4he old clothes % wore.G @e ulled on his blue 9ail shirt. E4hem that didn>t lau!h/ they 0elt sorry 0or me. % could see it in their eyes. 4hat was worse.G Connie reached 0or the a er in :ayson>s 0older and !ave it to Stone. E&rian/ who are the eo le we don>t 3now on this listI Are they eo le you wor3ed with at the hos italIG Stone nodded. E%P% !uess that>s robably who they are.G EAnd what do you thin3 they>re !onna say in courtIG E% don>t 3now.G E% thin3 you do/G Connie !ently su!!ested. E.e>re only tryin! to hel .G :ayson o ened his mouth to a00irm Connie>s statement but closed it. @e sat bac3 in his chair and continued ta3in! notes. Stone closed his eyes/ then o ened them and si!hed. E.ell/ they mi!ht say % was 3inda anti+social and wasn>t well li3ed at wor3/ and the su ervisor had to !ive me a little cubby hole all to mysel0 so % could wor3 in eace.G E.hat do you mean/ wor3 in eaceIG

E4hey were always ic3in! on me/ layin! ractical 9o3es?hidin! the mouse o0 my com uter/ loosenin! the bolt in my chair so it colla sed when % sat down= that 3inda stu00.G E4hat wasn>t ri!ht either/G Connie said/ sha3in! her head. E&rian/ is there anybody/ a 0riend/ acJuaintance/ maybe a distant relative here or bac3 home who we could tal3 to about youIG Stone said nothin! 0or a 0ew seconds/ then shoo3 his head. E'o/ nobody.G ECid you ever 0ind out what ha ened to your brother and two sistersIG E'o.G E.e have an investi!ator. <aybe we could?G E'oFG Stone sna ed. E% wouldn>t want any o0 them to see how % turned out.G :ayson listened as Connie and Stone continued their conversation as i0 they were the only two occu yin! the room. 4hey chatted mostly about his case/ then di!ressed to Stone>s 0irst reaction to the 'ew En!land winter and how stran!ers react to their accents. Eventually :ayson announced their time was u . @e could see the hurt eA ression on Stone>s 0ace. All three arose 0rom their chairs as a hus3y 0emale o00icer with dar3 s3in and very short hair ushed the door o en. E4ime to !o/G she announced. E.Pwill you come bac3 a!ain sometime soon/ ConnieIG Stone as3ed. She shru!!ed. E%0 :ayson wants me to.G Stone shoo3 each visitor>s hand and wal3ed to the door/ but abru tly s un around and whis ered somethin! to Connie be0ore the o00icer too3 him by the arm and led him out the door. :ayson and Connie too3 the 0amiliar wal3 throu!h the 9ail without sayin! a word. @e didn>t li3e to discuss rivile!ed in0ormation until they eAited the buildin!. Eventually they ste ed outside and en!a!ed in small tal3 about the weather. 4he tem erature had risen sli!htly but the air remained com0ortably dry. 4hey entered a hu!e multi+storied ar3in! !ara!e two bloc3s 0rom the 9ail and too3 the stairs to the third 0loor. 'ot until they a roached the car did :ayson 0inally as3 Connie about Stone>s de artin! words. E'ot !ood/G she answered. E% 3now how you always say you>d rather not 3now.G :ayson nodded. E4rue. %t>s always the hu!e white ele hant in the middle o0 the room. %!norin! it 3ee s me sane.G @e ressed the button on his remote/ o enin! the trun3 o0 the car. @e and Connie laced their brie0cases inside and switched to s ea3in! in S anish/ as they always did when returnin! to the o00ice 0rom an a ointment. :ayson ushed the trun3 closed. ESo what did he sayIG Connie too3 a ste closer to :ayson and whis ered. E@e said: L'o one was su osed to !et hurt.>G *****

C%A$TE# T&EL(E

A 0ew hours a0ter he and Connie had met with Stone/ :ayson sat in his o00ice reviewin! a brie0 Dictor had dra0ted su ortin! a motion to dismiss a com laint. :ayson had acce ted the case only because the de0endant/ char!ed with assaultin! the !irl0riend o0 her husband/ attended his church. A a er cu 0illed with iced tea lay within reach. @is

des3 lam and the overhead li!hts were on because the sun/ which wouldn>t set 0or nearly three hours/ no lon!er shone directly into his o00ice. @e layed with a red erasable en and a hi!hli!hter/ li!htly ta in! them on his des3 li3e drums. :ayson 0elt reasonably com0ortable/ havin! ta3en o00 the 9ac3et to his suit. @e raised his eyes toward the !lass wall and mostly !lass door lon! enou!h to catch a !lim se o0 Dictor/ who wandered bac3 and 0orth in 0ront o0 his o00ice li3e a 0ather+to+be outside a delivery room. :ayson 0inished his drin3 and the last a!e o0 the 0ourteen+ a!e document/ and 9ud!ed Dictor>s 0irst try at inde endently dra0tin! a brie0 to be im ressive. 4he youn! man had a talent 0or writin! and understood the 0ine oints o0 the law= he would be an eAce tional asset to the bar some day. B0 course/ :ayson thou!ht/ !ive credit where credit was due: he had !iven the 3id a three+year+old brie0 he had dra0ted to use as a !uide. :ayson had read that &uddhists say a student can only be as !ood as his teacher?or had he heard those words 0rom Pro0essor Seth Greenber! in law schoolI Dictor came into view a!ain. :ayson su ressed the ur!e to lau!h and decided to ut the youn! man out o0 his misery by wavin! him into the o00ice. Dictor rushed in and closed the door behind him. @e strai!htened his tie. E.ellIG :ayson stood and ste ed around his des3/ leavin! the document on it. E%>m im ressed. %t>s !ood. Dery !ood.G Dictor smiled. E% ut a lot o0 wor3 into it.G EAnd it shows/G :ayson ac3nowled!ed. @e ointed at the to o0 his des3. E4here were 9ust a 0ew laces % mar3ed. % want you to loo3 them over tomorrow and read my notes. Probably won>t ta3e you a hal0+hour to ma3e the chan!es. Dictor nodded enthusiastically and held out his hands. E%>ll ta3e care o0 it ri!ht now.G :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o. Leave it. .e>ve !ot lenty o0 time. Loo3 at it tomorrow with a 0resh air o0 eyes. % don>t even want you to hold it in your hands until then.G E% !uess you>re ri!ht/G Dictor a!reed. @e turned to leave but turned bac3. EKm/ i0 you were !ivin! it a !rade/ well/ what would you !ive itIG @e loo3ed li3e a 0ive+year+old see3in! a roval 0rom his 0ather. :ayson a roached Dictor and ut his hand on the youn! man>s shoulder. E% would !ive it a &Q.G ECamn/G Dictor muttered. @e ut his hand over his mouth and !rimaced. EBo s/ sorry about my lan!ua!e.G :ayson chuc3led. E%t>s o3ay. Loo3/ you did real well. :ust !ot a little wordy/ li3e you do on occasion. Remember/ sometimes?G ELess is more/G Dictor chimed in. A arently re0errin! to stay a while lon!er/ he brou!ht u another to ic. EKm/ what>s your ta3e on the Stone caseIG E.ell/G :ayson re lied/ Eyou 3now Samira withdrew the second de!ree o00erIG EKm+hmm/G Dictor said. E% thou!ht she would. 4he way your duelin! interviews and 0ormal statements have been?G EAnd don>t 0or!et lea3ed in0ormation.G EAnd lea3ed in0ormation layed on the news/ it>s no sur rise. .hat did she sayIG :ayson mimic3ed Rahmani>s voice. EL4he o00er o0 second de!ree is withdrawn. 8our client>s !oin! to rot in rison 0or the rest o0 his li0e 0or 0irst+de!ree 0elony murder.>G ECid she add 9ust the ri!ht touch o0 ri!hteous indi!nationIG Dictor inJuired.

E'ot too much= not too little/G :ayson said. @e inched his indeA 0in!er a!ainst his thumb. E:ust ri!ht.G ECoes what Stone said to Connie this mornin! chan!e anythin!IG :ayson rolled his eyes/ lau!hed and ointed at Connie/ sittin! at her des3 tal3in! on the tele hone. E;or me/ yeah. She>s been insu00erable. 8ou 3now she>s !oin! to be im ossible to wor3 with 0or the rest o0 the wee3.G Dictor lau!hed as well. E8ou>re ri!ht/ but she was so roud o0 hersel0.G :ayson>s tone became businessli3e a!ain. E&ut to answer your Juestion/ what Stone said isn>t !oin! to matter. % didn>t !o into law school with my head all 0ull o0 cra 0rom watchin! 4D. % 3new most o0 my clients would be !uilty.G Dictor leaned a!ainst the small wor3 table a 0ew 0eet 0rom :ayson. ESo how do you 9usti0y what you do 0or a livin! when eo le as3 you at arties or whateverIG :ayson shru!!ed. E% usually !ive them the standard s eech/ you 3nowI <y 9ob>s to rovide a vi!orous de0ense 0or my client/ 0orcin! the state to rove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. .hat % do/ and what all de0ense attorneys do/ is 3ee those who serve the state honest in how they rosecute those char!ed with a crime/ thereby rotectin! the ri!hts o0 everyone and anyone char!ed with a crime.G @e lau!hed and made !estures as i0 he were layin! the violin. Dictor 9oined him/ layin! a 0ew ima!inary notes himsel0 and lau!hed. @e sto ed and ointed at the 0loor. E%>ve learned more here in a cou le o0 months than in two years at 'ortheastern.G :ayson shru!!ed a!ain. E%>ve met some retty !ood attorneys who went there.G @e ointed at himsel0. E% went to <ass School o0 Law/ where the 3ids without money !o. <y dad>s a bus driver and my mom chec3s in atients at a hos ital.G @e leaned a!ainst his des3. E%>ve told you about my law school mentor/ Seth Greenber!IG E4he one who had the stro3eIG E8eah/G :ayson re lied. @e stared absently at the car et as he s o3e. E%>ll never 0or!et the 0irst class % had with him years a!o/ when his body had 9ust be!un to bend with a!e but he hadn>t been victimi7ed by that 0irst stro3e.G :ayson leaned 0orward and imitated the ro0essor>s !estures. E4he old man ounded his hand on the odium and delivered the !os el to a room0ul o0 wide+eyed law students/ includin! me.G E.hat did he sayI .hat did he sayIG Dictor as3ed/ eAcited. E.ell/ %>ll tell you/G :ayson said. @e sJuinted and chan!ed his voice to sound much older. EL%n our system o0 9ustice/ all eo le char!ed with a crime !et their day in court and a 0air trial 0rom an im artial 9ury or 9ud!e. 4he olice don>t !et to coerce sus ects into con0essin!/ lant evidence on them/ or 0alsi0y in0ormation about them even i0 they>re !uilty.>G :ayson shoo3 his 0in!er and continued. EL4hey also don>t !et to char!e eo le with crimes that/ accordin! to the letter o0 the law/ they didn>t actually commit. 4hey don>t even !et to be slo y in how they !ather evidence or resent evidence. %0 they do/ then it>s your 9ob to see to it your client !oes 0ree/ even i0 you saw him commit the crime yoursel0.>G Dictor cla ed his hands. E.ow. @e must>ve really been somethin!.G E@e really was/G :ayson a!reed. EStill is.G @e leaned a!ainst his des3 a!ain. EA lot o0 non+lawyers?and even some lawyers?9ust don>t understand. Sometimes %>ll !et an an!ry 0amily member o0 a crime victim who>ll accost me in the hallway outside o0 some courtroom. 4he 0ather/ mother/ son/ whatever will cuss me out and swear that when % die

%>m !oin! strai!ht to hell. 4hey yell: L4hat son o0 a bitch ra ed my dau!hterF 4hat bastard stole thousands o0 dollars 0rom my com anyF 4hat drun3 !ot behind the wheel and 3illed my childF @ow could you re resent such a ersonI>G Dictor made a 0ace. E% bet that>s no 0un.G :ayson raised his hand and brou!ht it Juic3ly downward. E%>m used to it. &ut months/ sometimes even years later/ a0ter they or a member o0 their 0amily !et arrested/ some o0 those same eo le will 3noc3 on my door and be! me to ta3e money 0rom their li0e savin!s or their ension lans or the second mort!a!e they too3 out on their homes.G @e ointed at the brie0 Dictor had written. EShoot/ that woman 0rom my church who 3noc3ed two o0 her husband>s !irl0riend>s teeth out had 9ust told a bunch o0 0ol3s a cou le o0 wee3s a!o that % should be ashamed o0 mysel0 0or ta3in! the Stone case.G E&ut you still acce ted a retainer 0rom her and 0rom those other eo le/ ri!htIG EB0 course. %>m not the 3ind o0 !uy to hold a !rud!e.G Dictor laced his hand over his heart. EA real humanitarian/ that>s the man % wor3 0or.G @e and :ayson shared a loud lau!h. Dictor cleared his throat. EKm/ :ayson/ can % as3 you 3ind o0 a ersonal JuestionIG EGo ahead.G EKm/ what did your 0amily/ % mean li3e/ your mom and dad/ thin3 about you !oin! into criminal lawIG :ayson shru!!ed. E4hey were 0ine with it. % come 0rom humble stoc3. <y 0ol3s thin3 bein! a lawyer is li3e what you see on 4D?% de0end innocent eo le wron!ly accused o0 crimes. 4hey>re 9ust thrilled their son>s a lawyer.G @e ointed at Dictor. E.hat do your 0ol3s thin3 about all the unsavory characters you>ve been eA osed to hereIG E4hey don>t 3now.G :ayson raised an eyebrow. E.hat do you mean they don>t 3nowIG Dictor lowered his head. ECid % ever tell you about my dadIG @e loo3ed u / saw :ayson sha3e his head/ and continued. E<y dad>s a strict/ sel0+made/ success0ul businessman who came to America with virtually nothin!. @e sent me to business school and law school with the eA ectation that %>ll 9oin the 0amily eA ort business.G E8ou>d ma3e a 0ine lawyer/ whatever area you choose/G :ayson said. E4han3s/ but % hate the 0amily eA ort business.G E@ave you eA lained this to your 0atherIG Dictor lowered his head a!ain. E8ou don>t understand what traditional Chinese 0amilies are li3e. <y mom>s never held a 9ob outside o0 the home. <y dad doesn>t show a00ection to her or to any o0 his 3ids. .e don>t tal3 li3e this/ li3e you and % are doin! ri!ht now.G At that moment :ayson understood his loyal intern>s devotion to him a little better. 4he sychiatrists called it Etrans0erence.G A arently Dictor>s 0ather didn>t understand that his son/ havin! been born and raised in America/ wasn>t Chinese but Chinese American/ and li3e most American children desired some warmth 0rom his arents. E.ell/G :ayson said/ Ewhat are you !oin! to doIG Dictor shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now.G :ayson o ens his hands. E@ey/ i0 you>re interested/ % still 3now a 0ew eo le at the Public Ce0ender>s B00ice. % could ut in a word 0or you. :ust let me 3now.G Dictor beamed in that little boy way a!ain. E4han3s. % will.G @e turned to leave but Connie a eared.

She ste ed into the doorway/ bloc3in! his ath and too3 him by the shoulders to !ently s in him around. She ointed at him. E@ey/ :ayson/ this one>s been 3ee in! secrets 0rom us. 8ou 3now today>s his birthdayIG EReallyIG :ayson re lied. E.ell/ ha y birthday.G @e 0olded his arms across his chest. E8ou 3now you shouldn>t even be wor3in! today.G Connie hoo3ed her arm under Dictor>s. EAnd %>m ta3in! you out 0or a drin3 ri!ht now/ rememberIG She bac3ed u / ullin! him alon! with her. Dictor 0lashed an embarrassed smile and s o3e to :ayson. E8ou comin!IG :ayson counted the a ers on his des3. E.ellHG @e !lanced at Connie/ standin! behind Dictor/ 0rantically sha3in! her head to indicate what his answer should be. E% better not. %>d really li3e to/ but %>ve !ot a ile o0 wor3 to 0inish u .G Dictor ste ed toward :ayson>s des3. ECo you need me to stay and hel outIG :ayson ut his 0in!ers on his chin and decided to !et even with Connie 0or bein! so u00ed u all day about her success with Stone. E.ell/ there>s this other com laint you couldHG @e aused and !lanced at Connie a!ain/ with her arms a3imbo and an eAa!!erated !lare on her 0ace. E'o. 8ou 3ids !o and en9oy yourselves. %>m ho in! a service technician mi!ht still show u to ta3e a loo3 at the co ier in my o00ice.G Connie yan3ed on Dictor>s arm/ then literally ushed him to his table in the outer o00ice and hel ed him !ather his thin!s. :ayson wal3ed out o0 his o00ice and a roached 4eni3a/ who stood behind her des3 also !atherin! her belon!in!s to leave 0or the day. @e leaned a!ainst her shoulder/ whis ered a 0ew words in her ear/ and the two shared a not+ so+ rivate lau!h at Connie>s eA ense. Connie turned around/ catchin! their antics/ and res onded by ballin! u her 0ist and lay0ully sha3in! it at them. :ayson and 4eni3a o3ed each other on the arm. 4he rin! o0 the tele hone cut short their laytime. EShoot/ 9ust when % was about to !o home too/G 4eni3a com lained. She turned o00 the li!ht on her des3 and answered the tele hone. ECoo3 Law B00iceH.ho may % say is callin!IHBne moment/ lease.G She ressed a button/ uttin! the caller on hold. E.ho is itIG :ayson as3ed. 4eni3a said nothin!. %nstead she watched Dictor !o throu!h the 0ront door with Connie la!!in! a 0ew 0eet behind him. 4he ebullient arale!al turned to 0ace 4eni3a and :ayson a!ain. She lic3ed her li s and rubbed her hands to!ether as i0 she were about to devour a delicious meal. 4eni3a !i!!led as Connie ran to catch u with Dictor/ then she 0inally answered :ayson>s Juestion. E%t>s that woman we s o3e about be0ore. 8ou 3now/ <iss 4han!IG :ayson attem ted to read the in0ormation on the tele hone console. E%s the caller %C in0ormation bloc3edIG E8e / 9ust li3e it always is when she calls.G EKm+hmm/G :ayson muttered. E4ell her % want to tal3 to her but %>m 9ust 0inishin! u on somethin!/ and as3 her to call me bac3 in ten minutes.G 4eni3a held her indeA 0in!er ri!ht above the 0lashin! button on the console. E8eahIG E8eah/G :ayson said. EAnd we>re !ettin! a bit swam ed with a erwor3. Call the tem a!ency in the mornin! and !et us a bit o0 hel .G EB3ay.Hyou sure you want me to tell <s. 4han! to call bac3 in tenIG :ayson smir3ed. E8eah. % have a little sur rise 0or her.G @e wal3ed toward his o00ice. E'ow you !o on home but don>t loc3 the door. Someone mi!ht still swin! by to loo3 at my co y machine.G

@e marched bac3 to his o00ice/ leavin! the door o en and sat at his des3. 4eni3a conveyed his messa!e to the caller/ then !rabbed her urse and bid :ayson !oodni!ht. A0ter watchin! her leave/ :ayson reached into his ants oc3et and ulled out a iece o0 a er with some writin! on it. @e !lanced at the address :uan the cab driver had !iven him and scrutini7ed the tele hone number underneath it he had obtained throu!h a sim le %nternet search. @e ic3ed u the tele hone receiver on his des3 and unched out a 0ew numbers/ bloc3in! his identity. @e could 0eel his alms be!in to sweat. @e switched the receiver to his le0t hand and wi ed his ri!ht one on his ant le!. @e heard the tele hone rin! once/ twice/ three times/ then a woman>s voice?an older woman>s voice/ no doubt the aunt Leslie had mentioned. E@ello/ may % lease s ea3 to LeslieIG :ayson as3ed. @e could hear the woman call her niece/ and switched the receiver bac3 to his ri!ht hand. E@elloIG the so0t/ sultry voice on the other end said. E@ello/ Leslie. 4his is :ayson. %>m returnin! your call.G E.PwPwhatIG Leslie muttered. E@ow did you?% mean/ % can>t tal3 ri!ht now.G 4he sound o0 the tele hone !oin! dead !ave :ayson !reat leasure. @e !ently cradled the receiver. E8ou>re layin! in the bi! lea!ues now/ bitch/G he whis ered. 4he sound o0 the 0ront door o enin! bro3e u :ayson>s sel0+con!ratulatory !lee. A white/ middle+a!ed bald man wearin! a tie and an outdated/ ill+0ittin! suit entered the room. @e was accom anied by two/ tall white males in their early twenties/ one with dar3 hair and the other blond. :ayson had never seen the youn!er men/ and he had not seen the older man in erson in over three years/ since his 0ree s eech victory on behal0 o0 the Church o0 the 4rue Savior. E8ou don>t have an a ointment/G :ayson called out without leavin! his chair/ clearly irritated. E.hat can % do 0or you/ <r. <or!anIG Gre!ory <or!an 0lashed a broad smile. E%>m 0ine counselor. @ow are youIG :ayson didn>t answer. E% 9ust wanna have a little tal3.G E%>ve !ot a 0ew thin!s % need to do.G E%t>s o3ay/ we>ll wait.G :ayson stood and watched his three visitors ma3e themselves com0ortable in the waitin! area. @e closed the door to his o00ice and returned to his des3/ then ic3ed u the tele hone and dialed 4eni3a>s mobile hone number. .ithin a 0ew seconds he heard her recorded voice mail. EGre!ory <or!an>s here/G he announced. ECall me.G @e dialed Connie>s mobile hone also but 0ailin! to reach her/ le0t the same messa!e. @e hun! u / !rabbed another brie0 on his des3 and startin! readin! it. ELet the son o0 a bitch wait/G he whis ered. *****

C%A$TE# T%I#TEEN

E.ell/ it>s about time/G the ot+bellied <or!an snorted as he ste ed into :ayson>s o00ice. 4he blond youn! man 0ollowed him and stood on his ri!ht side. @e wore a air o0 new blue 9eans and a blac3 4+shirt with the words EChurch o0 the 4rue SaviorG rinted on it. 4he dar3+haired youn! man/ dressed similarly eAce t his 4+shirt was blue/ entered the

room last and stood to <or!an>s le0t. <or!an ointed at his watch. E.e were waitin! out there 0or a hal0+hour. %s that how you treat all your clientsIG :ayson chec3ed the cloc3 on his des3/ which indicated that the time was 0ive 0orty+ 0ive. E8ou waited 0or twenty+0our minutes/ to be eAact?and you>re a 0ormer client/G he retorted with an ed!e to his voice. ELi3e % said/ you didn>t have an a ointment/ but what can % do 0or you/ <r. <or!anIG ECo you mind i0 % sit downIG <or!an as3ed. :ayson !estured toward the chair on the other side o0 his des3. E%0 you insist.G E@ey/ watch your mouth/G the blond man snarled. E8eah/ we ain>t ta3in! no smart tal3 0rom the li3es o0 you/G the dar3+haired man added. :ayson tilted his head to the side and bounced his attention o00 each o0 the youn! men as he s o3e. E;irst o0 all/ 9ac3asses/ the name>s Coo3/ <r. Coo3. Second/ you three are in my o00ice and will remain 0or as lon! % say it>s o3ay/ and i0 you don>t li3e my hos itality?or lac3 thereo0/ you>re 0ree to leave. G @e turned to the older man. E%>m not !oin! to as3 you a!ain/ <or!an. .hat do you wantIG <or!an !rinned li3e a used car salesman. @e ulled u the chair :ayson had reluctantly o00ered and sat. @is men stationed themselves at the o osite sides o0 :ayson>s door. ELi3e % said/ % 9ust want to have a little tal3 about a mutual acJuaintance o0 ours.G @e eAtended his indeA 0in!er. E&ut 0irst/ % want you to 3now a!ain how im ressed % was with how you handled my case bac3 when no one else would stand u 0or my ri!hts.G @is voice betrayed a sli!ht southern twan!. EKm+hmm/G :ayson said. E% didn>t do it 0or you or your church. % did it 0or Pro0essor Greenber!.G @e !lanced at the two men standin! in 0ront o0 his door. 4heir resence made him nervous/ but he tried to a ear calm. @e loo3ed down at the bottom des3 drawer near his ri!ht 0oot. 4he drawer contained a stron! boA he had unloc3ed be0ore summonin! his uninvited !uest. E@ey/ the man>s tal3in! to you/G the blond man said. E@e tryin! to be nice to you/G the other youn! man chimed in. E.hy/ % don>t 3now.G :ayson !estured in the direction o0 the two men by the door but s o3e to the older one sittin! in 0ront o0 him. E<or!an/ is this the best you can do at that church o0 yoursI A cou le o0 dumb !oons li3e theseI Even &rian Stone has more on the ball than these two ut to!ether.G 4he blond man too3 a ste 0orward. E.hy you u ity?G EShut u FG <or!an sna ed. @e twisted around and ointed at the door. EStay at your ost.G @e turned bac3 to :ayson and smiled. E8ou may have a oint. 4hey don>t do all that readin! li3e &rian/ but they>re !ood boys.G E%t>d be a miracle i0 they could do any readin!/G :ayson said. <or!an i!nored the taunt. EAnd that>s what % come here to tal3 to you about?&rian Stone/ your client. 4he man you>ve sworn to de0end to the best o0 your ability.G :ayson si!hed. <or!an 3new his wea3ness: @e would do whatever was necessary within the limits o0 the law to aid his client/ and uttin! u with <or!an de0initely 0ell under necessary within the limits o0 the law. EGo ahead/G he said. E%>m listenin!.G E.ellHG <or!an crowed/ !rinnin! a!ain/ obviously en9oyin! his u er hand. E% want to ma3e sure you understand neither % nor anybody at the Church o0 the 4rue Savior

3new about or had anythin! to do with the bombin! o0 that church that 3illed that 3id.G @e shoo3 his 0in!er. E.e told the olice that/ over and over a!ain.G :ayson shru!!ed. E8eah/ well &rian was comin! 0rom a meetin! at yourHG @e aused and winced. EHchurch when he was sto ed by the olice/ and he was a re!ular attendee. .ith the views you es ouse?G EProtected views/ than3s to you/G <or!an inter9ected. ECon>t remind me/G :ayson said. EDiews rotected by the Constitution. Surely you can understand the olice>s interest in whether there was some 3ind o0 cons iracy. % mean/ a little !irl was 3illed.G <or!an dro ed his smile. EAnd % condemned such violence mysel0 in the stron!est terms.G @e leaned 0orward. E%>ve !ot 0our 3ids mysel0. .e don>t believe in violence. .e 9ust want to ma3e sure there>s no race miAin! !oin! on and that the white man>s ri!hts don>t !et tram led on by?G ESave that cra 0or your meetin!s/G :ayson bar3ed. E% 3now what you stand 0or and % couldn>t care less.G @e slowly reached 0or the bottom des3 drawer while 3ee in! an eye on <or!an>s men. 4hey scowled but didn>t move. @e sat u strai!ht a!ain. E4ell me about &rian Stone.G <or!an o ened his hands. E4hat>s the whole oint. <y church has been un0airly casti!ated 0or nothin!. 'obody really li3ed &rian. @e wasn>t well li3ed around the church= 9ust tolerated.G :ayson reached 0or a le!al ad and started ta3in! notes. EBhI And why wasn>t he well li3edIG <or!an 0rowned. E@e was an odd bird. Kinda socially ine t. A weird 3id with a weird sense o0 humor. Ke t to himsel0/ which is hard to do at a small church li3e ours. And when he did s ea3 he was always Juestionin! the .ord o0 the Lord.G @e li0ted his voice and hands as he s o3e the last 0our words. :ayson rolled his eyes. E8ou mean the word o0 Gre!ory <or!an.G <or!an chuc3led. ECall it what you want/ but in a movement li3e ours/ a movement to ta3e bac3 this !reat country o0 ours 0rom the Communists and the :ews/ we can>t a00ord to have a Coubtin! 4homas?or a Coubtin! &rian?around.G EKm+hmm/G :ayson !runted. ECid &rian 3now how you 0eltIG E8es and no/G <or!an re lied and clas ed his hands to!ether. E% treated that little lamb li3e a son and tried to be atient with him= tried to !et him to act li3e a man.G @e si!hed. E@ard to believe that boy>s 0rom the South/ li3e me.G E8eah/ hard to believe/G :ayson muttered. E.hat ha ened at your church be0ore the bombin!IG E.hat ha enedIG :ayson si!hed. EPeo le don>t 9ust wa3e u one mornin! and decide to blow u a church. .hat ha ened at your church shortly be0ore the bomb at <ount CalvaryIG E'othin!.G :ayson si!hed even lon!er. E<or!an/ unless you level with me/ in a 0ew months there>s !oin! to be a trial. A bi! one. 4he rosecution>s !oin! to say LChurch o0 the 4rue Savior> and Lbomb> and L&rian Stone> in the same sentence over and over a!ain.G @e ointed at himsel0. E<e/ %>m !oin! to say LChurch o0 the 4rue Savior> and Lbomb> and Lundiscovered cons#irators> over and over a!ain. 8ou !et the ictureIG <or!an 0rowned. E&ut we had nothin! to do with any o0 it.G

E4hat doesn>t matter/G :ayson insisted/ raisin! his voice a bit. E'ow what ha ened at your church be0ore the bombIG EKm/ well/G <or!an mumbled/ E% may have said somethin! to the boy/ li3e he mi!ht not be welcomed at the church anymore.G @e ee3ed over his shoulder. EKm/ nothin! we say !oes out o0 this room/ will itIG E'o/G :ayson re lied. @e aused 0or a 0ew seconds/ then ri ed out the to sheet in his le!al ad. @e swun! his chair around/ 0ed the a er into a small shredder behind him and 0aced <or!an a!ain. EA written witness statement can be sub oenaed i0 it eAists. Go ahead.G EKm/ wellHG <or!an loo3ed around. E8ou !ot anythin! cold to drin3IG :ayson ointed at a miniature re0ri!erator sittin! on a small table in the corner o0 his o00ice. E%>ve !ot some so0t drin3s in there.G <or!an ointed at the re0ri!erator and sna ed his 0in!ers. 4he blond man raced to the corner/ o ened the re0ri!erator and retrieved a bottle o0 iced tea/ which he resented to <or!an. 4he church leader sJuinted and ointed. 4he youn! man a olo!i7ed. @e twisted the ca o00 and tossed it onto :ayson>s des3. :ayson o00ered <or!an a a er cu but he declined. 4he youn! man 9oined the other one by the door. <or!an too3 a cou le o0 dee !ul s and nodded/ clearly relieved. E4hat>s better/G he said. E'ow where was %IG E8ou were about to tell &rian to ta3e a hi3e/G :ayson reminded him. EBh yeah/G <or!an said. E.ell/ we couldn>t have doubters and Juestioners and wea3+willies around because our movement is so im ortant.G ESo you told &rian he>d have to leave the only lace where he had lanted himsel0.G E% 9ust hinted it might ha en to scare the boy/G <or!an said. @e raised his arms. E.hat could % doI 4he boy 9ust didn>t 0it in.G EAndIG E4hen that bomb went o00 and the olice came down on us li3e 0ire and brimstone 0rom heaven/G <or!an re lied. E8ou tellin! meFG 4he blond man blurted out. <or!an turned and !ave the man an an!ry loo3/ then resumed his conversation with :ayson. E.e closed ran3s and stuc3 to!ether/ so we ut u with &rian 0or a little lon!er.G :ayson shoo3 his head. Even amon! mis0its/ Stone was a mis0it/ he thou!ht. E.as there anyone at your church who &rian !ot even a little close to?maybe a womanIG he as3ed. E@e did seem to act di00erently around my 0emale arale!al.G 4he blond man cac3led. E@aF 4hat sissyI Everyone thou!ht he was a 0a!.G E8eah/G the other man 9oined in. E@e wouldn>t 3now what to do with a woman i0 she !ot na3ed and 9um ed in his la .G 4he two men shoo3 as they lau!hed. :ayson watched <or!an smir3 while the two men lau!hed. @e didn>t care much 0or Stone/ but he li3ed the three men in his o00ice even less. @owever/ he 3new he had to tolerate them in order to hel his client. E'one o0 this was in your interview with the olice.G E4hey didn>t as3 me/G <or!an said/ Ebut % said it to that Arab camel 9oc3 rincess when she tal3ed to me a cou le o0 days a!o.G @e ta ed his 0in!ers on the arm o0 his chair. E.hat was her nameI RamonaI RamaniI Somethin! li3e that.G :ayson raised his eyebrows. ELoo3 <or!an/ % need your coo eration to hel my client/ but %>ve had enou!h o0 your racist cra here in my o00ice. 'ow one more word o0 that nonsense and out you and your hyenas !o. Co % ma3e mysel0 clearIG

<or!an held u his hands. EAlri!ht/ alri!ht. 4a3e it easy.G So Rahmani was u to her old tric3s/ :ayson thou!ht. Couble bac3 to an im ortant witness after sendin! the discovery materials. She wasn>t called the %ranian wol0 0or nothin!. @e 3new how she o erated. She>d sub oena <or!an at the last minute/ then ut him on the witness stand to rovide a crucial element reviously missin! in her whole case: a motive 0or the bombin!. She>d ar!ue Stone was about to be 3ic3ed out o0 the only lace he had called home/ so he blew u the <ount Calvary &a tist Church to rove his loyalty to the racist ideals es oused by <or!an and his clan?or Klan. :ayson ointed at <or!an. E&ut you never instructed anyone to commit an act o0 violence. %s that ri!htIG <or!an shoo3 his head shar ly. EAbsolutely not. .e have the Lord>s truth on our side. .e don>t believe in violence. .e 9ust believe God didn>t intend 0or eo le to !oHG @e wi!!led his 0in!ers. EHmiAin! all u .G @e shoo3 his 0in!er at :ayson. EAnd loo3 at all the trouble that boy has caused us. 4he olice have been s yin! on us and 0ollowin! us even more than usual.G :ayson was u77led by what he had 9ust heard. @e 0urled his eyebrows to!ether. E.hat are you tal3in! about/ more than usualIG <or!an too3 another swi! 0rom his bottle and aused/ a arently savorin! the taste o0 the bevera!e?and the 0act he 3new somethin! :ayson didn>t. E<y/ my. Cidn>t &rian tell youI % !uess he>s not so smart a0ter all.G E% don>t have time 0or !ames/G :ayson said. ECidn>t &rian tell me whatIG E4hat the olice were always on our tails. S yin! on us. ;ollowin! us around.G <or!an aused and chortled. E8ou don>t thin3 they 9ust ha ened to sto &rian/ do youI %t 9ust made sense they>d ic3 on the wea3est o0 the 0loc3.G E8ou mean he was bein! 0ollowedIG 4he blond man !i!!led. E% thou!ht you said he was a smart oneIG @e ointed at :ayson. E4his is what ha ens when they let you eo le into law school with a00irmative action.G :ayson ointed bac3. EAnd you>re what ha ens when a brother screws his sister and !ets her re!nant/ lim dic3.G 4he man>s smile disa eared. @e ste ed slowly toward :ayson while reachin! into his bac3 oc3et. E% ain>t !onna let no ni!!er tal3 to me that way. %>ll?G :ayson reached into his bottom des3 drawer/ whi ed out a lar!e revolver and ointed it at the man/ sto in! his 0orward ro!ress. E8ou>ll what/ assholeIG @e waved the !un. EGet your hands where % can see themFG <or!an slowly stood and bac3ed u ast the blond man/ who had raised his hands. E'Pnow there>s no need to !et eAcited/ :ayson.G :ayson raised his ri!ht eyebrow and 3e t the !un trained on the blond man. E.ho>s eAcitedIG %n s ite o0 his bravado/ he could 0eel dro s o0 sweat roll down 0rom his arm its. 4he dar3+haired man held u his hands. E.ePwe didn>t mean nothin!/ honest/ Coo3/ % mean/ <r. Coo3. .e was 9ust 0oolin> around.G 4he blond man blin3ed his eyes a 0ew times. E@e>s blu00in/ ya>ll.G @e too3 a ste bac3/ 9ust the same. <or!an smiled/ a arently attem tin! to re!ain control. E8eah/ i0 he shoots you he !oes to 9ail.G @e ointed at the dar3+haired man behind him and at himsel0. E.e>d testi0y a!ainst him in court.G

:ayson tilted his head a!ain. EKnless all three o0 you were lyin! on the 0loor dead when the olice !ot here.G @e needed to maintain a cool 0aRade but worried <or!an and his !oons would notice his u er body sha3in! with each 0ierce heartbeat. 4he dar3+haired man whim ered. E'Pnow waitaminute/ <ister/G he leaded/ ressin! his bac3 a!ainst the door. E%P% 9ust come here because <r. <or!an told me to. % ain>t !ot nothin! a!ainst nobody.G :ayson blin3ed. E.ell in that case you>d better leave.G <or!an nodded. E8eah/ um/ % said all % came to say anyway.G @e ulled the blond man toward him by the 4+shirt and sla ed him in the 0ace. E8ou damn 0oolF Cidn>t % tell you to 3ee your mouth shutIG @e motioned 0or the other man to o en the door. @e did and all three slin3ed ast the waitin! area and disa eared into the hallway. :ayson/ still standin! behind his des3/ listened 0or the sound o0 the elevator bell. .hen he 0inally heard it/ he closed his eyes and too3 a dee breath. @e waited a 0ew seconds 0or his heart to sto oundin!/ then/ still holdin! the !un/ wal3ed to the 0ront door and loc3ed it. @e returned to his o00ice and !ently laced the !un on to o0 his des3. .ould he have shot the man/ he as3ed himsel0I 8es. .ould he have turned the !un on anyone else a0terwardsI 'o. :ayson wal3ed to the re0ri!erator/ o ened the door and !rabbed a can o0 oran!e 9uice. @e sat at his des3/ dran3 the 9uice strai!ht 0rom the can and stared at the revolver. %t was a0ter siA. @e secured the wea on/ then handwrote a lon! memo to Connie detailin! everythin! that had 9ust occurred/ includin! the !un incident. An o00ice memo would be considered a wor3 roduct and couldn>t be sub oenaed. An hour later :ayson shredded his handwritten memo and reviewed the ty ed version he had rinted. ;eelin! a sudden sur!e o0 ener!y/ he bounded out o0 his chair and raced into his con0erence room clutchin! the document. E% hel ed you/ <or!an/ you bastard/G he declared as he too3 a seat and Juic3ly 0li ed throu!h a thic3 law boo3. E&ut now we>re even.G <or!an had rovided otentially very valuable in0ormation/ es ecially one iece o0 it in articular. %0 he had s o3en the truth/ and i0 :ayson could rove it?no small 0eat?he mi!ht 9ust be able to !et every char!e a!ainst Stone dismissed. *****

C%A$TE# 'OU#TEEN

'early three hours a0ter his encounter with Gre!ory <or!an/ :ayson turned into his driveway. @e clic3ed on the !ara!e door o ener and watched as the risin! door revealed two em ty s ots. Renee was attendin! a 0ancy/ wor3+related/ 0und+raisin! soirOe. %n addition to er0ormin! her re!ular/ very demandin! duties at the hos ital/ she had volunteered to co+chair the committee or!ani7in! the hu!e event= art o0 her strate!y to become chie0 o0 anesthesiolo!y. :ayson had called her and re orted the truth/ althou!h not the whole truth: @e had lost trac3 o0 time while researchin! a new develo ment in a case and wouldn>t 9oin her/ as ori!inally lanned. @e could still hear the disa ointment in her voice. EEveryone>s s ouse is here but mine.G :ayson ste ed into the 3itchen and saw only a dim li!ht shinin! above the brea30ast table/ an indication that <a!dalena had 0ed :enni0er/ eaten her own dinner and cleaned

u . @e too3 a whi00 o0 the air and a 0ew seconds to ins ect the lar!e/ !lass+covered dishes on to o0 the stove and surmised he would be eatin! some ty e o0 0ish 0or dinner/ alon! with rice and strin! beans. @e had s3i ed lunch and could 0eel his stomach !rowlin!. @e wanted to Juic3ly chan!e and return to eat. Receivin! additional con0irmation that one>s client had 3illed a child/ sur risin! a blac3mailer with a hone call/ and ullin! a loaded !un on a witness could sure wor3 u a man>s a etite. :ayson chec3ed the cloc3 on the wall?about Juarter to nine?and 3new :enni0er would have been in bed 0or at least 0i0teen minutes. Althou!h he had called <a!dalena at around ei!ht o>cloc3/ :ayson re!retted he had arrived home too late to read :enni0er a story be0ore bedtime. @e and Renee had a!reed that i0 at all ossible/ the child would be tuc3ed in and read a story every ni!ht by one o0 her arents/ not the house3ee er. 4hey had each been remiss at times in 0ul0illin! that shared obli!ation. &ecause o0 Renee>s event/ neither o0 them had been eA ected to tuc3 :enni0er into bed. :ayson assumed/ ursuant to his instructions/ <a!dalena had read :enni0er a tale 0rom the lar!e boo3 o0 children>s &ible stories his arents had !iven her 0or her last birthday. :ayson ste ed into the !reat room and observed a hal0+do7en youn! men on television croonin! a ballad in S anish about how much they missed a senorita with beauti0ul eyes. @e assumed <a!dalena had recently !one u stairs to !et :enni0er ready 0or bed. @e slowly ti toed u the stairs/ reachin! the to 9ust as <a!dalena eAited the child>s room. She ut her 0in!er to her li s. :ayson understood and nodded. <a!dalena closed the door behind her/ then s o3e so0tly. EGood evenin!/ <r. Coo3. % not hear you come in. % was chec3in! on the little one. She>s aslee . She !o to bed 0i0teen minutes a!o.G :ayson smiled. E4han3 you/ <a!da. .hy don>t you !o downstairs and watch your ro!ramI 4here>re some handsome hun3s sin!in! a love son! 9ust 0or you.G <a!dalena>s 0ace so0tened and she !i!!led. EBh/ <r. Coo3/ %>m too old 0or love son!s now.G She ste ed closer to him and whis ered. E4here some trouble at the little 0riend>s birthday arty. Some o0 the children was teasin! :enni0er.G :ayson made a 0ace. E4easin! herI 4easin! her about whatIG <a!dalena stared at the car eted 0loor and mumbled. EAbout you.G :ayson 0rowned. E<eI .hat the hell would anyone tease her about me 0orIG ESome little boy say somethin! his 0ather told him about you/ about the case you do with the bomb/G <a!dalena re lied. E.hich little boyI .hat>s his 0ather>s nameIG E% don>t remember/ sir/G <a!dalena re lied/ Ebut :enni0er/ she tell me other child say her mother say somethin! too/ so the children ma3e 0un o0 her.G :ayson 0elt himsel0 becomin! indi!nant but reco!ni7ed nothin! roductive would come 0rom havin! a tem er tantrum in the middle o0 the hallway. E4han3 you/ <a!da. Coes her mother 3now about thisIG E'o/ <r. Coo3. She !one all day.G :ayson aused to thin3 0or a 0ew seconds. E.ell/ let me brea3 the news to her/ and either Cr. Coo3 or % will deal with it tomorrow.G @e atted her on the shoulder. E% don>t 3now what we>d do without you.G <a!dalena nodded. E4hat little one/ she so sweet. She brin! sunshine and love everywhere. %t not ri!ht what they do.G

E'o/ not at all/G :ayson a!reed/ Ebut you 3now children can be cruel but they recover Juic3ly.G @e attem ted to li!hten their mood. ECid you read her a storyIG <a!dalena nodded. ESi/ um yes/ <r. Coo3. % read about Mueen Esther.G EB3ay/ that>s a !ood one/G :ayson said. @e reached 0or the door3nob. E%>ll 9ust loo3 in on the Cuchess/ then %>ve !ot to !et out o0 this suit.G <a!dalena eased ast him. E% !o ut dinner on 0or you. .hat you want to drin3IG E:ust oran!e 9uice/ and %>ll scoo u my own dinner/ than3 you/G :ayson said. E.hy don>t you !o watch your 0ancy men serenade you on 4DIG <a!dalena !i!!led a!ain. She turned and hummed alon! with the 0aint music as she slowly made her descent toward the 3itchen. :ayson heard the thum / thum / thum o0 <a!dalena ne!otiatin! the stairs. She mi!ht be carryin! a 0ew eAtra ounds/ but at only 0orty years old he didn>t 3now why she considered hersel0 too old 0or love son!s. @e 3new eAactly what she would do neAt. ;irst she would turn o00 the television. 4hen she would !o into the 3itchen/ set the table 0or him/ load his late with 0ood and ut it in the microwave. ;inally/ she would !o into her room and 0inish watchin! her ro!ram. :ayson reco!ni7ed <a!dalena>s status constituted a balancin! act. As 0ar as :enni0er/ Renee and he were concerned/ she was a member o0 the 0amily/ yet as an em loyee she could !ive a month>s notice and leave at any time. She s ent more hours with :enni0er than either he or Renee ut to!ether and ate dinner with the child/ but she never dined with the entire 0amily. She didn>t seem com0ortable en!a!in! in a conversation with the adults o0 the house 0or very lon!. She did seem Juite com0ortable s endin! countless hours in her room/ in which she could boast many com0orts/ includin! a se arate tele hone line/ a television/ a &lu+ray layer/ and a stereo system. %n 0act/ she seldom ventured out o0 her room durin! the evenin!/ es ecially i0 :ayson was home without Renee. Sometimes :ayson would com liment <a!dalena when she bou!ht a new out0it 0or church. Bccasionally he would inJuire about events at the Catholic church she attended ?she had a beauti0ul voice and san! in the church choir. @e 3new <a!dalena had come to America to wor3 a0ter her husband in El Salvador had run o00 with some youn! !irl/ leavin! her to raise three children alone. :ayson had re0erred her to an attorney 0riend who s eciali7ed in immi!ration to assist with her children>s visa a lications. Every now and then he>d as3 about her ro!ress. <a!dalena always rovided short answers. Althou!h <a!dalena Lo e7 had lived with them 0or siA years?they had hired her shortly a0ter brin!in! :enni0er home?he really didn>t 3now much about her. Renee seemed more com0ortable with the woman>s Estation/G as she o0ten re0erred to it/ havin! !rown u in the com any o0 a nanny and other domestic hel . :ayson/ however/ always 0elt a little aw3ward about the distance between <a!dalena and himsel0. @e brushed the thou!hts aside/ turned the door3nob to :enni0er>s room and stuc3 his head inside. A ni!htli!ht sha ed li3e a air o0 rayin! hands neAt to the bed o00ered a dim but com0ortin! !low. :ayson smiled at the si!ht o0 his little !irl/ lyin! on her bac3 0ast aslee clutchin! a brown+s3inned/ smilin!/ cloth doll. @e !ently closed the door and 0elt !uilty that his recious child had su00ered because o0 him. E@ow dare those little bastards tease my little sweetie+ ie/G he !rumbled. N

E@oneyIG :ayson heard the 0amiliar voice say. E@oney.G @e o ened his eyes. A siA+0eet+tall 0loor lam and the bi!+screen television in the !reat room rovided enou!h li!ht 0or him to see Renee standin! over him. @e sat u and observed a somber+loo3in! man on television re ortin! the results o0 a Red SoA !ame. E@ey there/ baby/G :ayson re lied/ his voice barely above a whis er. E8ou better !et to bed/G Renee advised. She bent down and yan3ed o00 her hi!h+ heeled shoes. E4ou!h dayIG :ayson considered tellin! her about his day but instead reached and ulled her onto his la and 3issed her. ESo how was the artyI Cid you raise a lot o0 moneyIG Renee nodded and beamed with a arent sel0+con!ratulation. E%t was a bi! success. .e did retty !ood.G E% 3new it>d be a hit with you runnin! thin!s/G :ayson said. @e stretched and yawned E.hat time is itIG EKm/ almost eleven+thirty/G Renee said/ and wi!!led out o0 his la . 'ow with a clearer head/ :ayson ins ected his wi0e. She wore a lon! ur le !own with a hand3erchie0 hemline and one shoulder bared. @e whistled. E8ou loo3 lovely. .hat did your boy0riend sayIG E.hich oneIG Renee teased. E@ow>s :enni0er and <a!daIG :ayson !rabbed the remote control/ turned the television o00 and sta!!ered to his 0eet. E.ell/ <a!da told me :enni0er had a little trouble at the birthday arty.G E.hat 3ind o0 troubleIG :ayson stretched. E.ell/ it seems a cou le o0 3ids> arents have stron! o inions about the Stone case.G @e waited 0or the inevitable re roach. Renee bac3ed away 0rom him. ECamn it/ :ayson/ how lon! is this !oin! to !o onIG :ayson ointed at the stairs leadin! to the second 0loor and whis ered. ELet>s !o into the bedroom and tal3 about it there.G @e 0ollowed Renee u the stairs and waited as she sto ed to loo3 in on :enni0er/ then continue down the hall into the master bedroom. She 0li ed a switch by the door/ roducin! li!ht 0rom two tablelam s on the ni!htstands. Renee entered their wal3+in closet and emer!ed wearin! only her anties and a 3neelen!th satiny bathrobe. She sat at her vanity and started removin! her 9ewelry. E4his is more than we can ta3e/ :ayson/G she insisted and slammed her earrin!s on the vanity. E.e !o to church and eo le whis er and critici7e you.G :ayson ad9usted the window air+conditioner to a lower tem erature/ then 0lo ed onto the 0oot o0 the bed. ESo what/G he retorted. ELet them.G E:ust li3e you to say that/G Renee insisted. E8ou don>t care about us.G She ste ed into a air o0 bedroom sli ers and shu00led into the bathroom. She could be heard but not seen. EAll you care about are your sic3/ sycho athic criminals.G @er words hurt and an!ered :ayson. @e 0ollowed her but sto ed at the doorway o0 the bathroom and leaned a!ainst the door0rame. E.hat 3ind o0 nonsense tal3 is thatI %t>s 9ust how %>ve been ma3in! my livin! 0or almost my whole wor3in! li0e/ that>s all.G Renee wi ed o00 her ur le eye shadow with a chemically treated ad and s o3e to her husband>s re0lection in a mirror that covered the entire u er hal0 o0 a wall. E.ell/ what you do 0or a livin! is startin! to hurt your 0amily/ but you>re either too sel0+absorbed to see it?or worse/ too obtuse.G :ayson ste ed into the bathroom and too3 Renee by the arm. ECome sit down with me/ honey.G A0ter ausin! 0or a 0ew seconds/ Renee 9oined him at the 0oot o0 the bed.

:ayson too3 a dee breath. @e 0elt !reat sadness at his wi0e>s attitude. As a rule/ they didn>t !o to bed an!ry because they believed the &ible 0orbade such a thin!. @e 9ust wanted to understand why she 0elt so much resentment toward him about the Stone case. ERenee/ is there somethin! !oin! on % should 3nowI Li3e at wor3/ % meanIG Renee 0olded her arms across her chest. E.ell/ now that you as3ed/ %>ve heard whis erin! about the case/ too.G E4he Stone caseIG E'o/ the !oddamn B.:. Sim son case/G Renee muttered. E8eah/ the Stone case. .hat other case are we tal3in! aboutIG E.hat about itIG Renee !rabbed a illow 0rom the head o0 the bed and sJuee7ed it. E8ou 3now doctors. 4hey don>t li3e lawyers anyway because you>re always suin! them.G :ayson shru!!ed. EAnd %>m sure this includes that om ous ass in cardiolo!y whose dau!hter % hel ed !et o00 with robation on that nasty hit+and+run accident bac3 in?G EAlri!ht/G Renee said. She tossed the illow bac3 on the bed. ESo you>re !ood at what you do.G :ayson o ened his hands. E.hat does this have to do with youIG E4his could cost me the chie0>s 9ob/G Renee whined. She scooted o00 the bed and stood. EAnd 0or whatI Some hic3 who>d run over you with his ic3u truc3 i0 you crossed the street in 0ront o0 himIG :ayson 0ound himsel0 in a Juandary. @e avoided divul!in! s eci0ics about his cases to anyone/ even his wi0e/ mostly 0or client con0identiality reasons/ but also because he understood Renee re0erred not to 3now. @e usually s o3e to her only about whether he believed he could win a case/ or his o onents> strate!y/ or the 0airness o0 a 9ud!e>s rulin!. @e decided to !o with his standard Pro0essor Greenber! s eech. E@oney/ you been married to me lon! enou!h to 3now that by rotectin! &rian Stone>s ri!hts %>m rotectin! ?G E% don>t !ive a shit about &rian Stone>s ri!htsFG Renee declared. She ointed at him. E4hat monster 3illed that little !irl. Coesn>t that bother youIG :ayson stood and !ently laced his hands on Renee>s elbows. E%>m 9ust doin! my 9ob/G he said/ and caressed her so0t s3in/ tryin! to show a00ection. Renee trud!ed bac3 into the bathroom. E.ell/ your 9ob>s !oin! to cost me my li0elon! dream/ that>s all/ not that it matters to you.G :ayson a roached the bathroom doorway a!ain. @e watched Renee dro her bathrobe and anties onto a chair near the shower and ste inside. %n s ite o0 their ar!ument/ the si!ht o0 her na3ed body intri!ued him. 4hey hadn>t made love in nearly two wee3s. @e !rabbed a bath towel and waited in silence. A0ter a 0ew minutes she ste ed out and he handed it to her. E@oney/ you>re !ettin! yoursel0 all wor3ed u when they haven>t even announced who the new chie0>s !oin! to be.G Renee returned to the mirror and a lied moisturi7er to her 0ace. E% don>t want to tal3 about this anymore. %t>s late.G :ayson si!hed/ then wal3ed to the door leadin! into the hall. E%>ll !o chec3 everythin! and turn on the alarm. 8ou want me to brin! you anythin!IG E'o/G Renee re lied. E4a3e your time.G :ayson entered the hall and closed the door behind him. @e sus ected in the mornin! a0ter a !ood ni!ht>s slee / Renee would 0eel better and a olo!i7e 0or her deliberately

hurt0ul remar3s. @owever/ her words had in0licted wounds on him he 0eared mi!ht not heal overni!ht. @e reali7ed the Stone case had widened a hairline 0racture that had always eAisted in their marria!e: his wi0e didn>t 0ully a rove o0 his livelihood. @e assumed her arents had been whinin! to Renee about the Stone case every time it hit the local news. .ell/ he thou!ht/ he didn>t need ermission 0rom anyone to do his 9ob. :ayson wandered around the 0irst 0loor/ chec3in! doors and windows. @e a roached the numbered 3ey ad near the 0ront door and ressed the buttons necessary to re+arm the security system. @e>d activate the system com letely by remote control once he reached the to o0 the stairs. @e moseyed u the stairs very slowly/ rememberin! Renee>s artin! shot: E4a3e your time.G *****

C%A$TE# 'I'TEEN

:ayson stood in his o00ice thumbin! throu!h one o0 several thic3 0olders stac3ed on his des3 containin! documents about the Stone case. As usual/ he had discarded his 9ac3et. @e had also o ened the window blinds behind him. 4he meteorolo!ist on the news had redicted a hot/ humid day/ but :ayson always 3e t the tem erature in his o00ice very cool so he could en9oy the natural sunli!ht o0 the mornin!. @is 0irst a ointment wouldn>t arrive until ten o>cloc3/ so he had nearly an hour to com lete his tas3. @e sus ended his search lon! enou!h to chec3 the time and scan the waitin! room. %t was em ty with the eAce tion o0 4eni3a/ who sat at her des3 reviewin! :une?the revious month?eA enses. @is thou!hts dri0ted bac3 to last wee3>s ar!ument with Renee. She had a olo!i7ed the 0ollowin! mornin!/ as he had eA ected. 4hey had even made somewhat te id love the neAt ni!ht/ but durin! the 0ollowin! wee3end she had been a bit distant with him emotionally and hysically. :ayson s3immed a olice re ort and brooded because Renee had always layed the Ewithdrawal o0 a00ectionG !ame better than he did. @e had decided he would sim ly have to wait her out and 0ocus his ener!y on :enni0er and on his wor3/ Renee>s disa roval notwithstandin!. :ayson chuc3led sadly at how Juic3ly his li0e had chan!ed in seven wee3s since :ud!e B>@are had as3ed him to ta3e over the Stone case. @e blin3ed and returned his 0ull attention to his tas3. @e 0li ed a!es o0 documents/ bein! care0ul to avoid the hoto!ra hs o0 twelve+year+old Deronica &radley>s body/ until he eventually 0ound what he sou!ht?the a00idavit 0or a warrant to search &rian Stone>s a artment. B00icer AleAis .ashin!ton had re ared it. 4he youn! olicewoman had hustled u a 9ud!e 0or the search warrant without consultin! the ACA on duty?at her artner>s insistence/ :ayson believed. 'o doubt Scott had smelled a !rand o ortunity 0or ersonal !lory. :ayson read the name on the warrant and lau!hed out loud. Simon .ic3ham. Everybody 3new that late in the evenin! even a circus clown could sto by the Pur le Rose 4avern in the a00luent &oston community o0 .est RoAbury and !et :ud!e Simon .ic3ham to si!n anythin!/ es ecially a0ter he had consumed his third martini. :ayson reread the a00idavit. Bther than the names o0 the rinci les involved/ he didn>t believe a word o0 it. ELyin! bastards/G he whis ered.

@e heard a 3noc3/ raised his head and waved/ !ivin! Connie ermission to enter. @e resisted the ur!e to comment about her bein! a bit late to wor3. A0ter eAchan!in! !ood mornin!s and lans 0or the im endin! ;ourth o0 :uly holiday/ :ayson !ot down to business. E.ell/ did you and your detective 0riend !o out ;riday or Saturday ni!ht a0ter allIG Connie nodded. EKm+hmm. She had to cancel on me be0ore/ because she had to wor3/ but we went out on Saturday.G EAndIG :ayson as3ed. E.e met a cou le o0 !uys. She 3inda li3ed hers/ but as 0ar as mine/ % don>t really !o 0or men with beards.G :ayson couldn>t hel but lau!h. EConnie/ you 3now that>s not what % meant.G @e 0ell bac3wards into his lush/ com0ortable chair while maintainin! eye contact with her. ECid you learn anythin! else about those two olice o00icersIG Connie !i!!led. E% 3now. %>m 9ust messin! with you.G She sat in one o0 two chairs on the other side o0 his des3. E.ell/ my 0riend told me Gary Scott has a history o0 disa earin! while on the 9ob= he>s even been re rimanded 0or it a cou le o0 times.G :ayson rubbed his chin. EReallyI Cid she say whyIG Connie shoo3 her head. E<ost eo le thin3 he>s !ot some 0loo7y stashed away he>s doin! the hori7ontal dance with on com any time.G She rolled her eyes. E8ou 3now how you men are.G :ayson shru!!ed. E'ot really. Anythin! elseIG EAccordin! to the !ra evine/ the other co / AleAis .ashin!ton/ is 3inda scared o0 Scott. @e>s told eo le she made so many stu id mista3es in her 0irst year i0 he hadn>t covered 0or her/ she would>ve never made it ast robation.G E.hat 3ind o0 mista3esI E<y 0riend didn>t say.G ESo .ashin!ton owes him/ huhIG EKm+hmm.G :ayson leaned bac3 in his chair and roc3ed a bit. EConnie/ you>ve done real well/ but ?G EAnd one more thin!.G E8esIG Connie ushed her hair away 0rom her 0orehead. E4hey>re called L4he Protectors.>G E.hoIG EScott>s little secret !rou /G Connie said. She 0olded her hands. E4hat>s all % 3now.G :ayson !rabbed a en and scribbled the word on a note ad. @e ressed his 0ist a!ainst his mouth/ thin3in! 0or a 0ew seconds/ then stood. EConnie/ %>m really im ressed with the intelli!ence you>ve !athered/ but this is as 0ar as you !o.G She 0rowned and !ot on her 0eet as well. E@ow comeIG E&ecause these thin!s have a way o0 turnin! u!ly/G :ayson re lied. E'eAt thin! you 3now/ co s are ullin! you over 0or tra00ic violations or 0ollowin! you around.G E%>m not a0raid/ :aymeister. % can?G E'o/ Connie/ no more/G :ayson ordered. @is lowered voice indicated he was serious. E'ow you 3now % don>t ull ran3 around here too o0ten/ but that>s a directive % insist you 0ollow 0or your own !ood.G E&ut % can 9ust?G

E% don>t want to have to say it a!ain/ ConnieG :ayson warned. @is voice had become even sterner. An uncom0ortable silence 0illed the room. :ayson be!an shu00lin! a ers on his des3/ then shovin! documents into 0olders. @e 3e t his eyes downward. Connie bac3ed u a cou le o0 ste s/ turned and reached 0or the door3nob. EB+ 0ric3in>+3ay/ $a#i. Bnly because % 3now you>re doin! this because you love me.G :ayson didn>t loo3 u / but he smiled. E%t>s not that. %t>s 9ust % don>t want you comin! even later to wor3 than you already do because co s are sto in! you.G @e had returned to his usual lay0ul tone but 3e t his 0ocus on his a ers. @e didn>t want Connie to reco!ni7e he 0elt a little !uilty about sendin! her on a reconnaissance mission/ otentially eA osin! her to harassment. @e waited/ eA ectin! to hear the door o en and close. %nstead he heard Connie>s voice yet a!ain. EKm/ :aysonIG E8esIG ECid Dictor say anythin! to you about last wee3?about his birthday/ % meanIG :ayson continued stu00in! a ers into 0olders and si!hed. EConnie/ you 3now % don>t !et all into your?G @e raised his head and reco!ni7ed the loo3 o0 vulnerability in Connie>s iercin! brown eyes. @e immediately 0elt com assion 0or her. @e had in 0act made a olite inJuiry to Dictor about his birthday. Dictor had only re lied it had been E0ine.G :ayson shru!!ed. EKm/ % as3ed him about his birthday and he told me he had a !ood time and en9oyed your com any.G Connie beamed at the news. ECid he tell you about our 3issIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o/ we didn>t !et into s eci0ics.G Connie too3 a ste 0orward. E.ell/ % 3issed him !oodni!ht on the mouth and he didn>t seem to mind. % mean/ he didn>t throw u or anythin!.G :ayson chuc3led. E.ell/ that>s always a !ood si!n.G ECid he say whether he?G E.ould you lease !o ty e u that witness statement you too3 on the :ohnson case/ the one %>ve been as3in! you 0or since ;ridayIG :ayson moaned. @is 0ace dis layed moc3 ain as he ointed to the door. EPlease.G EB3ay/ o3ay. &ut 9ust 0or that you>re not invited to our weddin!/G Connie 9o3ed and scurried out the door. She returned and stuc3 her head bac3 in. ECid you 3now Dictor s ea3s 0luent Chinese and S anishIG EGetFG :ayson yelled. @e lau!hed and shoo3 his head. As Connie closed the door he stac3ed his 0olders into a neat ile and sat down/ then ic3ed u his electronic or!ani7er/ unched a 0ew buttons and ic3ed u the tele hone. A0ter a 0ew seconds he heard a 0emale voice. E@ello/ <ichelle/ this is :ayson Coo3/G he said. E@ow are thin!s at Channel Ei!htIG E:ayson/ %>m !lad you called/G <ichelle said. E8ou areIG E8eah/G she re lied and aused. EKm/ % haven>t heard anythin! 0rom Dictor in a while. @as he said anythin! to you about meIG 8ou>ve !ot to be 0ric3in> 3iddin! me/ :ayson thou!ht. ;irst Connie/ now <ichelle. .ho had he hired 0or an intern/ AdonisI :ayson detected loneliness in the re orter>s voice but thou!ht it best not to !et into his intern>s rivate li0e. EKm/ well/ <ichelle/ you 3now/ Dictor and % retty much 9ust tal3 business.G

A0ter a 0ew seconds o0 silence/ <ichelle returned to her ro0essional tone. EBh/ o3ay. .hat can % do 0or youIG :ayson re eated all the in0ormation about &oston olice o00icers Scott and .ashin!ton that Connie/ on two se arate days/ had re orted to him. E.hat do you thin3IG he as3ed. ESomethin! to loo3 intoI <i!ht be a !ood story.G E8eah/ i0 there>s somethin! to it/G <ichelle re lied. E4ell you what/ %>ll do a little o3in! around.G E;air enou!h/G :ayson said. 4he two a!reed to 3ee in touch and hun! u . :ayson chec3ed his watch and loo3ed u in time to see 4eni3a a roachin!. @e waved her in. She entered/ wal3ed all the way to :ayson>s chair/ and whis ered. E%t>s her a!ain? <s. 4han!?on the hone.G :ayson 0elt his heartbeat accelerate. @e si!hed and rubbed his 0ace with his hands. E4ell her %>ll call her bac3 in/ um?no/ %>ll ta3e it.G 4eni3a 0rowned. E:ayson/ somethin!>s obviously not ri!ht. Let me hel .G She s o3e soothin!ly/ li3e a mother tal3in! to a child. :ayson shoo3 his head. E%>m a0raid % can>t. &ut it>s not what you thin3. 4he woman and % have never been involved/ but this is somethin! % have to ta3e care o0 mysel0.G @e sJuee7ed 4eni3a>s hand. E% a reciate the o00er. % really do.G @e si!hed a!ain. EPut her throu!h and close the door behind you/ lease.G 4eni3a nodded and 0ollowed his instructions. :ayson ic3ed u the tele hone and tried to sound nonchalant. E@elloIG E4hou!ht you were retty damn cute/ callin! my house/ huh/ smart assIG ESo nice to hear 0rom you/ Leslie/ but you sound u set/G :ayson re lied. E.hy don>t you call me bac3 when you>ve calmed downIG E%>m calm/G Leslie retorted. E<eet me today at Divid Creams at siA o>cloc3 and you can !ive me that !i0t we tal3ed about the other day.G :ayson winced. E<eet you at Divid CreamsI A stri clubI % don>t thin3 so.G E8ou chose the 0irst lace/G Leslie said. E'ow it>s my turn.G E% can>t meet you today anyway/ Leslie. % have to?G E8ou meet me at siA today/ Goddamn it/G Lesly !rowled/ Eor % swear to God a0ter we han! u %>m callin! the 0uc3in! media and !ive them a 0uc3in! ear0ulFG :ayson thou!ht 0or a 0ew seconds. @e 3new the best thin! to do would be to buy more time until he came u with a lan to !et Leslie out o0 his li0e. EB3ay/G he said. EAnd don>t 0or!et my !i0t. 8ou 3now where the lace isIG E%>ll 0ind it. % have to !o/G :ayson said and hun! u . @e too3 a dee breath and massa!ed his 0orehead with his 0in!erti s. @e blin3ed a cou le o0 times and reached 0or the recent hoto!ra h on his des3 o0 himsel0/ Renee and :enni0er/ dec3ed out in their Sunday best. @e studied their smiles conveyin! ha iness/ love and harmony/ and re laced the icture. @e couldn>t let this shrew hurt his 0amily/ but he 3new i0 he aid Leslie/ she would return a!ain and a!ain/ li3e a do! that>s been 0ed 0rom the dinner table. @e could have her arrested 0or eAtortion/ but much as he would li3e to ma3e her disa ear ermanently/ he 3new he could never ta3e any ste s to harm her in any way. Leslie <elende7 was many thin!s/ but most o0 all she was still the woman who had !iven his dau!hter li0e. &esides/ havin! her arrested would !uarantee his secret would be eA osed.

:ayson had an idea. @e ic3ed u the tele hone a!ain/ ushed a 0ew buttons and waited. E@ello/G he said/ Ethis is :ayson Coo3. % need to s ea3 to Samira Rahmani ri!ht away.G *****

C%A$TE# SI)TEEN

:ayson waited to board an elevator with siA others on the eleventh 0loor o0 the <cCormac3 Courthouse. @e and seven stran!ers had s read themselves a res ectable distance 0rom each other in 0ront o0 three closed elevator doors. :ayson stretched out his le0t arm and !ently shoo3 it/ uncoverin! his watch. @e reasoned by the time he wal3ed to the ar3in! !ara!e it would be about an hour be0ore his a ointment with Leslie. 4he stress0ul rush hour drive to his destination would ta3e that lon!/ i0 not lon!er. :ayson tilted his head sli!htly to observe the bri!ht/ numbered circles 0lashin! 0rom ri!ht to le0t above the elevator doors. @e eased over to the middle o0 the three choices/ eA ectin! its double doors to o en 0irst. @is reoccu ation with Leslie sli!htly dam ened the satis0action he 0elt about a recent victory. @e had 9ust ar!ued success0ully 0or reduction o0 bail on behal0 o0 a client char!ed with obstruction o0 9ustice: shreddin! documents indicatin! his em loyer had hired ille!al Chinese immi!rants to assemble com uters. :ayson couldn>t hel 0eelin! a bit smu! as he remembered how the 0i0ty+year+old human resource director had drilled him about his bac3!round and credentials when they had 0irst con0erred. 4his wasn>t uncommon when :ayson met his white clients 0or the 0irst time. B0ten/ em loyers hired :ayson with the tacit eA ectation o0 buyin! an em loyee>s silence. 4he em loyers who retained :ayson also chose him because his 0ees/ considered hi!h by lower middle class individual standards/ were still at the lower hal0 o0 the rice scale accordin! to cor orate norms. :ayson had surmised that his client/ who held a bachelor>s de!ree in sycholo!y and was !uilty as sin/ considered himsel0 better than his attorney. 4he man couldn>t a00ord to raise ten ercent o0 the S$##/### bail ori!inally im osed= neither could he a00ord to hire a lawyer on his own. @e had s ent himsel0 near ban3ru tcy with multi le mort!a!es/ eAcessive credit card char!es/ a 0ancy weddin! 0or his eldest dau!hter and rivate colle!e tuition 0or her and his son. 8et/ :ayson reco!ni7ed/ the de0endant saw his white s3in as still bestowin! him ran3 above any A0rican American. B0 course/ the man and his wi0e had hu!!ed their blac3 lawyer li3e a member o0 the 0amily a0ter the 9ud!e had a!reed to 3noc3 a 7ero o00 his reJuired bail. :ayson didn>t antici ate he would be Juestioned any 0urther about his Juali0ications by his !rate0ul client. 4he o enin! doors o0 the antici ated middle elevator brou!ht him bac3 to the resent and revealed an un leasant sur rise: the Reverend %saiah ;. &radley. :ud!in! 0rom how the minister directed his voice/ :ayson assumed the 0ive other A0rican American riders inside were acJuainted with the minister. :ayson considered waitin! 0or the neAt elevator but reco!ni7ed such a move would be cons icuous 0or its cowardice.

EBh/ hello/ Reverend/G :ayson said/ tryin! to sound cheer0ul. @e and another man and woman/ both blac3/ boarded the elevator. E%t>s !ood to see you a!ain/G he added/ then turned around and watched the doors close/ tra in! him li3e Caniel in the lion>s den. Reverend &radley nodded. EGood a0ternoon/ counselor/G he re lied/ and bac3ed 0urther into his corner/ allowin! additional s ace 0or the added assen!ers. E&rothers and sisters/G he said/ a arently addressin! the entire elevator con!re!ation. ECo you 3now who this isIG :ayson 0elt his heartbeat be!in to race as all riders 0ocused on him. @e ti!htened his !ri on the handle o0 his brie0case. %t was !oin! to be a lon! ride to the lobby. E4his brother is the lawyer who>s de0endin! the white man who 3illed my little !irl.G Everyone but :ayson !as ed as i0 he had 9ust s at in the middle o0 the 0loor. :ayson said nothin!. ;ortunately/ the elevator sto ed at the seventh 0loor and two white males sJuee7ed inside. &y their attire and brie0cases/ :ayson assumed they were 0ellow attorneys. A rotund middle+a!ed woman standin! to :ayson>s ri!ht wearin! shiny dar3 brown hair that hun! 9ust below her ears/ obviously a wi!/ !ave him the once+over. E@e seems li3e a nice enou!h youn! man/G she said. :ayson made brie0 eye contact with the woman and smiled but said nothin!. %nstead he stared at the indicator li!hts on the wall/ artially hidden by one o0 the lawyers who had 9ust entered. :ayson assumed the reverend>s entoura!e and the other blac3 assen!ers wouldn>t comment on the minister>s revelation with two white men resent= many blac3s 0elt it ina ro riate to air their internal disa!reements in the resence o0 white eo le. Kn0ortunately 0or :ayson/ the elevator sto ed at the 0ourth 0loor and the two men eAited. 4hree white men and one white woman who stood in 0ront o0 the elevator didn>t move/ a arently waitin! 0or a ride u / not down. :ayson shoo3 his head almost im erce tibly at his bad luc3 and watched with dread as his otential rescuers shu00led le0t to board another elevator while the doors to the one he occu ied slid shut. 4he advanta!e clearly his/ Reverend &radley resumed his introductions. E4hese eo le are members o0 my con!re!ation/ <r. Coo3/G he announced. E4hey>re here to monitor the trial o0 a youn! blac3 man 0alsely accused o0 ra in! a white !irl.G 4he reverend aused to allow a 0ew assen!ers to Eum+hmmG his remar3s/ then continued. E@e can>t a00ord 0ancy re resentation 0rom someone li3e you/ so he>s !ot a ublic de0ender.G @e shi0ted his u er body. E4hat>s his oor !randmother ri!ht there.G :ayson made eye contact a!ain with the woman who had ro0essed his niceness. She a eared 0ar too youn! to have a !rown !randson. @e nodded. E<a>am/G he said. 4he woman o00ered a sad smile. :ayson si!hed with relie0 when the elevator 0inally sto ed at the lobby. 4he doors o ened and he !estured to the !randmother with his le0t hand. EA0ter you/G he said. She than3ed him and waddled out o0 the crowded s ace. 4he other assen!ers eAited also/ leavin! :ayson and Reverend &radley to disembar3 to!ether. About three do7en eo le meandered about in the lobby. A 0ew wore suits and clutched brie0cases. <ost wore very casual clothin!. :ayson strolled slowly down the corridor/ headin! toward a 0li!ht o0 stairs leadin! downward to the 0ront door. @e would 0eel more com0ortable once he had reached the stairs/ ast a hal0+do7en 0ederal security marshals chec3in! the belon!in!s o0 eo le enterin! the buildin!.

A youn! man with a scra!!ly beard and hair braided into ti!ht cornrows ste ed into :ayson>s ath and bac3 edaled/ attem tin! to 3ee ace with him. E.hat 3ind o0 blac3 man are you/ de0endin! that racist i!I @uhIG E@e ain>t no blac3 man/G a youn! woman chewin! a hu!e wad o0 !um declared 0rom a 0ew 0eet behind :ayson. E% could tell he was an Kncle 4om the minute % saw him/G eAclaimed another youn! man with a clean+shaven head who wal3ed alon!side the !um+chewin! woman. :ayson could 0eel himsel0 becomin! incensed. As a man who had !rown u in &oston>s inner city and been tau!ht by his 0ather never to ta3e mess 0rom anyone/ he didn>t a reciate someone with the bac3in! o0 a small mob !ettin! in his 0ace. 'evertheless/ his eA erience as an attorney had tau!ht him to avoid such con0rontations. @e had been throu!h similar situations many times and reco!ni7ed nothin! ositive would result 0rom res ondin! to anyone>s tauntin!. @e ste ed around the bearded man and maintained a leisurely ace/ not wantin! to convey to Reverend &radley or his crew that their resence had a00ected him in any way. @e 0inally turned the corner and breathed a si!h o0 relie0 as he a roached the marshals/ who s orted sidearms/ er0ormin! their duties/ oblivious to his situation. As he descended the stairs he heard artin! shots 0rom Reverend &radley>s 0ollowers. ESelloutFG E4raitorFG E8ou better run/ un3.G :ayson ste ed into the mu!!y/ warm outdoors and 9oined hundreds o0 eo le sJuintin! to avoid the harshness o0 the sun/ which wouldn>t set 0or another two hours. But o0 his nemeses> 0ield o0 vision/ he Juic3ened his ace to a near trot 0or several seconds/ then slowed down 9ust in case the reverend and his 0loc3 had reached the 0ront door. @e didn>t want to be erceived as runnin! 0rom them. @owever/ he 0elt con0ident by the time any o0 them reached the door he would have lost himsel0 in the crowd. @e resisted the ur!e to steal a !lance over his shoulder at the courthouse/ now at least twenty yards away. @e had a more ressin! matter that demanded his attention. N 4he curvaceous/ late twentyish waitress a roached :ayson 0or the second time. She had tied her lon!/ 9et blac3 hair behind her head. %t matched her all+blac3 attire?a bow tie/ a low+cut vest and hi +hu!!in! slac3s/ but no blouse/ a star3 contrast to her white arms. E@ow Lbout a real drin3 this time/ handsomeIG she as3ed/ raisin! her voice above the dance music. 4he 0lashin! li!hts bounced o00 her so0t/ lovely 0ace. :ayson eAamined his near+em ty !lass o0 diet soda/ 0or which he had aid three times what he would have shelled out at his re!ular waterin! hole. @e !lanced at the 0ront door. E'ot yet/ hon. %>m waitin! 0or someone. .hen she shows u / then %>ll arta3e.G EParta3eIG the woman as3ed. EBrder a real drin3.G 4he woman smiled. EB3ay/ be bac3 in a 0ew.G She irouetted and strutted to a table several 0eet away where three colle!e+a!ed men 0ou!ht over a near+em ty itcher o0 beer. :ayson chec3ed his watch and the door a!ain. @e didn>t want his meetin! with Leslie to turn u!ly/ so he told himsel0 when she 0inally arrived he must resist the stron! desire to

scold her 0or 3ee in! him waitin!. @e had arrived on time/ aid a 0i0teen+dollar cover char!e/ chosen the table 0arthest away 0rom the door/ and ordered a drin3. ;or the ast 0i0teen minutes he had 3e t his head down li3e a riest at a whorehouse/ 0ocusin! on his soda. @e had already declined se arate o00ers 0rom two heavily made+u / sur!ically to +heavy dancers 0or a la dance. %n an attem t to ta3e his mind o00 his surroundin!s and 0ury at Leslie/ :ayson recalled the in0ormation he had !arnered 0rom its %nternet web site about Divid Creams/ the club he had been 0orced to visit. Glendale/ a small town about an hour>s drive south o0 &oston/ hosted the club/ which had chan!ed mana!ement two years be0ore. All the action at Divid Creams too3 lace on one 0loor/ which could seat two hundred atrons com0ortably. 'ude women danced on 0our sta!es?a lar!e lat0orm 0our 0eet o00 the !round at the center o0 the club/ and three smaller/ sli!htly hi!her ones/ s read throu!hout the room. %n addition to the 0our sta!e er0ormers/ several bi3ini+clad dancers araded around attem tin! to entice men to buy them drin3s/ ay 0or an individual la dance/ order a table dance 0or everyone seated at the table/ or consent to a rivate dance in one o0 three Echam a!ne rooms.G &ored with sittin! and doin! nothin!/ :ayson si!hed and scanned the area. @e had 0ound a seat near the 3itchen as 0ar away 0rom the main show as ossible/ but the circular 0loor lan ensured one could view the entertainment 0rom anywhere. 4he club was only hal0 0ull at the moment and o ulated by men o0 various a!es= some/ li3e :ayson/ wearin! suits while others were dressed casually. Several brawny men in blac3/ obviously security em loyees/ canvassed the area watchin! 0or atrons who violated the Eloo3 but don>t touchG rule too brashly. 4he brunette movin! on the small sta!e in :ayson>s vicinity surrendered her s ot to another/ taller dancer. &oth were Caucasian/ as were all the dancers on sta!e and almost all the waitresses. At 0irst :ayson 0ound the new dancer>s movements to be un leasantly vul!ar/ but a0ter observin! 0or a 0ew minutes he !rew to a reciate her osition?in a manner o0 s ea3in!. .ith increasin! curiosity/ he watched the youn! blonde ten 0eet away as she caressed/ writhed and swun! on a steel ole. %n honor o0 the im endin! ;ourth o0 :uly holiday/ she had be!un her act s ortin! a red/ white and blue bi3ini= an obviously atriotic woman/ :ayson mused. @avin! Juic3ly discarded her out0it/ she wore nothin! but a air o0 red shoes with 0ive+inch heels. :ayson watched and 0elt !uilty that he had be!un to en9oy her er0ormance. @is wi0e was 0ar rettier than the woman on sta!e/ but 9ust loo3 at those bouncin! bi!+ass 9u!sF Perha s/ he thou!ht/ his 0rustration about his less+than+satis0yin! seA li0e had a00ected him more than he had reali7ed. EEn9oyin! the showIG :ayson turned to see Leslie standin! almost behind him/ smir3in! as i0 he were a child cau!ht stealin! a coo3ie. E.ell/ it>s about time you !ot here/G he hissed. Leslie made no a olo!ies. She 9ust ulled u a chair and watched the blonde 0or a 0ew seconds. She made a 0ace/ then o00ered her o inion. EShe ain>t shit.G :ayson>s waitress scooted over to their table and cac3led. ELeslie/ is that youI .here the hell you been/ !irlIG she howled. Leslie 0lashed a broad smile and hu!!ed the woman. ECamn :amie/ you still hereIG E8eah/G she answered. E@ad to !et my old 9ob bac3 to hel ay some bills.G Leslie ointed. EAlmost all new 0aces.G

E8eah/G :amie said. E.ell/ the lace hasn>t been the same since you le0t.G She ins ected :ayson. E8ou>re 9ust in time to 3ee 0rom losin! your man. 4he !irls here can>t leave him alone. @e sure is a cutie.G She !rabbed her order ad. E'ow what can % !et youIG :ayson o ened his hands. E:ust brin!?G E4wo Lon! %sland ice teas/G Leslie said. E@e ain>t my man. .e>ve !ot some business to discuss.G She turned her head 0rom side to side/ searchin!. ECidn>t % see :erryIG EKm+hmm.G :amie nodded. E@e had to come bac3 too/ a0ter that other lace he ran in &oston closed u . @e>s one o0 the assistant mana!ers.G Leslie thumbed toward her ri!ht as i0 hitchhi3in!. E.ell/ tell :erry we need a 0ew minutes in the little cham a!ne room be0ore someone else ta3es it.G EB3ay/G :amie re lied and scam ered o00. :ayson stared at Leslie. She wore a air o0 9eans and a red/ almost bac3less halter to showcasin! considerable cleava!e with thin strands crisscrossin! the 0ront. @e ima!ined her on sta!e/ then erased the thou!ht 0rom his mind. E8ou used to wor3 hereIG Leslie nodded. E8eah. % was a waitress 0irst/ then a dancer. <oney was !ood. % could>ve been a bi! star but % met one o0 your brothers and !ot re!nant.G EBh/G :ayson said. @e didn>t 3now what else to say. Leslie rolled her eyes. ESorry we can>t all !o to med school and live in a 0ancy house in &elmont. Some o0 us have to let erverted married men !et a hard+on dancin! 0or them.G :ayson decided to !et ri!ht down to business. ELeslie/ about/ um/ your !i0tHG Leslie ut her 0in!ers on her li s. E'ot here.G She waved to a youn!/ broad+ shouldered man wearin! a blac3 shirt and ants who a roached them. E@urry u / :erry/ shit. .e ain>t !ot all day.G 4he man reached the table/ smiled and whinnied. E.ell/ well/ well/G he declared. ELoo3 what the cat dra!!ed inFG @e and Leslie eAchan!ed a 0ew lay0ul barbs/ then he unhoo3ed a set o0 3eys 0rom his belt and a roached a set o0 double doors a 0ew 0eet away/ built into a blac3 wall. @e unloc3ed one door and o ened it. E.e>re !onna tal3/ so no music/G Leslie said. She slid o00 her chair and ointed at :amie/ who arrived with their drin3s. ECon>t be chea and ma3e me loo3 bad/G she warned :ayson. She said !oodbye to :amie/ !rabbed the drin3s and sauntered into the room. :ayson aid 0or the drin3s/ !ivin! the waitress a 0ive+dollar ti and headed 0or the cham a!ne room. @e sto ed at the door. E@ow muchIG he as3ed :erry. 4he man waved. E@ell/ seein! you>re a 0riend o0 a 0riend/ %>ll let you have 0i0teen minutes 0or 9ust twenty+0ive buc3s.G :ayson than3ed the man and handed him thirty+0ive dollars. :erry stu00ed the money into his 0ront ants oc3et and swa!!ered o00. :amie raced over to :ayson and !rabbed his arm. E8ou two !ot somethin! !oin!IG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o e. :ust business.G 4he woman rubbed :ayson>s arm and win3ed. E% !et o00 at midni!ht.G :ayson held u his le0t hand. E% !ot a wi0e.G E% won>t tell her i0 you won>t/ ti!er.G

:ayson bac3ed away. EKm/ than3s/ but % 9ust came here to conduct business and !o. % won>t be bac3.G ;or some reason her resultin! 0rown bothered him. E&ut % thin3 you>re very retty/G he added. @e 0elt sur risin!ly 0lattered by her attention. :amie>s 0rown turned into a smile. She bac3ed u as well. E%0 you chan!e your mind/ you come see me 0irst/ hearIG :ayson assured her he would and 9oined Leslie. 4heir cham a!ne room was the smallest o0 the three and about hal0 the si7e o0 his con0erence room. %t had a ole/ mirrored walls/ a lar!e easy chair/ a small table/ and windows on the doors so the security detail could ee3 in. @e could see a camera han!in! on one wall. E.e>ve only !ot a 0ew minutes/G Leslie announced and sashayed closer. E% wanna ma3e sure you ain>t wired or nothin!.G :ayson decided not to ar!ue. Attem ted eAtortion carried a maAimum enalty o0 0i0teen years in the Commonwealth o0 <assachusetts. Leslie mi!ht not have attended colle!e/ but she was obviously intelli!ent and resource0ul. :ayson reco!ni7ed he would have to 3ee that in mind. @e eAtended his arms. E@urry u .G Leslie smiled as thou!h they were lovers and too3 her time runnin! her 0in!ers under his suit 9ac3et/ caressin! his chest and bac3. EBooh/ you wor3 out/ don>t youIG she as3ed. :ayson sus ected she had been tau!ht that line durin! Stri ers 4rainin! $#$/ but still 0elt ride at the remar3. @e also 0elt an involuntary seAual stirrin! when the beauti0ul youn! woman touched his le!s and !roin. ;inished with her 0ris3in!/ Leslie too3 a ste bac3. E8ou brin! my !i0tIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o.G Leslie bared her teeth li3e a anther. E8ou son o0 a bitchFG she snarled/ and stom ed toward the door. E8ou thin3 %>m 0uc3in! around with you. Con>t youIG :ayson>s heartbeat ounded in his chest so loudly he could 0eel his body sha3in!. EListen/ Leslie?G She s un around and ointed at him. E'o/ you listen. Con>t thin3 %>m one o0 your illiterate clients.G :ayson o ened his arms. ECo you thin3 % can 9ust yan3 twenty+0ive Gs out o0 my 9oint savin!s accountIG @is Juestion obviously !ot Leslie>s attention. She calmed down and stood silently with her hands on her hi s. :ayson recited the scri t he had rehearsed. E% need some time to do this so it won>t be noticed.G E@ow much timeIG E4wo wee3s.G Leslie shoo3 her head. E;uc3 that.G She aused to thin3. E8ou !ot one wee3.G She ointed a!ain. EBne wee3 or you can 3iss your com0ortable li0e !oodbye.G :ayson nodded slowly. ECeal.G Leslie chan!ed her demeanor and ste ed closer to him/ becomin! coy and seductive once more. She !rabbed :ayson>s tie and !ently tu!!ed/ ullin! his 0ace close to hers. ECon>t disa oint me a!ain/ baby/G she cooed/ and 3issed him brie0ly on the li s be0ore releasin! him and struttin! out o0 the room. :ayson closed his eyes and too3 a 0ew dee breaths. @e reached into his oc3et/ roduced a hand3erchie0 and wi ed the li stic3 0rom his mouth. A0ter waitin! 0or a minute/ he ste ed out o0 the room. @e searched 0or Leslie/ but couldn>t locate her amon! the scores o0 em loyees and atrons in the area. Grate0ul not to have 0ound her/ he eased out the 0ront door and wal3ed to his car.

As he trud!ed across the hal0+em ty ar3in! lot he noticed the sun/ artially hidden by a cloud/ and antici ated at least another hour o0 dayli!ht. 4he air 0elt humid and uncom0ortable/ addin! to his irritable mood. A0ter three minutes o0 cruisin! in his vehicle en9oyin! the air conditioner :ayson unched in a number on his mobile hone and waited. E%t>s me/G he said. E%>ve !ot a wee3. 4hat>s all. %0 you can>t do it by then/ %>m screwed.G *****

C%A$TE# SE(ENTEEN

4eni3a 3noc3ed on the door to :ayson>s o00ice and ste ed inside. E% 9ust heard somethin! on the radio about the Stone case/G she eAclaimed. E%t>s !oin! to be on the 0ive o>cloc3 news on Channel 'ine/ % thin3.G :ayson arched his eyebrows. @e had been reviewin! his 0irst dra0t o0 a le!al brie0. Actually/ he had been holdin! it while starin! at the :uly calendar. %n 0our days he would have to meet Leslie. @e chec3ed the cloc3 on his des3. E;ive o>cloc3I 4hat>s in ten minutes. Are you sure it was Channel 'ineIG 4eni3a rolled her eyeballs to the le0t/ then to the ri!ht/ a arently tryin! to re lay the voice on the radio. She nodded. EKm+hmm. %>m retty sure the man said Channel 'ine.G ECo you 3now what it>s aboutIG E% didn>t catch that. Somethin! about Stone>s a artment.G :ayson ointed at the outer o00ice. E4ell Connie and Dictor to 9oin us in the con0erence room.G 4eni3a closed the door behind her. :ayson slid his chair closer to the des3 and reached 0or the mouse to his com uter. @e located the television station>s %nternet web site/ but could 0ind nothin! about the Stone case on the news a!e. A 0ew minutes later he/ Connie/ and 4eni3a sat at one end o0 the con0erence room table watchin! the shar icture on a twenty+inch television. 4wo recently hired tem orary hel ers had !one home 0or the day/ leavin! several iles o0 a ers stac3ed at the other end. Dictor stood neAt to the television/ ready to record the news ro!ram. Connie and 4eni3a s eculated about the ossible content o0 the se!ment. Precisely at 0ive o>cloc3/ Dictor ressed the record button and sat down/ and the Channel 'ine male+0emale anchor duo a eared. &oth were white/ with the woman at least ten years youn!er than the man. 4hey alternately read lines introducin! the 0irst story about a 0our+alarm 0ire at a manu0acturin! lant in a town twenty miles north o0 &oston. :ayson watched the story/ which ran 0or several minutes/ with moderate interest. Connie eA ressed her sym athy 0or the eo le who would be out o0 wor3. A0ter the 0ire story had concluded the camera 0ocused on the attractive/ dar3+haired 0emale art o0 the anchor team. E.ho>s doin! that !irl>s hairIG Connie as3ed. EAnd loo3 at that u!ly out0it.G EShhh/G :ayson said. 4he anchorwoman/ her 0ace stern and her voice serious/ read the tele rom ter>s words about Eshoc3in! new revelationsG concernin! items 0ound in accused murderer &rian Stone>s a artment. 'eAt/ the scene switched to the 0ront eAterior o0 Stone>s 0ormer

residence. A retty Eastern %ndian re orter barely thirty years old ointed at the twelve+ unit a artment buildin! and !ave the address. :ayson listened to her introduction and 9otted down a 0ew notes in case the ro!ram didn>t record ro erly. E&rian Stone used to live here/G the woman declared/ Ebut his nei!hbors had no idea that the Juiet/ reserved man had a dar3 side.G As she s o3e o0 Eunnamed sources 0amiliar with the investi!ation/G the cover o0 a a erbac3 boo3 a eared on screen. 4he bold yellow title on a lain !reen bac3!round read %he %hreat of the Negro &ace. :ayson !round his teeth. EKh+oh. 4his isn>t !ood/G Connie eAclaimed. E8ou don>t thin3 soIG 4eni3a Jui ed. E@ushFG :ayson ordered. 4he now unseen re orter o00ered a deduction. EStone seems to have ta3en a articular interest in this boo3 because several assa!es were underlined/ includin! theseHG &lac3 words in Juotation mar3s a!ainst a white bac3!round 0lashed on screen while the re orter read the teAt: EL4he threat o0 the blac3 man a!ainst the white woman must be eliminated at all costs i0 the Knited States o0 America is to re!ain its di!nity and honor.>G 4he re orter rea eared and resented two other boo3s containin! similar assa!es Stone had a arently underlined. Eventually/ she wra ed u the story. E'o date has been set/G she declared/ Ebut &rian Stone>s trial is eA ected to be!in sometime this 0all. <any le!al eA erts believe his lawyer/ :ayson Coo3/ himsel0 an A0rican American/ has a very u hill battle.G .ith those 0inal words she si!ned o00 and the anchor duo announced they would return with an u date on a &oston City Council s3irmish. Dictor stood and a roached the television. E8ou want me to turn it o00IG :ayson nodded. E8eah.G 4eni3a rose also. E4he hones are !oin! to rin! in a minute/G she said. EEvery time your name is mentioned in connection with the Stone case we !et a bunch o0 an!ry callers.G :ayson shru!!ed. EGoes with the territory/G he said and waved at 4eni3a. E8ou !o on home and let the voice+mail ta3e the calls. 4omorrow/ you 3now the drill. 4a3e down anythin! threatenin! and !ive it to the olice. %>ll loc3 u the store mysel0.G 4eni3a nodded and hurried out o0 the room. Connie 9um ed out o0 her seat and 0aced :ayson. EAny o0 that in0ormation newIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E8ou 3iddin!I 'ot one word. Samira and Bmar have had that stu00 0rom day one. 4hey lea3 out a bit every now and then to a00ect the 9ury ool.G E@ow about a motion 0or a chan!e o0 venueIG Dictor su!!ested. :ayson shoo3 his head a!ain. E'ot a chance. 4here>s no trial date yet. %0 % 0iled the a ers tomorrow we wouldn>t !et heard 0or a month. &y then the story would be out o0 si!ht?enou!h to deny the motion?but not out o0 mind= 9ust li3e they want it.G Connie nodded. EA !ood lan/ %>ll !ive them that. Anythin! you want me to doIG E8eah/G :ayson said. @e stood. EGo home. Dictor and %>ll loc3 u .G Dictor shru!!ed/ but his 0acial eA ression indicated sur rise. ESure/G he said. Connie wal3ed to the door connectin! the con0erence room to the waitin! area and hesitated. E% can stay/ :aymeister/ in case Dictor/ % mean you and Dictor/ need some hel . %>ll 9ust?G

E8ou>ll 9ust !o on home li3e % said/G :ayson commanded with a sli!ht smile. @e made a shooin! !esture with his hand. EGoodni!ht/ and close the door/ lease.G @e watched Connie bac3 u and slam the door/ which made him wince. Dictor !rimaced. E.hat>s wron! with herIG :ayson didn>t answer. @e sat down a!ain and reached 0or the tele hone on the table. @e ut the receiver neAt to his ear and unched numbers. E8ou>re !oin! to be at the o00ice all day 0or the neAt cou le o0 days/ ri!htIG E4hat>s ri!ht/G Dictor answered. E.hyIG :ayson motioned 0or him to sit. E% want you to !o with me to?@ello/ <ichelleI :ayson Coo3H8eah/ % saw the ro!ram.G @e ointed at Dictor as thou!h s ea3in! to <ichelle in erson. EDictor>s standin! ri!ht here neAt to me. @e says hello.G :ayson studied Dictor>s 0ace but couldn>t 9ud!e the youn! man>s reaction to his words. @e swiveled in his chair and 0ocused on the wood !rain on to o0 his con0erence table. E;irst/ anythin! on those two olice o00icersIH'oIG Dictor laced his alms a!ainst the arms o0 his chair. E%>ll !ive you some rivacy.G :ayson !estured with his 0ree hand 0or Dictor to stay and continued his conversation. E.ell/ the reason % called is this: %>d have a 0ew restrictions/ but how would you li3e to be the 0irst to land an eAclusive interview with &rian StoneIG N 4wo days a0ter the airin! o0 the Channel 'ine news story and two days be0ore his a ointed date with Leslie/ :ayson sat on a metal 0oldin! chair alon!side Stone in the visitin! area o0 the Su00ol3 County :ail. 4he lar!e room/ on the second 0loor o0 the buildin!/ could accommodate siAty eo le. 4he sterile/ mostly bric3+walled room o00ered little natural li!ht but did have two small windows overloo3in! the Charles River. <ichelle Lin! sat directly across 0rom Stone reviewin! the notes sittin! in her la . A burley redheaded male 9ail o00icer stood a 0ew yards behind Stone out o0 the camera>s eye. :ayson sJuinted and 0ou!ht two bri!ht li!hts to ma3e out the outline o0 Dictor standin! behind one o0 the two camera o erators. 4hey ad9usted the ositions o0 their li!htin! umbrellas and cameras erched on tri ods. Bne o erator/ a 0ortyish white male/ 0ocused on <ichelle. 4he other/ a youn! blac3 male/ aimed his camera at Stone. :ayson had chosen a !ray suit 0or the occasion. @e had convinced the 9ail su erintendent to allow Stone to wear street clothes. Stone wore a li!ht blue dress shirt and navy blue tie that :ayson had bou!ht 0or him. :ayson reali7ed allowin! Stone to be interviewed constituted some ris3/ but he understood a aid attorney>s ronouncements alone would not be enou!h to counter the im act o0 the Channel 'ine story. @e had laid out the !round rules to <ichelle/ and she had a!reed. &e0ore the interview she had eA ressed her !ratitude to :ayson 0or re0usin! her station mana!er>s demand that the interview be conducted by one o0 the senior news re orters. E<s. Lin! is very 0air. <y client will only a!ree to be interviewed by her/G :ayson had insisted. @e sus ected <ichelle wouldn>t 0or!et his loyalty. :ayson had s ent an hour the revious day re in! Stone 0or the interview. @e eA lained the !round rules a!ain to the twenty+0our+year+old: E4he ur ose o0 the interview is to ortray you as a human bein! instead o0 a monsterH%t>s 4D/ so 3ee your answers shortH<s. Lin!>s not to as3 any Juestions about your alle!ed involvement in

the death o0 the !irl or the trialH%0 she as3s you somethin! and % ob9ect/ you>re not to answer it/ eriodH.hen % say Lthan3 you <s. Lin!> to conclude the interview/ you say Lthan3 you> and nothin! else.HG 4he interview be!an a little a0ter one+thirty in the a0ternoon. <ichelle/ wearin! an olive suit with a matchin! s3irt/ introduced her !uests/ then o ened with an eA ected Juestion. E&rian/ why did you a!ree to this interviewIG Stone scratched his head. E.ell/ %>ve heard all 3inds o0 thin!s said about me 0rom eo le who don>t 3now me at all/ and % thou!ht % better !o and s ea3 0or mysel0.G @e smiled. E% 3now me.G .e>re o00 to a !ood start/ :ayson thou!ht. Stone>s baby 0ace/ Juiet demeanor and even his southern drawl would be an asset. As the !randmother in the elevator had done in his case/ eo le were inclined to 9ud!e others by their a earance. Some viewers would see Stone and declare/ E@e seems li3e a nice enou!h youn! man.G <ichelle 3new she didn>t have much time so she had a arently decided to bolt ri!ht into the s eed lane. She leaned 0orward. E.hat about the items that were 0ound in your a artment: the boo3s/ ma!a7ines and videosI .hy do you watch and read that stu00IG :ayson too3 a dee breath. E%P%>m not sure why % too3 an interest in that stu00/G Stone re lied. E% never had many 0riends. % !uess you could say % was searchin! 0or some way to understand my li0e.G ECo you understand that most eo le would 0ind boo3s li3e %he %hreat of the Negro &ace o00ensive and racistIG :ayson balled u his 0ist. E% !uess/G Stone admitted/ Ebut havin! a boo3 doesn>t mean someone believes it.G <ichelle !lanced at :ayson and smiled/ silently and reluctantly com limentin! him 0or re arin! his client well. :ayson returned her smile. 4his wasn>t a court o0 law. 'o rules eAisted a!ainst coachin! someone about to be interviewed on television. <ichelle returned to Stone. ECo you believe in what the boo3 saysIG Stone shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now what % believe anymore/ ma>am.G E@ow do you 0eel about the death o0 twelve+year+old Deronica &radleyIG EStone closed his eyes and shoo3 his head slowly. E% thin3 what ha ened to that oor child was 9ust terrible.G @e aused. E4errible.G @e seemed on the brin3 o0 tears. :ayson 3new he couldn>t control Stone>s reaction to the !irl>s death. <ore than once the youn! man had attem ted to s ea3 to him about the matter but each time :ayson had cut him o00/ insistin! that his 9ob consisted o0 aidin! him in his le!al battle a!ainst the state/ not to serve as his riest. ECo you believe in God/ &rianIG <ichelle as3ed. Stone nodded enthusiastically. EBh yes/ ma>am. % sure do.G ECo you believe God unishes eo le who sin/ es ecially murderersIG Stone shru!!ed a!ain. E% believe God 0or!ives eo le i0 they as3 0or 0or!iveness.G :ayson couldn>t hel but 0eel satis0ied about his re aration o0 Stone. @is client came across as a !entle/ thou!ht0ul/ intelli!ent erson. :ayson re0erred not to consider what demons lur3ed beneath the sur0ace. E8ou were a member o0 Gre!ory <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior/ weren>t youIG Kh+oh/ :ayson thou!ht.

E.ell/ % went there. % was never a member.G <ichelle !a7ed at her notes. ECid you acce t the teachin!s o0 <r. <or!an and the Church/ includin! the arts about sto in! all immi!ration 0rom Latin America/ :ews secretly controllin! the Knited States !overnment/ and recommendin! re+establishin! laws 3ee in! blac3s and whites 0rom marryin!IG Stone aused. @e !lanced at :ayson/ but :ayson had cautioned him be0ore the interview that once the cameras started rollin! he would be on his own unless <ichelle violated one o0 the !round rules. She hadn>t. E.ell/ um/G he be!an/ E% don>t thin3 % 0it in real well there because % 3e t Juestionin! thin!s.G E.hich thin!sIG EKm/ 3inda li3e all o0 them.G :ayson relaAed in his chair. 'ot bad. 'ot bad at all?0or a man res onsible 0or the death o0 a child. <ichelle chan!ed the to ic/ e erin! Stone with numerous Juestions about his bac3!round. :ayson could see Stone>s ain as the youn! man relayed his story about his di00icult u brin!in!. <ichelle seemed very interested in the details o0 Stone>s ersonal li0e/ which suited :ayson 9ust 0ine. 4he tale would brin! tears to the eyes o0 the viewin! ublic/ es ecially women. A0ter a 0ew minutes/ <ichelle ointed at :ayson. E&rian/ what was your reaction when you 0irst 0ound out <r. Coo3 would be your lawyerIG :ayson !lanced at his watch. 4hey had been sittin! 0or about 0i0teen minutes. @e would end the interview a0ter Stone answered the Juestion/ which they had also antici ated. E.ell/G Stone said/ E%>m !lad to have <r. Coo3 as my lawyer. @e>s a real !ood lawyer. @e 9ust wants to ma3e sure % !et a 0air trial. Anybody who would be un0ortunate enou!h to be sittin! where % am would want the same thin!?a 0air trial.G :ayson held u his hand. E4ime>s u / <s. Lin!.G <ichelle nodded. ECan % as3 you one Juestion/ <r. Coo3IG :ayson maintained a cordial eA ression. @e had ne!otiated the boundaries o0 Juestions osed to his client/ not to him. .ith the cameras rollin! he couldn>t decline to answer <ichelle>s inJuiry without otentially taintin! the interview. @e smiled. E<y client is the one bein! interviewed/ but %>ll answer one Juestion/ 9ust one/G he said/ with his voice !oin! u the way it did when answerin! :enni0er>s reJuest 0or a coo3ie an hour be0ore dinner. <ichelle leaned 0orward a!ain. ECan your client !et a 0air trial here in &ostonIG <ichelle>s Juestion ut :ayson in a tou!h osition. %0 he said yes/ he would 0orever 0ore!o any chance o0 etitionin! the court 0or a chan!e o0 venue. @owever/ i0 he said no and the trial too3 lace in &oston/ those re!istered voters selected to be on the 9ury would certainly resent any ronouncement he had made Juestionin! their 0airness. @e remembered Seth Greenber!>s admonition: EEi!hty ercent o0 your case is won when you seat the 9ury.G :ayson chose his words care0ully. E4he eo le o0 &oston are a very 0air+minded eo le. % believe with the ro er sa0e!uards we>ll be able to select an im artial 9ury/ 9ust as the Constitution o0 the Knited States reJuires.G @e stood. E4han3 you/ <s. Lin!.G Stone voiced his than3s as well.

:ayson shoo3 hands with <ichelle. Stone did li3ewise. A0ter the two men removed their micro hones the 9ail o00icer escorted Stone to the door leadin! bac3 to the detainees> area. Stone turned around. E@ow>d % doIG he whis ered. :ayson reco!ni7ed somethin! in Stone>s voice he hadn>t heard be0ore?a desire 0or validation. @e raised his indeA 0in!er and made eye contact with the 9ail o00icer. EA moment with my client/ leaseIG 4he o00icer hesitated/ then nodded and remained by the door. :ayson and Stone too3 three ste s sideways/ within si!ht o0 Stone>s escort but not within earshot i0 they whis ered. :ayson atted Stone on the arm. E8ou did 9ust 0ine/ &rian.G E% was real nervous/G Stone con0essed. E.ell/ it didn>t show/G :ayson said. E8ou conducted yoursel0 very well.G Stone smiled a bit. E:ayson/ %P% wasn>t 9ust sayin! that stu00. %>ve been tal3in! to this riest who comes to the 9ail and doin! some serious thin3?G E4hat>s !ood/ &rian.G :ayson said and atted him on the arm a!ain. E% really have to !o.G @e nodded at the o00icer/ who res onded by ta3in! Stone by the arm and leadin! him out o0 the room. :ayson returned to where the interview had been conducted. <ichelle and Dictor whis ered and lau!hed li3e a cou le o0 hi!h school sweethearts. 4heir obvious com0ort with each other made :ayson uncom0ortable. @e li3ed <ichelle but he didn>t want to see Connie hurt. Kltimately/ he decided/ his intern>s ersonal li0e wasn>t his business and decided to as3 about the interview. E.ell/ <s. Lin!/ you thin3 you can use any o0 itIG <ichelle slun! her hu!e urse over her shoulder. EAre you 0uc3in! 3iddin! meIG she eAclaimed/ clearly elated. E%t>ll be on the 0ive/ siA and eleven o>cloc3 news toni!ht. Another cou li3e this and that wee3end anchor chair>s as !ood as mine.G :ayson smiled but said little else other than to eAchan!e romises with <ichelle to 3ee in touch. @e dra!!ed Dictor away and the two men waited until they reached his car be0ore they discussed the interview. E%t went real well/G Dictor !ushed. @e stra ed on his seatbelt and ointed at himsel0. E4he !uy almost had me in tears with his childhood bit.G 4he two men continued their conversation while :ayson drove bac3 to the o00ice. Eventually they shi0ted to discussin! cars/ baseball/ and le!al history= three o0 Dictor>s obvious assions. .ith less than 0ive minutes remainin! be0ore they would reach the o00ice/ :ayson retrieved his mobile tele hone 0rom his 9ac3et oc3et and switched it on. %t ran! immediately. ;ear cre t u on him li3e Canadian air in the winter. Perha s 4eni3a would re ort that E<iss 4han!G had called/ and Leslie would increase her demands or bum u the date 0or her eA ected E!i0t.G :ayson eAcused himsel0. @e read the tiny data screen on his tele hone and reco!ni7ed his o00ice number. E@elloIG E%t>s 4eni3a. @ow>d it !oIG EReal !ood/G :ayson re lied. E.e>re almost at the o00ice. %>ll tell you about it when % !et bac3.G E:ud!e B>@are>s cler3 9ust called.G E8eahIG :ayson as3ed. E8eah/G 4enin3a answered. EShe said the 9ud!e insists that you and Samira Rahmani and Bmar Anderson meet him in his chambers at ei!ht+thirty tomorrow mornin! or he will issue a bench warrant 0or your arrest.G

:ayson lau!hed. ECome on/ 4eni3a. .hat did she really sayIG @e listened but heard nothin!. E4eni3a/ can you hear meIG E% heard you/G 4eni3a re lied solemnly. E.hat % told you is what she told me.G :ayson said !oodbye and hun! u . Dictor could read the loo3 o0 discom0ort on :ayson>s 0ace. E4roubleIG :ayson nodded. ESure seems to be 0ollowin! me around these days.G *****

C%A$TE# EIG%TEEN

@avin! arrived a 0ew minutes early/ :ayson 0ound himsel0 alone with :ud!e B>@are and attem ted to en!a!e him in a little small tal3. @owever/ his inJuiries about the 9ud!e>s u comin! retirement/ his !ol0 !ame?even his !randdau!hter>s recent ballet eA loits?yielded short/ ti!htli ed res onses. :ayson !ot the messa!e and ro00ered nothin! 0urther. @e made himsel0 as com0ortable as he could in a chair near B>@are>s des3 and retrieved a set o0 interro!atory res onses 0rom his brie0case to review. 4he 9ud!e/ wearin! a dar3 blue suit/ read a le!al brie0 and aid no attention to his !uest. :ayson 0elt li3e a child summoned to the rinci al>s o00ice awaitin! li3ewise errant classmates. As uncom0ortable as he 0elt in B>@are>s chambers/ his thou!hts turned once a!ain to wei!hin! o tions 0or his im endin! date with Leslie. @e eA ected her to call sometime in the neAt 0ew hours and rovide him with instructions about when and where to deliver her E!i0tG the neAt day. :ayson hadn>t been com letely 0orthri!ht with her about his access to 0unds. B0 course he and Renee shared several accounts/ but each also maintained se arate accounts to which only he or she had access. 4hey re0erred to these as their E ersonal moneyG and used them rimarily to buy !i0ts 0or each other. 4he day a0ter his meetin! at Divid Creams/ :ayson had con0irmed his ready access to a little over 0i0ty thousand dollars in ersonal money. @owever/ he had no intention o0 handin! hal0 o0 it over to Leslie. As a matter o0 rinci le/ he wouldn>t ay to revent her 0rom ublici7in! a re!rettably truth0ul item?alon! with an assortment o0 mostly s urious alle!ations?about their ast. 4hat was in the second lace. %n the 0irst lace/ a0ter eAhaustin! the 0unds/ which :ayson assumed would ta3e no short amount o0 time/ she would surely be bac3 0or more. @e had rayed about the best course o0 action 0or nearly a wee3/ and now/ sittin! in a hostile 9ud!e>s chambers/ he decided he must con0ess everythin! to Renee. 4omorrow he would tell Leslie to !o to hell and ta3e the conseJuences. Renee>s current emotional distance toward him would ma3e the tas3 di00icult. @er coldness had/ o0 course/ be!un a0ter he had acce ted the Stone case 0rom :ud!e B>@are in the very o00ice he now 0ound himsel0 bein! snubbed. Renee had always been eAtremely sensitive to what other eo le thou!ht o0 her. .hen she and :ayson had be!un seein! each other seriously nearly a do7en years be0ore/ she had eA lained that as a biracial child/ she had occasionally 0aced re9ection 0rom blac3s/ whites and others/ which had le0t her with lastin! emotional scars. .hile :ayson was satis0ied to have a cou le o0

very close 0riends and a hand0ul as acJuaintances/ he noticed that Renee constantly sou!ht the a roval o0 others/ courtin! 0riendshi s li3e a 0lutterin! bee see3in! 0lowers. :ayson antici ated that a0ter he disclosed the whole Leslie mess/ Renee would rail and wail at the i!nominy o0 a ublic scandal. @e 0eared their marria!e mi!ht not survive the resultin! trouble. @e had to consider how a scandal about her birth mother would a00ect :enni0er. Shortly a0ter she had turned 0ive years old/ he and Renee had casually in0ormed her she had been ado ted. Contrary to Renee>s 0ear the revelation would emotionally dama!e the child 0orever/ :enni0er had welcomed the news o0 actually havin! been chosen by her arents/ then as3ed i0 she could watch cartoons on television. A month later/ her 3inder!arten teacher had mentioned when the sub9ect o0 ado tion had sur0aced at school/ :enni0er had eA lained with a lomb what the word meant. 'evertheless/ :ason thou!ht/ i0 she had endured tauntin! 0rom her eers about the Stone caseH 4he sound o0 0ootste s outside o0 the 9ud!e>s chambers 9arred :ayson bac3 to his resent situation. @e !lanced at B>@are and rivately 0umed. 4he son o0 a bitch had a lot o0 nerve treatin! him li3e dirt a0ter ractically be!!in! him to ta3e the Stone case. :ayson heard a 3noc3 on the door. @e stu00ed his a ers bac3 into his brie0case and stood as Rahmani and Anderson entered/ one minute late. @e 3new he would have the advanta!e 0or havin! arrived a bit early. EGood mornin!/ 8our @onor/G Anderson said. EGood mornin!/ 8our @onor/G Rahmani echoed. E.e>re sorry we>re a bit late. 4here>s some construction !oin! on?G E% 3now about the construction/ <s. Rahmani/G B>@are re lied/ his voice low but shar . @e turned to :ayson. ECid you encounter the construction ro9ect a 0ew bloc3s awayIG :ayson 0elt uncom0ortable. @e didn>t want to collude with the 9ud!e to embarrass his o onents because he res ected both o0 them as collea!ues. @e had also recently as3ed Rahmani 0or a monumental 0avor. @owever/ he thou!ht/ i0 one is resented with the u er hand in battle/ one must acce t it. EKm/ well/ yes/ :ud!e/G he answered/ then attem ted to so0ten the blow/ Ebut it can !et real bad de endin! on when you !et there.G EKm+hmm/G B>@are mumbled. E'ot 0or those who lan ahead.G @e ointed at the chairs. ESit down/ and let>s !et down to business.G 4he three attorneys sat and declined an obviously insincere o00er o0 co00ee 0rom their host. 4he 9ud!e scooted his chair closer to his des3 and 0olded his hands. E% saw the romos about your client on 4D yesterday a0ternoon and watched the interview last ni!ht.G :ayson said nothin!. B>@are ointed at Rahmani and Anderson. EAnd % saw another one o0 your stories on Channel Ei!ht a cou le o0 days a!o.G EChannel 'ine/G Anderson said. :ayson clam ed his teeth to!ether to 3ee 0rom smir3in!. @e !lanced at Rahmani/ who closed her eyes and winced/ a arently understandin! what Anderson didn>t: on a trivial matter/ correctin! a 9ud!e who>s issed o00 at you will iss him o00 even more. EChannel whatever/ o3ayIG B>@are !rowled. E4he oint is/ Stone>s been sittin! in 9ail 0or over a year and a hal0/ and %>d li3e to see i0 we can !et him a 9ury that hasn>t seen stories about the case every day on the 0uc3in! newsFG 4he loudness o0 his voice at the end o0 his sentence caused all three trial attorneys to lower their heads.

E% com letely understand/ :ud!e/G Rahmani a!reed. E.hat can we sayI 8ou 3now how the media are.G E8eah/G Anderson a!reed. E4hey>re li3e hun!ry animals that have to be 0ed.G :ayson still said nothin!. B>@are stared at Anderson. E4hey are/ huhIG @e ointed at :ayson. EAt least this man has the inte!rity to 0eed them out in the o en.G Anderson 0lashed an uncom0ortable smile. EKm/ % don>t understand.G E8ou wouldn>t/G the 9ud!e snarled. EAll the stories on :ayson>s side have been on the record. @e>s !iven short statements and Juotes to the media/ and this recent interview o0 his client was 0ace to 0ace.G B>@are ointed at Rahmani and Anderson. EAlmost all o0 your recent stories have been 0rom Lanonymous sources>G Anderson sat u and strai!htened his tie. E:ud!e/ % ho e you don>t thin3 Samira or % had anythin! to do with those?G ECon>t waste my time with a whole lot o0 cra FG B>@are sna ed. E% could !a! all three o0 you and be on solid !round/ but here>s why % called you here.G @e too3 a dee breath to calm himsel0 and s o3e sli!htly slower and so0ter. E:ayson/ % 3now you acted in sel0+de0ense/ but %>m tellin! you % wouldn>t be ha y to see another interview.G E% understand/ :ud!e/G :ayson re lied. EAs 0or you two/G B>@are said/ bouncin! his cold !lare between the two ACAs/ E%>m 0lat out tellin! you i0 % see one more Lunnamed source> story on the news about the Stone case/ % will !rant a de0ense motion 0or a chan!e o0 venue.G @e aused and leaned 0orward. E4hen %>ll come down on you two li3e 0ire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. Co % ma3e mysel0 clearIG E8es/G Rahmani and Anderson whis ered and nodded. E% want to hear 0rom all arties about schedulin! a re+trial con0erence by 0ive o>cloc3 the day a0ter tomorrow so we can !et this thin! on the doc3et.G Rahmani o ened her hands. E4here are still a 0ew?G EGet out/G B>@are demanded and waved in the direction o0 the door. :ayson stood and 0ollowed Anderson and Rahmani into the outer o00ice. @e was about to close the door when he heard his name called. .ith his hand still on the door3nob/ he leaned 0orward so only his head bro3e the lane into the chambers. E:ud!eIG B>@are didn>t loo3 u but s o3e !ently. E4hat little !randan!el o0 mine/ she>s been doin! real well in ballet. @ow>s your little twin3letoesIG :ayson smiled. EReal !ood. 4han3s 0or as3in!.G @e a reciated B>@are lettin! him 3now that no ill 0eelin!s eAisted between them. @e closed the door and ste ed into the hall with Rahmani and Anderson. 4he buildin! didn>t o en until nine a.m./ so 0oot tra00ic in the area was still almost noneAistent. EBld racist 0art/G Anderson said. E.hat did he wantIG E'othin! im ortant.G Anderson shoo3 his 0in!er at :ayson. E'ow you 3now any ex #arte communication between you and the 9ud!e about the case is?G ECidn>t the old man bite your butt hard enou!hIG :ayson shot bac3. EChannel 'ine/ huh/ smart assIG @e ointed at Anderson. E'one o0 this would>ve ha ened i0 your o00ice hadn>t been lea3in! con0idential in0ormation about the case to the ress.G

Rahmani raised her hands near her 0ace as i0 :ayson held a !un. EB3ay/ it>s water under the brid!e.G She set her brie0case down. ESo what day is !ood 0or you to meetIG E;irst/ % want everythin! you haven>t !iven me/ Samira/G :ayson said. Anderson ste ed closer to Rahmani. E.e>ve !iven you everythin! you>re entitled to.G :ayson 0rowned. E@ow about the witness statement you too3 0rom Gre!ory <or!anIG Rahmani o ened her hands. E.e !ave you that.G E8ou !ave me the 0irst one 0rom the olice/ not the second one you too3 later.G Anderson s otted an attractive blac3 0emale dressed in a business suit. A arently reco!ni7in! her/ he eAcused himsel0 and dashed o00 to s ea3 to her. EKm/ well/ % thou!ht % !ave that to you/G Rahmani said/ clearly embarrassed. EAnd % want that other stu00 too/G :ayson insisted. @e only had 3nowled!e o0 the <or!an witness statement/ but decided to blu00. E.hat other stu00IG :ayson ointed at B>@are>s chambers and too3 a ste 0orward. ECon>t mess with me/ Samira. .e can !o ri!ht bac3 in there and debate this in there.G Rahmani ste ed in 0ront o0 him. E'ow let>s not !et all u set/ :ayson. Sometimes thin!s sli throu!h crac3s. %>ll ma3e sure you !et anythin! else we missed/ um/ ri!ht away.G EBefore % a!ree to a retrial con0erence.G EB0 course/G Rahmani said. E%t>ll be sent over to you/ um/ by the end o0 the day.G :ayson chec3ed to ensure their rivacy and chan!ed the sub9ect to a much more im ortant matter. EAny word on that other thin!IG E'o/ but it>s 9ust a matter o0 time be0ore?G EChrist/ Samira. % don>t have any more timeFG E%>m doin! what % can/ :ayson. 4a3e it easy. %>m waitin! on someone/ too.G :ayson atted Rahmani on the shoulder. E%>m sorry/G he whis ered. E% a reciate your e00orts. % do.G Anderson returned. ESo what did % missIG :ayson and Rahmani eAchan!ed !uilty loo3s. E'othin! im ortant/G :ayson said. N Later that evenin! :ayson/ in his shirtsleeves/ 0ound it di00icult to concentrate on his drivin!. @e turned the steerin! wheel le0t and ri!ht as he sna3ed throu!h the windin! and sur risin!ly busy ;resh Pond Par3way in Cambrid!e. .ith the moonroo0>s tinted !lass anel o en/ he tried to en9oy occasional !lim ses o0 the bri!ht hal0+moon and abundant stars o00ered by the clear/ early :uly s3y. @e casually listened to a tal3 radio discussion about u comin! cases on the doc3et 0or the Knited States Su reme Court. 'ormally he would be totally en!rossed by such a ro!ram/ but his li0e was anythin! but normal these days. A0ter the meetin! in :ud!e B>@are>s chambers/ he had raced bac3 to his o00ice and s ent the entire day there. 4he tele hone had run! re eatedly/ mostly le!itimate business/ alon! with a 0ew cran3s com lainin! about his a earance with Stone on television?as well as additional reJuests 0or interviews. Leslie hadn>t called. :ayson assumed she had decided to ma3e him sweat. %0 she wanted to 0ollow scri ts 0rom the movies/ she would

call his o00ice the neAt day and !ive him barely enou!h time to meet her at a location o0 her choosin!. 4he less time she !ave him/ the less li3ely he would be able to sur rise her. Smart. :ayson chec3ed his rearview mirror and noticed a com act/ red &<. convertible with the to u had been trailin! him since he had le0t the o00ice at around ei!ht+thirty. @e chec3ed the cloc3 on the dashboard: ei!ht+0orty. @e had not aid articularly close attention at 0irst. Dictor drove a similar vehicle/ so did thousands o0 motorists in Greater &oston. Cue to the dar3ness and his reoccu ation with Leslie/ :ayson had not been 0ocusin! on the other vehicles in his vicinity. @e noticed the driver o0 the &eemer stayed well behind even when an o en lane neAt to him became available. %n ten years o0 racticin! law :ayson had never been 0ollowed 0rom his o00ice?at least so 0ar as he 3new. @e slowed down and watched his rearview mirror. 4he driver a eared to be a male. @e wore sun!lasses/ no doubt to obscure his identity/ and had short/ dar3 hair. :ayson didn>t reco!ni7e the man or 3now why he was 0ollowin! him/ but he 3new better than to lead the driver to his home. :ayson could 0eel the rate o0 his heartbeat increase. @e 3e t his ri!ht hand on the steerin! wheel and reached 0or the lower side o0 his seat with his le0t/ chec3in! 0or the tire iron he 3e t there. E%0 you need to bust somebody>s head/ that hun3a metal won>t do you no !ood in the trun3 o0 your car/G his 0ather had told him when :ayson was 9ust a teena!er. Althou!h he had an unlisted home tele hone number/ he recalled that the Boston Courier/ in more than one snide article/ had revealed ECoo3 lives away 0rom the blac3 community/ in &elmont.G A0ter Leslie had 0launted her awareness that he lived in &elmont/ :ayson assumed she 3new his address. @e now reali7ed that most li3ely she didn>t: i0 she had/ 3nowin! her/ the troublema3er would have resented hersel0 near his home in some 0ashion. :ayson surmised that Leslie had en!a!ed the services o0 this o erative behind him to ascertain his address. %t made er0ect sense. @e had an advanta!e?he 3new the area. :ayson made a sudden ri!ht turn into a dar3/ narrow/ two+lane rivate street that 0ed into a lar!e ar3in! lot 0or a mall. 4he mall consisted o0 a do7en stores/ and its main attraction: a ten+screen movie theater on the 0ar side o0 the ro erty. :ayson had been there many times and 3new the lot as well as he 3new his 0ront yard. @e drove about 0i0ty yards be0ore he s otted the re0lection o0 the red convertible as it turned onto the street. .hen :ayson reached the ed!e o0 the ar3in! lot/ he Juic3ly turned le0t and 9etted to the end o0 the lot another 0orty yards away. @e a roached the streetli!ht that controlled tra00ic 0or cars enterin! and eAitin! the lot/ then chec3ed 0or oncomin! tra00ic and turned ri!ht onto the busy main street 9ust as the li!ht turned red. Even at that hour/ do7ens o0 vehicles rushed behind him. Given that the li!hts 0avored the main street 0or some len!th o0 time/ he 3new he had lost his tail. N :ayson sat on the bed and tenderly laced his hand on Renee>s le!. She lay on her side with her bac3 to him. A ni!htli!ht similar to the one in :enni0er>s room allowed him to see that Renee had ulled the bed sheet u to her shoulder and covered her le!s with a thin blan3et. :ayson could see the stra s o0 her 0amiliar one iece white ni!ht!own. 4he air conditioner hummed on Juiet mode. ESweetheart/ you o3ayIG he as3ed. E<a!da told

me you>ve been in bed 0or hours. She said you>re not 0eelin! well.G @e lowered his 0ace to 3iss her. Renee ulled on the sheet and laced her hand on her chee3. ECon>t/G she whis ered. @er res onse annoyed :ayson. @e heard her sni00le and reali7ed she had been cryin!/ chan!in! his annoyance to concern. @e ut his hand on her shoulder. E.hat>s the matter/ honeyIG Renee s o3e without 0acin! him. E4he romotion/ % didn>t !et it/G she whim ered. :ayson>s heart san3. EBh honey/ %>m really sorry. % 3now how much you wanted it.G Renee abru tly swun! her elbows and sat u . She scooted to the other side o0 the bed and s o3e without 0acin! him. EAnd % 3now all about your slutty/ youn! !irl0riend with the bi! tits you>ve been meetin! at some stri club.G She 0olded her hands across her chest. E% !uess that>s where you met her in the 0irst lace/ huhIG :ayson closed his eyes and too3 a dee breath. @e had a lot o0 eA lainin! to do. *****

C%A$TE# NINETEEN

:ayson studied the 0ace o0 his recious dau!hter/ who had 9ust closed her eyes. @e had romised he would sit neAt to her until she 0ell bac3 to slee / no matter how lon! it too3. Bbservin! the details o0 her 0eatures/ he had to ac3nowled!e rivately the child did stron!ly resemble Leslie rather than either him or Renee. :ayson relaAed/ sittin! in the chair neAt to the bed where he usually sat when readin! his dau!hter a story. @e en9oyed the serenity the ni!htli!hted room o00ered/ with no noise other than the so0t hum o0 the window air+conditioner. @e watched :enni0er>s chest/ covered by a short+ sleeved/ ladybu!+im rinted a9ama to / rise and 0all. She clutched an Asian 0emale doll named :ade/ i0 :ayson remembered correctly. @e reached 0or the so0t/ ur le blan3et and slid it u to :enni0er>s shoulders. :ade>s 0ace would be hidden/ but he 0elt con0ident the lastic !irl wouldn>t ob9ect. :ayson re0lected on :enni0er>s an!uished sobs when he had 0irst entered her room: E% had a bad dream/ Caddy/G she had cried. E% heard <ommy yellin!.G @e 0elt no re!ret 0or not correctin! the !irl>s belie0 that she had been dreamin!. Knli3e Renee/ who occasionally told :enni0er Elittle white lies 0or her own !ood/G :ayson never lied to her. @owever/ that didn>t mean he always volunteered the truth. .hat ur ose would it have served to have told the child/ E8ou weren>t dreamin!/ sweetheart. <ommy was yellin! at Caddy as i0 she had 9ust lost her mind. <ommy>s 9ust a little u set because she thin3s Caddy has ruined her career. &ut don>t you 0ret. Caddy was able to convince <ommy he>s not 0oolin! around. @e>s 9ust bein! blac3mailed by your birth mother.G :ayson leaned to his ri!ht and whis ered. E:enni0erIG 'o answer. E:enni0er/G he said a!ain. She had 0allen bac3 to slee . @e stood and slowly o ened the door connectin! her room to the hall. A sJuea3 0rom the lowest hin!e made him crin!e. ;or over two wee3s he had romised Renee he would oil that thin!. @e resolved to do so in the mornin!/ then closed the door and wal3ed downstairs to the 3itchen. 4he cloc3 on the stove/ artially hidden by a lar!e/ stainless steel an covered by aluminum 0oil/ read a little a0ter nine+

thirty. @e didn>t sto to ee3 at the treasure underneath the 0oil. Althou!h he was very hun!ry?and made more so by the aroma in the 3itchen?he 3new he had to 0ace Renee a!ain ri!ht away. Cinner would have to wait. .hen he returned to their bedroom he saw Renee sittin! u in bed readin! a boo3. EShe>s aslee /G he re orted. Renee !lanced at :ayson/ then stuc3 a boo3mar3 in her boo3 and laced it on the ni!htstand. EShe o3ayIG :ayson nodded. E8eah. She thou!ht she was dreamin!.G @e handed her a !lass o0 iced water. E% brou!ht you this. ;i!ured your voice would be all raw 0rom overuse.G E4han3 you/G Renee said as she acce ted the eace o00erin! and too3 two lar!e !ul s. E8ou calm enou!h to tal3 rationally or are you !oin! to scare the child awa3e a!ainIG Renee si!hed. E%>m sorry.G :ayson sat at the 0oot o0 the bed. E;or!et it. <a3e it u to :enni0er.G @e o ened his hands. E4his is very serious/ Renee. .e have to wor3 to!ether 0or our dau!hter>s sa3e.G Renee si!hed. E% 3now.G She too3 another si 0rom her !lass and laced it on the ni!htstand. E&ut % 9ust can>t believe you aid that woman money 0or our baby. .hat the hell were you thin3in!IG E% was thin3in! %>d do anythin! to ma3e you ha y/G :ayson re lied. E%t seemed li3e a !ood idea at the time.G E&ut to buy her.G E% didn>t buy her/G :ayson rotested. E% told you/ we called it money 0or/ um/ eA enses.G E;ive thousand dollarsIG :ayson 0rowned. E% 3now it was wron!/ butHG @e sto ed and shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now. % 9ust didn>t want to disa oint you. Remember how you cried 0or days when you heard we mi!ht not !et :enni0erI % !uess % thou!ht?G ECon>t you dare try to ut it on me/G Renee said/ sha3in! her head. E% never told you to bribe that woman. 'ow loo3 what trouble you>ve brou!ht on me?on all o0 us.G :ayson !round his teeth to!ether. @is atience had worn thin. E8ou can lie to yoursel0/ Renee/ but don>t lie to me.G She !rabbed the ed!e o0 the sheet and tu!!ed on it/ ullin! it u to her chest. E.hat are you tal3in! aboutIG :ayson o ened his hands. E.hat the hell did you thin3 ha enedI 8ou outed and boo+hooed rivers o0 tears about losin! Lour baby.> 8ou too3 to your bed 9ust li3e now and demanded % do somethin!/ anythin!. So % le0t the house one mornin! and came bac3 with :enni0er that same ni!ht. Con>t !ive me that Lwhat were you thin3in!> cra .G E% didn>t 3now you were !oin! to bribe her mother.G E8ou didn>t want to 3now/G :ayson declared/ sha3in! his 0in!er. EAnd you never as3ed. 8ou were too ha y about !ettin! what you wanted/ li3e always.G Renee shoo3 her 0in!er bac3 at him. E.hatI %t>s my 0ault nowI %t>s my 0ault % wanted to !ive a beauti0ul little !irl a better li0e than she would have had with her birth mother.G EAnd %>m damn tired o0 hearin! that son!/ too.G E.hat do you mean/ son!IG

:ayson scooted closer to Renee. EAdo tin! a child rather than !ivin! birth to one ensured you wouldn>t lose !round in your career. 'o mornin! sic3ness/ no ta3in! months o00 wor3. @ell/ you hired <a!da ri!ht a0ter :enni0er arrived. @ow many days did you ta3e o00 a0ter % brou!ht her homeI A wee3IG E@ow many days did you ta3eIG :ayson nodded. E8eah/ you>re ri!ht. .e both wanted to be arents without the hassle. &ut at least % admit it. % don>t !o tellin! everyone we did it 0or some !reater !ood.G E8ou>re so noble/G Renee sco00ed/ rollin! her eyes. ELet>s !et bac3 to this woman. Anythin! you want to tell me be0ore it !ets outIG :ayson raised his eyebrow. ELi3e whatIG ELi3e have you ever sle t with herI 8ou been screwin! other womenIG E'o/ never.G E&ut you>ve thou!ht about it/ haven>t youIG ECamn/ Renee/ what man hasn>t thou!ht about itIG :ayson re lied. EEs ecially since we haven>t eAactly been carryin! on li3e newlyweds 0or the last year or so/ have weIG Renee o ened her mouth as i0 she would res ond but instead o00ered no re ly. A0ter a 0ew seconds/ she chan!ed the sub9ect. E% heard she>s very retty. %s sheIG E.hoIG E.ho have we been tal3in! aboutI :enni0er>s mother.G :ayson shru!!ed. E% !uess. .here do you thin3 :enni0er !ot her loo3sIG Renee ointed at him. EAnd nothin! ever ha ened between you and this woman? this wench who>s su osed to be every man>s wet dreamIG :ayson too3 in a dee breath. E@ow many times do % have to say no/ ReneeI And who told you about me bein! at that club/ anywayIG Renee scowled and dismissed the in0ormant with a wave o0 her hand. ESome un3 ass intern who>s been botherin! me 0or wee3s. .hen % told him in no uncertain terms % wasn>t interested and mentioned my wonder0ul husband/ he as3ed me i0 you>re so wonder0ul/ how come he saw you at some stri club han!in! all over some youn! cutie with tits the si7e o0 melonsIG She ut her hands over her 0ace. E%>ve never been so humiliated in my li0e.G :ayson balled u his 0ist. ELyin! son o0 a bitch. .ho is he/ this internIG E%t doesn>t matter. .hat are we !oin! to do about this hei0erIG E% told you already/G :ayson said. E%>m wor3in! on a way to sto her/ but i0 that 0alls throu!h/ when she calls %>m !oin! to tell her %>m not !ivin! her a dime/ that %>ve told you everythin!/ and we>re united on this.G @e reached 0or Renee>s hand/ sJuee7ed and 3issed it. E.e are/ aren>t weIG @e stared at her. A0ter a very lon! silence/ Renee 3issed his hand and returned the !a7e into his eyes. E8es/ we are.G She scooted closer and 3issed him. E'ow tell me what you>ve been wor3in! on to sto this bitch.G N 4he day a0ter his conversation with Renee/ :ayson/ seated at the wor3table in his o00ice/ eAamined the ac3a!e that Rahmani/ as romised/ had sent concernin! the Stone case. %t contained the second witness statement 0rom Gre!ory <or!an and a 0ew 0ollow+ u re orts. 4o :ayson they indicated the state>s lac3 o0 con0idence about some o0 its

0orensic tests and witness statements/ somethin! he could use to lant reasonable doubt in the minds o0 the 9ury. Bverall/ the ac3a!e held no shoc3in! revelations. Still/ :ayson 0elt annoyed the in0ormation hadn>t been turned over without his roddin!. @e chec3ed his watch. 'early seven .m. Camn. @ow come Leslie hadn>t calledI @e ic3ed u siA envelo es that had arrived in the a0ternoon mail 0or &rian Stone. @e had never be0ore received a letter directed to Stone. :ayson counted one er0ume+ scented/ rose+colored envelo e with only the return address= one avocado !reen envelo e with a woman>s name and return address= two white envelo es with no return addresses= and two white envelo es with women>s names and return addresses. B0 course :ayson hadn>t o ened the envelo es but he could !uess their contents. Stone>s interview had yielded initiatives 0rom sin!le women wantin! to ma3e his acJuaintance. :ayson shoo3 his head and chuc3led/ recallin! his conversation with 4eni3a earlier. E% chec3ed with my 0riend at the 9ail/G 4eni3a had said. EShe told me they o ened seven letters addressed to &rian Stone 0rom women ran!in! 0rom ei!hteen years old to thirty. ;our o0 them had sent hoto!ra hs?two were wearin! swimwear.G :ayson se arated the siA envelo es. 4hree seemed a bit heavy= they robably contained hoto!ra hs. @e wondered what 3ind o0 woman would write to a man in 9ail/ char!ed with murderin! a child/ and all but o00er to be his !irl0riendI @e su osed loneliness could drive a erson to do stran!e thin!s. @e had seen such weirdness more than once in his ten years de0endin! accused criminals. @e had once de0ended a tall/ handsome/ well+read %talian man who wrote oetry. &e0ore bein! convicted o0 armed ban3 robbery/ the charmer had received about a hundred letters 0rom interested women/ some all the way 0rom %taly. :ayson chec3ed his watch a!ain. Still no call 0rom Leslie. E&itch/G he muttered. @e re0lected on his own miAed 0eelin!s about Stone. @e didn>t understand the man. %nitially he had 0ound his youn! client absolutely re ulsive/ but a0ter wor3in! with him on his de0ense strate!y he had also 0ound him to be intelli!ent/ lonely/ con0used?and !uilt+ridden. %n his line o0 wor3/ :ayson had met socio aths who dis layed not even a hint o0 com unction about their crimes. Stone>s attem ted declarations o0 remorse?which :ayson had re eatedly interru ted?hadn>t totally 0allen on dea0 ears. :ayson believed the man had done a terrible thin! but hadn>t intended to hurt anyone. :ayson>s mother had o0ten advised him that when he encountered eo le accused o0 committin! sometimes heinous crimes/ he should ta3e the time to thin3 about how they would have turned out i0 their asts had been di00erent. @e could hear his mom>s voice: E8ou were brou!ht u in a God+0earin! 0amily with eo le who loved you. .hat i0 those eo le sittin! neAt to you in court had had the same !ood 0ortuneIG &eatrice Coo3>s advice notwithstandin!/ :ayson tended to ado t Seth Greenber!>s hiloso hy: E'ever !et emotionally involved with a client one way or another/ es ecially a client o0 the o osite seA. Con>t !o clutterin! u your minds with distractions. 8our 9ob is to rovide them with the best criminal de0ense ossible within the law. %0 you start wonderin! what ma3es them tic3 and try to analy7e them/ you>ll lose your ob9ectivity and your ability to do your 9ob. Leave their souls to the cler!y and concentrate on 3ee in! the state honest by re resentin! their bodies.G :ayson had seen numerous television ro!rams in which de0ense attorneys a!oni7ed over the innocence or !uilt o0 their clients/ and had met a 0ew ublic de0enders/ 0resh out o0 law school/ who did the same. @e never did. @e

concentrated on his 9ob: to 3ee the state honest by rovidin! the best de0ense 0or his client. .hy hadn>t Leslie calledI @e !rabbed another set o0 letters that had been ilin! u over the ast two months: his hate mail. @e counted twenty+siA in all/ 0ive new ones since his recent television a earance= nothin! overwhelmin!. ;ortunately/ eo le were too la7y to write letters these days/ :ayson assumed. 4hey re0erred to ic3 u the tele hone/ utter a 0ew ro0anities/ and han! u . @e had !rown immune to rantin!s by tele hone or by letter. 4eni3a allowed the letters to u set her. Connie 0ound them amusin!. Dictor/ initially shoc3ed/ came to dismiss them when he saw the numerous s ellin! and !rammatical mista3es they contained. :ayson o ened one letter si!ned by a E0i!hteen year old.G ECear <r. uncle 4om oreo coo3ie/G the writer had o ened. E% seen you on tv last ni!ht with that man who 3illed the blac3 !irl and wonder what 3ind o0 blac3 man would hel a white devil destroy our ee le. Coes it ma3e you 0eel roud to be on tv and betray your ee leI <y 0ather is in 9ail because the white devils li3e to ut blac3 men in 9ail. .hy dont you hel innosent blac3 men li3e him insted o0 !ettin! on your nees on tv and suc3in! some white man>s?G 4eni3a rescued :ayson 0rom 0urther insults by 3noc3in! on the door and enterin!. She carried two a er cu s 0illed with iced diet soda. E:ayson/ % don>t want to ry/G she said solemnly/ Ebut are you o3ayIG :ayson let !o o0 the letter li3e a live was and covered the ile with a 0older. @e didn>t want 4eni3a to see it. E@uhI Sure/ %>m 0ine.G 4eni3a a roached his table. E'o/ you>re not. 8ou>ve been sittin! in your o00ice 0or two days now and mo in! around li3e you 9ust lost your best 0riend.G She ut her hands on her massive hi s. E'ow % want to 3now what>s !oin! on.G E%t>s ersonal/ 4eni3a/G :ayson re lied dryly. E% 3now you won>t be in tomorrow until noon. % said you don>t have to stay late/ so !o loc3 u and let me !et bac3 to wor3.G 4eni3a sat down at the table as thou!h she hadn>t heard him. She ushed his a ers aside/ slid one cu toward him and 0olded her hands. EAny time you>re ready.G A0ter a lon! eriod o0 silence/ :ayson closed his eyes/ then o ened them and too3 a dee breath. E%>m in bi! trouble/G he con0essed/ and told 4eni3a the entire story about Leslie. 4eni3a shoo3 her head. ESheesh/ % had no idea. So today>s doomsday/ huhIG :ayson nodded. E.hy didn>t you tell meIG E% !uess % didn>t want anyone to 3now what an idiot % am.G 4eni3a sJuee7ed :ayson>s hand. E'onsense. 8ou>re one o0 the most brilliant men % 3now.G She ut her hand to her chin. E%>ve !ot to con0ess/ all this time % thou!ht you were 9ust another man messin> around on his wi0e. % should>ve 3nown better.G :ayson shru!!ed. E.hat else could you have thou!ht/ the way %>ve been actin!IG 4eni3a hun! her head. E%>m 3inda resi!ned to the reality %>m never !oin! to !et mysel0 married.G She atted her meaty thi!hs. E4here ain>t a lot o0 men loo3in! 0or 0ortysomethin!+year+old women my si7e.G E8ou never 3now/ 4eni3a. God can?G

E8eah/ % do/G she retorted. E&ut % wanted to as3 you somethin!: % was wonderin! i0 you mi!ht recommend someone who handles ado tions. %0 % can>t ma3e some man a !ood wi0e/ maybe % can ma3e some child a !ood mother.G :ayson 0lashed a broad smile. E% thin3 you>d be a wonder0ul mother. Km/ you sure you want to ta3e advice 0rom meIG @e burst into lau!hter. 4eni3a lau!hed too. EB0 course.G She chec3ed her watch and stood. E%t>s late/ almost seven+thirty/ but %>ll stay here with you until that witch calls i0 you want me to.G :ayson shoo3 his head. E'o/ you !o on home/ and %>ll have a cou le o0 names o0 some !ood ado tion attorneys 0or you in a day or two.G E4a3e your time/G 4eni3a said. She ambled toward the door but sto ed when the tele hone ran! and turned around/ dis layin! widened eyes. ECo you thin3 it>s herIG EBnly one way to 0ind out.G 4eni3a darted over to :ayson>s des3 and ic3ed u the receiver. ECoo3 Law B00iceH Bne moment lease/ %>ll see i0 he>s available.G She ut the caller on hold. E%t>s Samira Rahmani. She said she>s !ot im ortant in0ormation about that s ecial ro9ect.G :ayson 0elt his heart oundin! and 0inished his drin3. @e bounded out o0 his chair/ ste ed to the other side o0 the des3 and too3 the receiver. EStay here/ lease/G he as3ed. E@elloIH8ou sureIHKm+hmm.G @e sat down and switched the receiver to his other ear. E.hat ha ens nowIH% understand. %>ll call you at home toni!ht. 4han3 you so much.G @e hun! u . 4eni3a ste ed closer to his des3. E.ellIG :ayson smiled. E% !ot a re rieve. Samira told me Leslie and a male com anion? robably the man who tried to 0ollow me yesterday?!ot ic3ed u by %mmi!ration.G E%mmi!rationIG E8eah. Leslie>s ille!al/G :ayson said. EShe>s 0rom Costa Rica. % needed hel so % called Samira and she called a 0riend.G ESo are they !oin! to de ort herIG :ayson shoo3 his head. E'ot ri!ht away. Kn0ortunately 0or her/ that com anion/ who>s Colombian/ had several ounds o0 mari9uana and a 0ew hand!uns in the trun3 o0 his car/ so they>re holdin! them both in a detention center under 0ederal anti+terrorism statutes.G E.hereIG EShe didn>t say.G E@ow lon! can they hold herIG :ayson shru!!ed. ESeven days without char!e. A0ter they>re char!ed/ % don>t 3now.G 4eni3a stood. EAt least you>ve !ot seven days. <aybe more to?G 4he tele hone ran! a!ain. She !rabbed the receiver/ re eated her routine and ut the caller on hold. E%t>s <ichelle .hat>s+@er+'ame 0rom Channel Ei!ht.G :ayson too3 the receiver. E.hat>s u <ichIHReallyI .hat ha enedIHB3ay. %>m on my way.G @e hun! u . E<ust be my luc3y day.G E.hat do you meanIG E<ichelle wants to see me ri!ht away. Said she>s !ot some news that could ossibly chan!e the whole dynamic o0 the Stone case.G @e ointed at his suit 9ac3et on the coat rac3 near the door. 4eni3a !rabbed it and handed it to him. @e s o3e ra idly while sli in! on his 9ac3et. E%>ll call Renee 0rom the car and tell her about Leslie.G @e aused. E% don>t li3e you loc3in! u by yoursel0.G

4eni3a nud!ed her boss with her ri!ht hand. E%t>s still dayli!ht/ but %>ll have one o0 the !uys 0rom the restaurant down the street come over. Go.G E.ell/ be real care0ul. 4han3s 0or everythin!/G :ayson said. @e snatched his brie0case o00 the 0loor near his table and le0t 4eni3a standin! in the middle o0 his o00ice. *****

C%A$TE# T&ENTY

4hirty minutes a0ter s ea3in! to <ichelle Lin! on the tele hone/ :ayson studied ima!es on a monitor in the editin! room at the Channel Ei!ht 'ews studio. 4he room wasn>t much bi!!er than the wal3+in closet o0 his master bedroom. @e 3e t his distance to avoid touchin! any o0 the electronic eJui ment stac3ed a!ainst the wall. A multiunit shelvin! system about ten 0eet wide/ and taller than he/ housed over twenty video+editin! and viewin! machines. Some o0 the eJui ment loo3ed un0amiliar to :ayson. @e assumed the blac3 boAes with the numerous dials were 0or video laybac3/ de0initely more com licated than a &lu+ray layer. <ichelle/ standin! neAt to him wearin! a carnation in3 sleeveless shirt and bur!undy ants/ ressed a button on one o0 the blac3 machines and too3 a ste bac3. She ointed at the monitor and described the scene. E4hey sat in the sJuad car down the street 0rom that house 0or about thirty minutes/G she re orted. E4hey were waitin! 0or them. 4his is at the end when the meetin! bro3e u .G :ayson stared at the monitor and noticed the olice cruiser at the bottom o0 the screen. E%s that .ashin!ton and ScottIG <ichelle nodded. E8e . .e watched them 0or a cou le o0 hours 0or the ast three days. ;or the 0irst two days/ nothin!/ but today we !ot luc3y.G :ayson returned his attention to the sJuad car and its surroundin!s. A hal0+do7en blac3 men eAited a small/ two+story home with a oorly+3e t 0ront yard. 4hey wore casual clothes/ mostly 9eans and short+sleeved shirts/ and conversed with each other in a leisurely way be0ore 0annin! out and !ettin! into three cars ar3ed on the street. Bne man entered a subcom act vehicle. 4wo lar!e men o ened the doors to a two+door cou e= the other three !ot into an old sedan. 4he red li!hts at the rear o0 the vehicles lit u and the automobiles slowly ulled away 0rom the curb. E.here>s thisIG :ayson as3ed. E%n <atta an/G <ichelle answered. E%t>s art o0 Cistrict Ei!hteen/ their beat.G E.ho are those men in the carsIG EA small !rou o0 &lac3 <uslims/G <ichelle said. ECall themselves the .arriors o0 %slam. 4heir leader would ma3e Louis ;arra3han sound li3e Santa Claus. 4hey were in the news a 0ew months bac3 because o0 some alle!ations about child ne!lect.G :ayson ta ed his li s with his indeA 0in!er and searched his memory. E% read somethin! about them in the Boston Courier= not sendin! their 3ids to school.G @e shoo3 his 0in!er. E%sn>t their leader some nut who says he>s <oses reincarnated or somethin!IG E8eah/G <ichelle re lied. EAnd he says the white devils are the real ille!al aliens and should leave this country to the ri!ht0ul inhabitants?the blac3 and brown eo le/ and i0 the white devils don>t leave they should be driven out.G

E.hewFG :ayson eAclaimed. EAt least % won>t have to move when they ta3e over.G @e cut his eyes at <ichelle. E% don>t 3now about you/ thou!h.G She lau!hed. EPut in a word 0or me. .ill yaIG E%>ll see what % can do/G :ayson 9o3ed. @e turned bac3 to the monitor. ESo co s have been assi!ned to 3ee them under surveillance/ huhIG <ichelle shoo3 her head. E%>m not sure. %>ve !ot a 0eelin! some o0 &oston>s 0inest have ta3en it u on themselves to chec3 out undesirables.G E4he Protectors/ huhIG E<aybe.G :ayson nodded. E4hey>re chec3in! out !rou s with Juestionable?some would say radical olitical belie0s/ li3e these eo le and Gre! <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior.G EEAactly. EJual o ortunity vi!ilantes.G :ayson watched the monitor and 0ollowed the olice car as it coasted behind the three vehicles at a distance. Bne automobile reached the 0irst intersection and turned le0t. 4he sedan turned ri!ht. 4he third car/ the subcom act/ roceeded throu!h the intersection. E.ho>s ta3in! the videoIG EA real talented 3id named :uan Carlo/ one o0 our camera o erators/G <ichelle said. E%>m drivin! his SKD and he>s holdin! the camera. .e didn>t want to use one o0 the station vans or we would>ve been s otted.G :ayson chuc3led. ESmart.G @e aid close attention as the olice cruiser 0ollowed the lone driver o0 the third vehicle 0or several bloc3s. E.hen did you ta3e theseIG EA cou le o0 hours a!o/G <ichelle said. She became eAcited and ointed. E4his is where they 0lashed their li!hts and ulled him over. .e didn>t have sound so we weren>t able to tell what they said.G :ayson stared at the screen. 4he camera o erator 7oomed in on the subcom act>s license late/ then on Scott/ who !ot out o0 the sJuad car and swa!!ered toward the driver. Scott became a bit smaller as the sco e widened 9ust enou!h to ca ture both o00icers standin! at o osite sides o0 the vehicle. .ashin!ton eered into the assen!er side. :ayson chuc3led. ESo they tar!et someone who>s alone= no witnesses.G EKm+hmm/G <ichelle said and ran her indeA 0in!er over the ed!es o0 the screen. EAnd they 0la! them down when they>re in an area with 0ew houses.G :ayson observed Scott/ who ste ed bac3 enou!h to allow the driver/ a small+ 0ramed/ dar3+s3inned/ bald youn! man/ to emer!e 0rom the car. 4he man a eared to be very an!ry. @e yelled at Scott and shoo3 his 0in!er violently in the o00icer>s 0ace. 4he seasoned oliceman too3 another ste bac3 and ut his ri!ht hand on his belt. EKh+oh/G :ayson said. E@e>s !oin! 0or the mace.G EKh+un/G <ichelle disa!reed. E@e>s !onna ma3e the driver rove he>s not drun3. Stand on one le!/ wal3 a strai!ht line. 4otal &S.G She ointed. E&ut watch .ashin!ton.G :ayson leaned closer and observed the olicewoman. @er head and arm disa eared as she reached into the car throu!h the o en window. A 0ew seconds later she emer!ed holdin! an ob9ect in her ri!ht hand. :ayson leaned even closer. EBh my God. %s that a !unIG EKm+hmm.G :ayson watched. .ashin!ton held the !un in the air and a arently called to her artner/ which caused the driver to turn in her direction. 4he youn! man ointed at .ashin!ton and shouted somethin!/ then too3 three ra id ste s toward the rear o0 the

vehicle. @e didn>t !et very 0ar. Scott tri ed him= then he and .ashin!ton easily subdued and handcu00ed him. ESon o0 a bitchFG :ayson eAclaimed. E% bet that !un was in the !love com artment.G <ichelle nodded. E&ut the olice re ort will say .ashin!ton 0ound it somewhere else.G :ayson chuc3led. ELet me !uess/ um/ on the assen!er seatIG @e turned bac3 to the ima!es on the screen. .ashin!ton escorted the handcu00ed driver to the sJuad car and o ened the bac3seat door. Scott/ wal3in! a 0ew 0eet behind her/ sto ed and !estured/ almost as thou!h ointin! at the viewers. EKh+oh/G :ayson said. E4hey s otted you.G <ichelle 0rowned. E8eah. % wanted to stay and con0ront them but :uan Carlo/ who>s had bad eA eriences with co s !rowin! u / shouted at me to !o.G :ayson observed 0urther. Scott !rew bi!!er as he a roached the SKD/ but the s ace between him and the bottom o0 the screen !rew wider as <ichelle 9etted the car bac3wards. 4he ima!es blurred/ then the screen abru tly went blac3. E8ou thin3 he !ot your license late numberIG <ichelle shoo3 her head. E% don>t thin3 so. :uan Carlo>s not too com0ortable/ thou!h. @e says he>s !oin! to stay at his sister>s toni!ht.G She shut o00 the machine. E'ow whatIG :ayson as3ed. E'ow % need to contact the o00icers and their immediate su ervisor/G <ichelle re lied/ Eand 0ind out who that man is and as3 him 0or a comment be0ore we run the story.G :ayson rubbed his 0in!ers a!ainst his chin. E% recommend you !et hold o0 .ashin!ton 0irst/ and alone. She>s the wea3est lin3. Put a little ressure on her and she mi!ht crac3.G @e sna ed his 0in!ers. E<y arale!al says she lives in an a artment com leA down the street 0rom her.G Suddenly <ichelle !rabbed :ayson>s arm/ clearly eAcited. She loo3ed at her watch. E% thin3 they !et o00 at eleven.G :ayson chec3ed his watch also. E4hen we>ve !ot lenty o0 time. Let>s study the video real !ood/ then !rab a bite to eat and ay her a visit.G <ichelle nodded enthusiastically. EB3ay. %>ll have to hustle u a camera o on standby.G She shoo3 her 0ists. E4hat wee3end anchor chair>s as !ood as mineFG N :ayson sat in his car and listened to so0t/ mellow contem orary 9a77 music on the radio. Amon! the twenty+0our ar3in! s aces at the rear o0 AleAis .ashin!ton>s a artment buildin!/ he counted 0ive em ty. @e had ar3ed his car as 0ar 0rom the bac3 door as ossible and watched the only entrance into the lot. @e had removed his 9ac3et and rolled down the two 0ront windows/ allowin! intermittent so0t bree7es o0 humid air to caress his 0ace. Accordin! to the news re ort he had heard on the way/ the tem erature/ which had reached ninety de!rees earlier that day/ had dro ed to seventy. <ichelle had stationed hersel0 at the 0ront entrance. She had a!reed to allow :ayson to ma3e 0irst contact. @e understood he would have to a roach .ashin!ton Juic3ly/ be0ore she entered the buildin!/ but care0ully/ so not to startle her to the oint she believed she was under attac3. <any olice o00icers carried their service wea ons on them even when o00 duty.

:ayson listened to the saAo hone layer>s de0t rendition o0 ESweet LoveG and allowed his thou!hts to dri0t to his recent calls home. Bther than 0or a 0ew minutes in the mornin!/ he hadn>t seen :enni0er or Renee that day. @e suddenly 0elt lonely and recalled the brie0 advice he had received on his weddin! day. @is 0ather/ a Juiet man who had resented his mother with a red rose every month 0or nearly 0orty years/ had warned that a man who didn>t ma3e time 0or his 0amily should not be sur rised to 0ind his wi0e distant and his children indi00erent toward him. :ayson had discerned distrust in Renee>s voice when he had in0ormed her he would be home erha s a0ter midni!ht and why. A0ter ten years o0 marria!e he had come to reali7e beside the 0act she disa roved o0 his ro0ession?es ecially his involvement with &rian Stone?she had never been com letely willin! to trust his 0idelity. :ayson recalled Renee>s tear0ul admissions that occasional rumors about a00airs between her 0ather and the seAually a!!ressive 0emale students at the university where he tau!ht En!lish literature had been a constant roblem 0or her arents. Renee>s mother/ a tem eramental art history ro0essor/ had married Renee>s 0ather believin! she had chosen what her own mother had not: a 0aith0ul husband. Renee>s !randmother had admonished her dau!hter/ who in turn had admonished Renee/ EA man>s not !oin! to 3ee his ants u when tem ted.G Knli3e Renee>s mother/ who too3 ains to con0ront Renee>s 0ather about every rumor/ Renee had chosen two di00erent strate!ies. 4he 0irst involved emotional distance. She would never lace her career a0ter her husband>s?not that :ayson would ever as3 0or such a sacri0ice. She also didn>t allow hersel0 to become too emotionally o en or vulnerable. :ayson now reali7ed that 0or Renee/ havin! ta3en such recautions/ i0 and when he cheated/ the hurt wouldn>t be too severe. @er second ath involved assive a!!ressiveness: the silence/ the sul3in!/ the nonres onse to her hand bein! sJuee7ed/ the withdrawal o0 hysical a00ection?all art o0 her arsenal. :ayson sus ected he had made a mista3e by uttin! u with Renee>s mood swin!s 0or ten years rather than by con0rontin! her= he had been too busy with wor3/ he had to con0ess. 4he chan!e in music to a Latin 9a77 beat caused his concern to shi0t to Leslie>s situation. @e 0elt some !uilt about his dau!hter>s birth mother bein! held at a 0ederal detention center because o0 his initiative. 'onciti7ens could claim a 0ew le!al ri!hts under 0ederal immi!ration laws/ but they didn>t en9oy the rotections a00orded citi7ens under the K.S. Constitution. Ce endin! on the whims and ambitions o0 the o00icials involved/ Leslie could ossibly s end years behind bars 0or dru! tra00ic3in!. 4hat had certainly not been his intention/ but how was he su osed to 3now the woman had a dru! dealer 0or a boy0riendI &eatrice Coo3>s re eated admonition came to mind/ conveyed to :ayson as a child: E&ad thin!s o0ten ha en to !ood eo le in bad com any.G :ayson>s mobile hone ran!. @e read the screen in0ormation and answered. E.hat>ve you !ot <ichIHShe>s hereIH8ou sureIHB3ay. Go to the diner % showed you down the street and sit ti!ht until % call you.G @e hun! u and 0elt his anAiety rise when he saw the driveway !round li!ht u / 0ollowed by the a earance o0 a blac3/ s orty com act car. 4he 0emale driver ar3ed in an em ty s ot directly across 0rom the bac3door. :ayson sus ected a trained olice o00icer would robably notice a late model :a!uar ar3ed nearby/ boAin! in three o0 her nei!hbors/ so he rolled u the windows and eAited his car 9ust as .ashin!ton/ carryin! a du00el ba!/ did the same.

:ayson called to her when she reached the middle o0 the lot about hal0way between her vehicle and the door. EB00icer .ashin!tonIG She sto ed/ then too3 a ste bac3ward. E.ho are youIG E%t>s :ayson Coo3/ the attorney/G :ayson re lied and wal3ed slowly toward her with his hands visible. E.hat do you wantIG @e closed in to within 0ive 0eet o0 her. E% want to hel you.G EAnd why do % need hel IG :ayson too3 another ste 0orward. E&ecause today you and your artner ille!ally sto ed and arrested a man because he>s a member o0 the .arriors o0 %slam.G .ashin!ton started 0or the door. E% don>t 3now what you>re tal3in! about.G E%t>s all on camera and %>ve seen it.G .ashin!ton halted and turned around. She closed her eyes and si!hed dee ly. E8ou>re not here to hel me/ counselor.G :ayson a roached to within arm>s reach o0 her. E%>m not !oin! to lie to you/ AleAis. %>m interested in hel in! my client &rian Stone. Are you one o0 the ProtectorsIG 4he mention o0 the word caused .ashin!ton to wince. She shoo3 her 0in!er at :ayson. E% heard you were real !ood.G She bec3oned with her hand. E.e>ll tal3 inside.G 4hey too3 the stairs to the second 0loor and entered her s acious one bedroom a artment. :ayson 0ound the air in the unit to be cool and com0ortable due to a runnin! air conditioner in the window/ robably on a timer. @e eAamined his surroundin!s and res ected that .ashin!ton had decorated the lace nicely and 3e t it tidy. A arently she ossessed a 0ondness 0or lants. @e counted ten otted lants han!in! or sittin! near the lar!e 0ront window/ covered by !reen curtains. 4wo lar!e hoto!ra hs han!in! on o osite walls consisted o0 nature scenes: lea0y trees surrounded by tall !rass and atches o0 wild0lowers. A very 0urry cat a eared 0rom the hall leadin! to the bedroom and bathroom/ and !reeted the mistress o0 the house by rubbin! a!ainst her le!s. .ashin!ton ic3ed u the animal and stro3ed it a 0ew times/ then carried it into the hall/ tossed it into her bedroom and closed the door. She entered the 3itchen and o ened the re0ri!erator. E8ou want a beerIG she as3ed. :ayson acce ted the o00er and noticed her re0ri!erator contained much more beer than 0ood. .hile his hostess rumma!ed around in the 3itchen/ :ayson eAamined a hoto!ra h on to o0 a boo3shel0 in the livin! room. %n it/ a beamin!/ uni0ormed .ashin!ton/ with her hair a 0ew inches lon!er/ osed between a much older man and woman. E8our 0ol3sIG .ashin!ton entered the livin! room holdin! two bottles o0 beer and handed one to :ayson. She ushed a button to lower the tem erature o0 the air conditioner and lo ed onto the loveseat. E8eah. <y dad>s a retired co .G :ayson reclined on the so0a a 0ew 0eet away. EReallyI @e must be very roud o0 you.G @e too3 a swi! 0rom his bottle. EKm+hmm/G .ashin!ton re lied in a so0t/ lethar!ic voice. She a eared to be Juite tired. @er shoulders and eyes droo ed. EShe too3 several lon! !ul s o0 beer. E% never really wanted to be a co .G :ayson sat u . E'oIG

.ashin!ton shru!!ed. E<aybe that>s why %>m not really !ood at it. %>ve tried. <y older brother !ot 3illed in a car accident when % was a teena!er. @e was a star at the olice academy. % !uess % 9ust wanted my dad toHG @er voice tailed o00. E'ow/ %>m 0uc3ed.G :ayson leaned 0orward. EListen/ AleAis/ you can still do the ri!ht thin! here. <ichelle Lin! 0rom Channel Ei!ht>s waitin! at the diner down the street. She>s !ot a camera o erator on standby and she>s waitin! 0or my call.G @e reached into his ants oc3et and retrieved his mobile hone. ECome clean and you>ll be a hero 0or eA osin! this mess.G @e saw the irony in dis ensin! advice he would 0ind lau!hable i0 servin! as her le!al counsel. @e always told his clients when in trouble/ 3ee their mouths shut and wait 0or an attorney. E% can>t betray my artner.G ELoo3/ AleAis/G :ayson said. E.hen the shit hits the 0an/ it>s !onna be everyone 0or himsel0. Scott only hel ed you in the ast to control you.G @e ressed a button/ causin! his mobile hone screen to li!ht u . E% 3now you>re a !ood woman and this thin!>s been tearin! you u inside. 8ou>re youn!. Get this behind you and then start a new li0e.G .ashin!ton si!hed/ clearly eAhausted. She stared at the new car et 0or several seconds/ then s o3e very so0tly. E% didn>t li3e what we were doin!/ not one bit.G :ayson nodded. E% 3now. % could tell when % interviewed you that you were nothin! li3e Scott.G @e hit the redial button on his hone and raised it to his mouth. E<ich/ B00icer .ashin!ton>s willin! to !ive you a statement. Get your !uy over here/ but hurry. .e don>t want to 3ee her any lon!er than we have to. She>s tired and needs to rest.G @e hun! u . .ashin!ton smiled. EAleA/G she whis ered. E<ost eo le call me AleA.G :ayson smiled. EAleA it is.G @e ointed at himsel0. E:ayson/ with a 8.G .ashin!ton loo3ed him over. E4oo bad you>re married/ :ayson with a 8/G she moaned. E%t>s been almost a year since %>ve had a little...G She 0inished her beer instead o0 her thou!ht/ then si!hed and whis ered/ a blan3 eA ression on her 0ace. E.hen this is over/ % could sure use a !ood 0uc3.G :ayson couldn>t thin3 o0 a res onse. N ;ive days a0ter his unannounced visit to AleAis .ashin!ton>s residence/ :ayson and his sta00 !atherin! in his con0erence room to watch Channel Ei!ht>s 0ive o>cloc3 news/ which would be!in in 0ive minutes. Connie and 4eni3a/ sittin! neAt to each other/ bantered bac3 and 0orth li3e two hi!h school cheerleaders awaitin! a layo00 !ame. Dictor/ the sel0+a ointed e+technician/ stood at his ost alon!side the television ready to start the recorder. @e 9o3ed with :ayson and the two women about the thic3 layers o0 ma3eu the 0emale news anchor usually wore/ callin! her a white !eisha. Even :ayson couldn>t hide his eAcitement. @e ta ed nervously with his en on the le!al ad in his la . 4he tele hone ran! and 4eni3a ut her hands on the arms o0 her chair. EStay there/G :ayson told her. E%>ll !et it. @e darted out o0 the noisy con0erence room/ then closed the door behind him and !rabbed the tele hone on 4eni3a>s des3. ECoo3 Law B00ice/G he said. E%t>s Samira. % !uess you>re about to watch the news.G

E8eah/G :ayson re lied. EBne o0 your witnesses is chan!in! her story.G E4he word o0 a mar!inal em loyee a!ainst a twenty+year veteran/G Rahmani retorted. EAnyway/ % called to tell you that your Costa Rican 0riend>s bein! char!ed with tra00ic3in!. 4he 0eds are sJuee7in! her to 0ind out what she 3nows about her boy0riend>s o eration.G E.here is sheIG E% don>t 3now/ but 9ust leave her there/ :ayson. Serves her ri!ht 0or?G E;ind out/ 0or me/ Samira/ will youIG A0ter a lon! ause/ she re lied. EB3ay. Go watch the news. &ye.G :ayson hun! u and heard his sta00 clamorin! 0or his return. EB3ayFG he shouted bac3. @e returned to the con0erence room and re layed Rahmani>s advice in his head: E:ust leave her there.G Could he do such a thin! to :enni0er>s motherI *****

C%A$TE# T&ENTY*ONE

Clutchin! his notes/ :ayson ste ed behind the odium and stood between his table and the rosecutors>. @e made eye contact with AleAis .ashin!ton/ seated in the witness boA ten 0eet away si in! 0rom a a er cu 0illed with water. A month had assed since he had seen her len!thy/ eA losive late+ni!ht interview with <ichelle Lin! on the news/ in two arts. Althou!h he had Juestioned witnesses in re+trial hearin!s numerous times/ he still 0elt nervous at this sta!e. @e had been u late wor3in! on his Juestions/ honin! them to ensure he didn>t as3 any more than necessary to su ort his motion to su ress evidence. @e 3new he wouldn>t be !ranted unlimited time to elicit testimony 0rom his chie0 witness. :ud!e B>@are didn>t allow lon!/ 0lowery statements and eAcess verbia!e. @e 0reJuently cut o00 dramatic or loJuacious lawyers in mid+sentence with a curt Esave the s eech 0or trial.G :ayson o00ered a sli!ht smile to .ashin!ton/ who wore a white blouse and leated laid s3irt. She loo3ed li3e a Catholic school!irl= not an accident. @e had recommended her out0it because he remembered B>@are had roudly mentioned that all his children and !randchildren had attended such schools. .ashin!ton !lanced at Connie?who sat at the de0ense table to :ayson>s le0t?and 0rowned at &rian Stone/ who sat at the end o0 the table wearin! a tie and dress shirt. :ayson ee3ed at Stone. 4he man too3 surre titious dee breaths/ attem tin! to calm his nerves. :ayson turned to his ri!ht. Rahmani and Anderson sat at a table identical to his. &ehind them/ on the other side o0 the artition/ the s ectator section was crowded with all ei!hty seats occu ied. 4wo additional court o00icers stood watch. <embers o0 the news media too3 u hal0 the seats/ with the national ress outnumberin! the locals. .ord o0 :ayson>s reluctant/ belea!uered star witness 0or the mid+Au!ust re+trial hearin! had traveled 0ast and 0ar. B>@are had 0orbidden electronic recordin!s o0 the hearin!/ so re orters scribbled 0everishly on note ads o0 all si7es. :ayson s otted Reverend %saiah ;. &radley and a 0ew o0 his 0ollowers !lowerin! at him. Earlier/ Stone had ointed out three youn!/ reasonably attractive women? 0ortunately s read out amon! the s ectators?with whom he had been corres ondin!.

Rather than bein! leased/ he seemed bewildered by their attention. :ayson attributed the youn! man>s 0eelin!s to his limited eA erience with women. A0ter as3in! a 0ew standard name/ ran3 and serial number bac3!round Juestions/ :ayson !ot ri!ht to the meat o0 his inJuiry. EB00icer .ashin!ton/ did you ma3e contact with the de0endant/ &rian StoneHG @e aused and ointed at Stone. EHin your ca acity as a &oston olice o00icer the year be0ore last on Cecember 0ourteenthIG E8es/G .ashin!ton re lied. EAnd under what circumstances did you encounter himIG E.e sto ed him 0or a movin! violation.G E%>m sorry/ B00icer/G :ayson said. E&y Lwe> you are re0errin! to whomIG .ashin!ton loo3ed in the direction o0 Rahmani and Anderson. E<y artner/ Gary Scott/ and %/G she re lied. E% see/G :ayson said. EAnd why did you and your artner sto <r. StoneIG E.e said because he had strayed close to the dividin! line in the middle o0 the street and didn>t come to a com lete sto when ma3in! a ri!ht turn.G :ayson decided to test the waters to see how 0ar he would be able to !o in his Juestionin!. EAnd this reason was 9ust a reteAt/ was it notIG EBb9ection/G Rahmani said. She stood. ELeadin! the witness.G :ayson re lied be0ore B>@are could sustain the ob9ection. E%>ll re hrase the Juestion.G @e waited 0or Rahmani to return to her seat. E.as <r. Stone>s drivin! the real reason you sto ed himIG .ashin!ton shoo3 her head. E'o/ it was not.G E@ad the de0endant actually strayed close to the dividin! line and 0ailed to come to a com lete sto be0ore ma3in! a turnIG E'o.G E.hat was the real reason you and your artner sto ed himIG EBb9ection/G Rahmani o00ered and stood a!ain. ECounsel is as3in! the witness to s eculate on the motivations o0 another. She can only s ea3 0or hersel0.G E%>ll allow it/G B>@are declared/ and motioned 0or Rahmani to sit. B>@are>s res onse to Rahmani>s ob9ection assured :ayson he would be !iven some latitude. ESo what was the real reason/ B00icer/ 0or sto in! <r. StoneIG E.e 3new he had been attendin! meetin!s at Gre!ory <or!an>s Church o0 the 4rue Savior and ho ed we could 0ind somethin! on him to incriminate <or!an.G Several s ectators be!an murmurin!. :ud!e B>@are ban!ed his !avel once. EMuietFG he bellowed. Everyone hushed. :ayson nodded. EAnd did you 0lash your li!hts and sto <r. StoneIG E8es.G EAnd who a roached <r. Stone on the driver>s sideIG EGary/ um/ B00icer Scott.G EAnd you a roached on the assen!er sideIG E8es.G :ayson leaned on the odium. ECid you later ersonally 0ill out a olice re ort about this incidentIG E8es.G :ayson turned to his table and held out his hand. Connie !ave him 0our sheets o0 a er. @e held them in the air. E8our @onor/ the assistant district attorney and % sti ulate

that this two+ a!e olice re ort dated Cecember 0ourteenth o0 the year be0ore last may be admitted into evidence and mar3ed LEAhibit A.>G EProceed/G B>@are said. :ayson ste ed around the odium. @e delivered one co y o0 the document to B>@are>s lum / middle+a!ed cler3 and the other to .ashin!ton/ then returned to the odium. EB00icer .ashin!ton/ %>ve !iven you a document mar3ed LEAhibit A/> which %>ve resented to the court. 4he eo le already have it in their ossession. Co you reco!ni7e itIG .ashin!ton brie0ly loo3ed the a er over. E8es.G E%s this the olice re ort you ersonally 0illed out with res ect to the incident on Cecember 0ourteenthIG E8es.G EAnd did you indicate in this re ort that you had sto ed <r. Stone due to his drivin!IG E8es.G EAnd was this trueIG .ashin!ton aused and swallowed. E'o.G :ayson leaned 0orward on the odium a!ain. EPlease tell the court what really ha ened that day.G .ashin!ton cleared her throat and too3 a si 0rom her cu . E.ell/ my artner and % ulled <r. Stone over. @e ordered Stone out o0 the car and roceeded to !ive him a 0ield sobriety test?you 3now/ count bac3wards 0rom a thousand/ stand on one le!/ wal3 a strai!ht line. 4hat 3ind o0 thin!.G EAnd what were you doin! at the time B00icer Scott was conductin! this test with <r. StoneIG :ayson as3ed. .ashin!ton sJuirmed in her seat. EKm/ well/ % was chec3in! out his car.G E@owIG E.ell/ 0irst % shined my 0lashli!ht inside.G EAnd did you notice anythin! unusual when you did thatIG E'o.G E4hen what did you doIG .ashin!ton too3 another si o0 water and stared at the hal0+em ty cu in her hand. E4hen % o ened the door to his car and loo3ed in the !love boA.G :ayson 0ei!ned a loo3 o0 sur rise 0or dramatic e00ect. EAnd B00icer .ashin!ton/ was the door to the !love com artment o en or closedIG EClosed.G EAnd what did you 0ind in the !love com artmentIG EA hand+drawn ma .G EA hand+drawn ma o0 whatIG EA ma o0 an area in RoAbury surroundin! the <t. Calvary &a tist Church.G :ayson scratched the to o0 his head. E'ow B00icer .ashin!ton/ a0ter your discovery o0 the ma / did you ersonally 0ill out a search warrant a00idavit see3in! ermission to search <r. Stone>s residenceIG E8es.G

:ayson acce ted another set o0 a ers 0rom Connie. A0ter a!ain receivin! ermission 0rom the 9ud!e/ he delivered it the same way as be0ore/ returned to the odium and 0olded his hands. ECo you reco!ni7e the document in 0ront o0 you/ mar3ed LEAhibit &>IG .ashin!ton brie0ly scanned the a er and nodded. E8es. %t>s the search warrant a00idavit % 0illed out on Cecember 0ourteenth.G EAnd B00icer .ashin!ton/G :ayson said/ Ein that document did you state you had 0ound the ma lyin! in lain view on the seat o0 <r. Stone>s carIG .ashin!ton nodded. E8es/ % did.G EAnd was that the truthIG .ashin!ton si!hed. E'o/ it was not.G :ayson o ened his hands. ESo you lied in your olice re ort.G E8es.G EAnd you lied in your search warrant a00idavit.G E8es.G ESo both o0 these documents contained lies/ did they notIG EBb9ection/G Rahmani said. EAs3ed and answered.G E<ove it alon!/ <r. Coo3.G :ayson nodded/ E8es/ 8our @onor.G @e 0aced his witness a!ain. EB00icer .ashin!ton/ whose idea was it 0or you to lie about where you had 0ound the ma IG E<y artner/G .ashin!ton answered/ EGary Scott.G EAnd whose idea was it 0or you to conduct this ille!al searchIG EBb9ectionFG E.ithdrawn. .hose idea was it 0or you to o en the door to the !love com artment and ins ect its contentsIG E<y artner/ Gary Scott.G EB00icer .ashin!ton/G :ayson continued/ Eare you still on active dutyIG E'o/G .ashin!ton answered. E%>m on aid leave endin! the outcome o0 several investi!ations.G EAnd when was your leave initiatedIG EAbout a month a!o.G E.as this immediately 0ollowin! your on+camera interview with Channel Ei!ht re orter <ichelle Lin!IG E8es.G EAnd B00icer .ashin!ton/G :ayson said/ Eu to the date o0 your leave/ had you and your artner ever done anythin! li3e this be0oreIG @e o ened his hands. E8ou 3now/ ull a motorist over on some retense/ then one o0 you 3ee him occu ied while the other ins ects the !love com artment o0 his carIG .ashin!ton closed her eyes/ then slowly o ened them. E8es.G E@ow many timesIG EKm/ maybe aboutHtwenty times.G EAnd when was the last time you did thisIG E4he day you came to see me. 4he day <s. Lin! conducted the interview.G :ayson 0aced the 9ud!e and ointed at a wheeled cart neAt to the witness boA. %t housed two CDC layers and a thirty+siA+inch screen monitor. EAt this time/ i0 it leases the court/ %>d li3e to show the 0oota!e.G

Rahmani stood. E8our @onor/ 0or the record %>d li3e to renew my ob9ection. .hat did or did not occur on this 0oota!e/ which we>ve all seen numerous times on the news 0or the ast month/ has nothin! to do with the char!es a!ainst the de0endant/ &rian Stone.G She ut on a air o0 readin! !lasses and stared at a le!al ad in her hands. EAlso/ electronic wireta in! without the consent o0 all arties is ille!al in <assachusetts/ accordin! to %he Commonwealth v Michael 'yde.G :ayson 0aced B>@are. EAnd 0or the record/ 8our @onor/ % submit that the misconduct dis layed here today !oes to show a attern o0 behavior one o00icer has already admitted to/ at !reat ersonal and ro0essional eA ense. Also/ Commonwealth v 'yde covers voice recordin!s/ not ima!es without sound ta3en o0 two ublic servants on a ublic street.G :ud!e B>@are tilted his head to the side/ then strai!htened u . E.e>ve already been throu!h this in chambers/ <s. Rahmani. %>m !oin! to allow it.G @e motioned to the court o00icers. ELet>s !et this show on the road.G Connie moved to the em ty seat on her ri!ht/ allowin! :ayson to sit neAt to Stone. .hile one o00icer set u the television monitor and CDC layer/ another turned o00 the li!hts. :ayson could hear the s ectators behind him whis erin!. Stone tu!!ed on his 9ac3et sleeve. E4his is !ood/ ri!htIG :ayson nodded. E<aybe yes/G he whis ered. E4he re orters>ll certainly eat this u / but there>s no 9ury to im ress. Ri!ht now we have to ersuade 9ust one erson that what ha ened in this screen ha ened to you: that>s the 9ud!e. @e>s all that counts.G ECo you thin3 he>ll believe itIG :ayson shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now/ &rian. % 9ust don>t 3now.G N :ayson aced in his o00ice con0erence room. 4he three members o0 his sta00 sat at one end o0 the con0erence table 0our 0eet away. As usual/ Connie and 4eni3a sat side by side while Dictor sat o osite them. E%t>s almost seven/ !uys/G :ayson announced/ Eand % 3now it>s late/ but % want to review what you saw today/G @e ee3ed at his watch. E%t loo3s di00erent 0rom the 0ield than 0rom the sidelines. Let>s hear the ne!atives and ositives.G Connie eAchan!ed !lances with 4eni3a and Dictor/ then lun!ed ri!ht in. E%t loo3ed retty !ood 0or our side/ :aymeister/G she eAclaimed. She ushed her hair away 0rom her 0ace and continued. E%>ve !ot to admit/ Rahmani>s cross was retty !ood. She !ot .ashin!ton to admit she didn>t li3e her artner/ she wasn>t a very !ood co / she !ot immunity 0or coo eratin!/ et cetera.G EKm+hmm/G Dictor a!reed. EAnd it didn>t hel that the 9ud!e wouldn>t allow you to robe very 0ar about the Protectors/ since Scott had only told AleA about them and she hadn>t been directly involved.G :ayson shru!!ed. E@e was ri!ht. 4here was no way around it. Classic hearsay.G @e turned to 4eni3a. E@ow>d it loo3 on the newsIG E4he station % watched s ent a lot o0 time showin! that oor child>s hoto/G 4eni3a re orted/ Eand they interviewed Reverend &radley yet a!ain.G E'o doubt he was 0oamin! at the mouth as usual/G Dictor droned. E4he man lost his only dau!hter/ Dictor/G 4eni3a sna ed. EShow a little humanity.G Dictor sla ed his o en hand on the table. E@ey/ whose side are you on anywayIG

E%>m here/ aren>t %IG 4eni3a snorted. EAnd %>ll be here lon! a0ter you>re bac3 with your re y 0riends tellin! them how you were slummin> this summer.G ECut it out/ you two/G :ayson ordered. E'obody>s en9oyin! this.G E@e started it/G 4eni3a whined. She ointed at Dictor. EAnd he>s en9oyin! it lenty.G Dictor leaned bac3 in his chair and ointed at 4eni3a. E% 9ust want to ma3e sure we>re all on the same team.G E% said that>s enou!hFG A0ter a 0ew seconds o0 silence/ Dictor s o3e. E%P%>m sorry/ 4eni3a/G he mumbled. E8ou>re ri!ht. % shouldn>t have Juestioned your loyalty. % res ect your 0eelin!s. % really do.G 4eni3a reached across the table and sJuee7ed Dictor>s hand. E'o/ %>m the one who>s sorry. Guess %>m !ettin! touchy in my old a!e.G Connie o3ed 4eni3a on the arm. E% 3now what you need/ !irlFG She !i!!led. 4eni3a !i!!led as well. E8ou>re tellin! meF 4he cable !uy came by last Saturday/ and % don>t mind admittin! he was luc3y to !et out o0 my lace alive.G All 0our lau!hed. :ayson waited a 0ew seconds/ then addressed 4eni3a a!ain. ESo what was your im ression o0 the news covera!eIG 4eni3a wi!!led her 0in!ers. EAbout even. %>m sure they want this thin! to !o to trial on schedule in ;ebruary so they can start the hy e all over a!ain.G :ayson nodded. EAnd AleAis/ did she sound credibleIG All three enthusiastically shoo3 their heads. Dictor added his voice. EAbsolutelyF % can>t ima!ine anyone sayin! she was ma3in! it u .G EAnd the 0oota!e removed any doubts about what ha ened the last day she was on duty/G Connie declared. 4he tele hone ran!. 4eni3a 9um ed out o0 her seat. E%>ll !et it.G She raced out o0 the room. Connie smiled. ESo counselor/ are you ready 0or Gary Scott tomorrowIG :ayson nodded. E8eah/ but % don>t li3e the way the media>s been layin! it u / as thou!h they>re eA ectin! some bi! showdown/ li3e somethin! out o0 an old western.G 4eni3a returned and stood in the doorway. E%t>s 0or you.G :ayson waved his hand dismissively. E4a3e a messa!e.G @is voice indicated annoyance. 4eni3a brie0ly !lanced at Connie and Dictor/ then returned her attention to :ayson. EKm/ % thin3 you>ll want to ta3e this.G :ayson 0rowned and ste ed into the outer o00ice while 4eni3a wal3ed bac3 into the con0erence room and closed the door. @e li0ted the receiver. E:ayson Coo3 here.G E:aysonIG E8es/G he said/ clearly irritated. E.ho is thisIG E%t>s Leslie/G the caller on the other side revealed with a wea3/ bro3en voice. E8ou !otta hel me.G *****

C%A$TE# T&ENTY*T&O

:ayson stationed himsel0 at the odium/ maintainin! his distance 0rom Gary Scott/ who had been on the witness stand 0or nearly an hour. 4he scene in the courtroom a eared identical to the day be0ore when .ashin!ton had raised her ri!ht hand and sworn to tell the truth/ the whole truth and nothin! but the truth?only a di00erent olice o00icer 0aced Juestionin! and the other artici ants had chan!ed clothes. .ith !entle robin! 0rom Anderson 0or about 0i0ty minutes/ Scott/ who wore a suit and tie/ had !iven his eA ected testimony: E%>m sorry to say my artner was a very oor olice o00icerH% never manu0actured reasons to sto a driverHAny search % conducted in the line o0 duty was within the letter o0 the lawH% 3now nothin! about B00icer .ashin!ton lyin! on any olice re ort or search warrant a00idavit.HG :ayson had Juestioned the nineteen+year veteran o0 the &oston Police Ce artment 0or about ten minutes. Bver Anderson>s ob9ections/ his Juestions had revealed that Scott had 0aced disci line 0or various o00enses includin! usin! eAcessive 0orce/ 0ailure to 0ollow ro er rocedures when ma3in! an arrest/ disobeyin! orders/ and the li3e. :ayson had also mana!ed to !arner Scott>s admission that/ li3e .ashin!ton/ he had been laced on leave with ay endin! the outcome o0 numerous investi!ations. :ayson had not lanned to 3ee Scott on the stand 0or very lon!/ so he decided to return to his best wea on. E.ith the court>s ermission %>d li3e to show the 0oota!e a!ain.G Anderson immediately arose. E4he eo le ob9ect/ 8our @onor/G he declared. E.e>ve seen <r. Coo3>s show once. 4here>s no reason to waste the court>s time by showin! it a!ain.G :ayson ointed at the television cart restin! in the corner. E8our @onor/ we haven>t seen it with B00icer Scott testi0yin! under oath. % share <r. Anderson>s res ect 0or the court>s time and only wish to show one small art.G B>@are si!hed. E@ow lon!/ counselorIG :ayson shru!!ed. E<aybe two or three minutes.G B>@are nodded. E4he court will !rant you 0ive minutes/G he aused and shoo3 his 0in!er/ Enot a second more.G @e turned to Anderson. E8our ob9ection is overruled.G :ayson 3e t a o3er 0ace but 0elt !lee u on seein! Anderson outin!/ as he usually did a0ter an overruled ob9ection. E4han3 you/ 8our @onor/G :ayson said. @e too3 his seat between Stone and Connie/ and watched as the court o00icers set u the machinery and turned o00 the li!hts/ as on the revious day. Stone whis ered to Connie. She/ in turn tu!!ed on :ayson>s sleeve. E@ow come?G EShhh/G :ayson res onded. 4he court o00icers rolled the cart to a corner o0 the room behind the witness boA near the Knited States 0la!. 4he s ectators would be able to see the screen/ althou!h the ima!es would be tiny. Althou!h the o osin! attorneys could see Juite well 0rom their table/ Scott and B>@are had to twist in their seats to view the monitor. 4he s ectators be!an whis erin! in antici ation/ then tal3ed loudly. B>@are ban!ed his !avel twice. E4his is the only warnin! you>ll !et be0ore % clear this roomFG he bar3ed. E4his is a court o0 law/ not a Red SoA !ame.G 4he room became as silent as a vacant house. :ayson stood and as3ed a ear+sha ed 0emale court o00icer holdin! a remote control/ E.ould you 0ast+0orward until the timer reads thirty+0ive minutes/ leaseIG :ayson watched the numbers roll on the bottom o0 the blue+screened television until they reached

the desired s ot. @e !estured in Scott>s direction. E<ay % be allowed to a roach the witness and ad9ust the icture mysel0/ 8our @onorIG EGo ahead.G :ayson ste ed around the odium/ than3ed the o00icer and acce ted the remote control. @e aimed the device and ressed a button. 4he screen 0lic3ered/ then roduced the ima!e o0 B00icer Scott standin! with his hands on his belt as the ha less blac3 male neAt to the subcom act vehicle wal3ed toward him straddlin! an ima!inary strai!ht line. :ayson ressed the ause button and ointed. E%s that you/ B00icer ScottIG EBbviously/G he answered. :ayson could sense Scott>s annoyance. %0 he could bait the witness into dis layin! an!er/ .ashin!ton>s emotionally tortured testimony would com are much more 0avorably. EAnd what are you doin!IG EAs you can see/ conductin! a 0ield sobriety test/G Scott answered !ru00ly. :ayson nodded. E% believe you>re reJuirin! this man/ umHG @e aused to loo3 at his notes. EH<r. ;ield/ whom you sto ed/ to wal3 a strai!ht line. %s that correctIG E8es.G :ayson ressed the lay button and observed the monitor. Scott and the man un0ro7e/ and ad9usted their ositions. 4he man had his bac3 to the vehicle while Scott stood in 0ront o0 him. 4he camera o erator re0ocused to 3ee the man/ as well as Scott and .ashin!ton in the icture. :ayson ressed the ause button a!ain. E'ow what are you doin!IG he as3ed. Scott stared at the still ima!es on the screen. E% can>t tell 0or sure/ but %>m robably tellin! the motorist to count bac3ward 0rom a thousand.G E% see/G :ayson said. E'ow the motorist has his bac3 to his vehicle/ correctIG E% !uess so.G E4hen lease ta3e a closer loo3/ B00icer Scott/G :ayson instructed. ECoes the motorist have his bac3 to his vehicle or notIG EB3ay/ so he does/G Scott !rowled. :ayson too3 leasure at Scott>s behavior. @e had none o0 .ashin!ton>s sym athetic Jualities. EAnd is it 0air to say you>re clearly 0acin! his vehicleIG E8es.G E.atch care0ully/ lease/G :ayson commanded. E%>m !oin! to 7oom in on your 0ace and slow it down.G @e did so. A0ter a 0ew seconds he aused the ima!e and ointed as i0 he had 9ust seen a K;B. ECid you see thatIG ESee whatIG Scott !roaned. E.hat was that movement o0 your head/ sirIG Scott shru!!ed. E% don>t 3now. Could be anythin!.G ELet>s see it a!ain/G :ayson said. Anderson stood and waved his hands. E% ob9ect. <r. Coo3 is wastin! the court>s time with these Juestions/ which are based on ure s eculation.G EBverruled/G B>@are re lied. @e leaned 0urther/ tryin! to !et a better view. E% want to see it a!ain/ too.G :ayson rewound and re layed the 0oota!e. EAre you noddin! your head at your artner/ B00icer Scott/ !ivin! her a si!nal to !o ahead and search the carIG EAbsolutely notFG Scott 0umed/ Eand % resent the Juestion.G

:ayson returned the ima!e to its normal si7e. ESo it>s 9ust a coincidence that ri!ht a0ter that movement o0 your head/ B00icer .ashin!ton be!an searchin! the carIG Scott s o3e throu!h clenched teeth. EShe did that on her own. % didn>t even notice. % was busy with the motorist and wasn>t ayin! any attention to her.G E% see/G :ayson said/ his voice e ered with sarcasm. E.ell then/ let>s see how lon! you didn>t notice her 0rom the time you si!naled her?G EBb9ectionFG E.ithdrawn. ;rom the time B00icer .ashin!ton started searchin! the car to the time she retrieved the 0irearm?accordin! to her/ the 0irearm she retrieved 0rom the !love com artment.G :ayson ointed at the screen. E.ould you lease tell the court the numbers in the seconds column on the counter/ leaseIG Scott leaned 0orward. E4hirteen.G E4han3 you/G :ayson said and ressed the lay button. @e watched 0or a 0ew more seconds. .hen .ashin!ton raised the !un into the air he 0ro7e the ima!e a!ain. EAnd what does the seconds column say nowIG EKm/ twenty+nine.G :ayson handed the remote control to the court o00icer and returned to the odium. E%s it your testimony that althou!h you were the senior o00icer on the scene and 0acin! your artner you didn>t notice her searchin! that vehicle 0or siAteen secondsIG ELi3e % said/ % was busy with the motorist/G Scott insisted. E%>m sorry/ sir. %s that a yes or noIG E'oF B3ayIG E:ust answer the Juestions/G B>@are advised sternly. :ayson smiled. E4han3 you/ B00icer Scott. % have no 0urther Juestions.G @e too3 his seat. B>@are addressed the rosecutors. ECo the eo le wish to redirectIG Anderson stood. E8es/ 8our @onor.G 4he 9ud!e chec3ed his watch. E4hen we>ll brea3 0or lunch. A0terwards/ the eo le will conduct its redirect eAamination/ then the court will hear very short closin! ar!uments.G @e ban!ed his !avel. EAll riseFG the court o00icer commanded. A0ter B>@are eAited/ the eo le in the courtroom be!an clamorin!. Re orters shouted at :ayson/ Stone/ Anderson and Rahmani/ attem tin! to nab someone 0or an interview. :ayson slowly arran!ed his stac3 o0 0olders and aid no attention to the noise behind him. As he went about his tas3 he re0lected on the wisdom o0 Pro0essor Greenber!. @e could hear the old man>s voice: E&e re ared. Streamline your Juestions. Con>t !o 0ishin! durin! a hearin! or trial/ so only as3 Juestions you already 3now the answers to. A witness may sur rise you when their side is as3in! Juestions/ but i0 % ever hear that a witness sur rised you when you were as3in! the Juestions %>ll?G 4he si!ht o0 an a roachin! o00icer holdin! two airs o0 handcu00s connected to lon! chains re0ocused the lawyer>s thou!hts. :ayson ut his hand on Stone>s shoulder. E4ry to relaA/ &rian.G A0ter the cu00s were laced on Stone>s hands and 0eet/ the risoner held out his hands 0or :ayson to see. EEasy 0or you to say/G he Jui ed. E.hat nowIG E'ow you !o eat lunch and % !o review my closin!/G :ayson re lied. N

:ayson relaAed in his livin! room. @e had driven strai!ht 0rom court to :enni0er>s school to attend an o en house with Renee so they could meet the woman who would be :enni0er>s teacher in two wee3s when the school year be!an anew. :ayson had 0ound her to be leasant enou!h/ but all o0 the eo le at the school !rinned and tal3ed too much 0or his taste. A0ter endurin! the event/ he had !one home to en9oy dinner with the 0amily. @avin! chan!ed out o0 his suit into a air o0 shorts and a 4+shirt/ and a0ter a hearty meal o0 barbecued stea3/ :ayson sat in his recliner and hal0+watched the siA o>cloc3 news. @e en9oyed the coolness o0 the newly+installed central air conditionin! system while wincin! over the latest edition?two days old?o0 the wee3ly Boston Courier. Renee/ dressed li3e him/ sat on the so0a readin! a ma!a7ine/ but dro ed it into her la when <ichelle Lin!/ wearin! a bei!e dress/ a eared and mentioned the Stone hearin!. 4he re orter osed in 0ront o0 the courthouse and reca itulated the events that had trans ired earlier that a0ternoon. E4he lon!+awaited showdown bein! &rian Stone>s attorney/ :ayson Coo3/ and &oston olice o00icer Gary Scott lived u to its eA ectations/G <ichelle o ened/ Ewhen Scott too3 the witness stand to re0ute his 0ormer artner>s testimony that they had routinely violated the civil ri!hts o0HG :enni0er/ who had been at the 3itchen table layin! with 4abitha and Sharon/ two o0 her dolls/ entered the livin! room holdin! a red/ miniature evenin! out0it. E<ommy/ 4abitha>s been nau!hty/G she com lained with indi!nation. EShe tore Sharon>s dressFG ECome here/ sweetie/G Renee said/ and stretched out her arms. E<rs. Lo e7>ll sew her dress later. % thin3 you>re !oin! to see Caddy a!ain on television.G :enni0er beamed and sat on the 0loor 0acin! the 4D. EReallyIG :ayson shru!!ed. E<aybe/ maybe not.G @e didn>t thin3 it a ro riate 0or :enni0er to watch the news story but said nothin!. <ichelle>s voice described the interaction between :ayson and Scott with the now 0amous Ehead si!nalG 0oota!e runnin! in slow motion. <ichelle rea eared and moved on to the a0ternoon>s closin! remar3s. E&oth assistant district attorney Bmar Anderson and Coo3/ who some say are bitter enemies inside and outside o0 the courtroom/ !ave closin! ar!uments that could mean the di00erence between &rian Stone !oin! 0ree or s endin! the rest o0 his li0e in rison 0or 0irst+de!ree murderHG Renee sco00ed. E% hate when they ush rumors/ citin! Lsome say.>G E<e too/G :ayson re lied. E&ut/ as some say/ it sells news a ers.G @e lau!hed. <ichelle loo3ed earnestly into the camera. ECoo3 cham ioned his client>s cause be0ore :ud!e Robert B>@are/ who alone will decide whether to su ress the mountains o0 evidence 0ound in Stone>s a artmentHG A s3etch a eared o0 :ayson addressin! B>@are with Stone watchin!. Renee ointed. ELoo3 sweetie. 4hat>s CaddyFG :enni0er loo3ed con0used. E%t isIG :ayson chuc3led. ECidn>t ca ture my best side/ % don>t thin3.G <ichelle continued. E...an eA losion that destroyed the <ount Calvary &a tist Church/ 3illin! twelve+year+old Deronica &radley nearly two years a!o.G 4he ima!e switched to the 0amiliar hoto o0 the smilin! !irl>s seventh !rade school icture. :enni0er ointed. E4hat>s the little !irl who !ot 3illed/ <ommie.G E% 3now/ dear/G Renee re lied/ and 0rowned.

<ichelle returned. ECitin! several Su reme Court decisions/ Coo3 assionately ar!ued the warrant used to search Stone>s a artment was invalid because the olice had lied when they claimed they had 0ound a hand+drawn ma HG EAre they !oin! to show Caddy a!ainIG :enni0er as3ed. :ayson shoo3 his head. E% !uess not/ sweetheart.G :enni0er !ot u and wal3ed over to :ayson. E4hey should show you a!ain/ Caddy.G :ayson ic3ed her u and sat her on his la . E% don>t mind/ honey. 4o tell you the truth/ Caddy wouldn>t mind i0 he stayed o00 4D 0or a while.G @e !lanced at the screen. Some @arvard Law ro0essor eA lained the le!al conce t o0 the eAclusionary rule/ in which a 9ud!e su resses ille!ally+sei7ed evidence. :ayson tu!!ed on :enni0er>s shirt. E@ey/ !o u stairs and chan!e your shirt. 8ou>ve !ot ice cream on it.G EB3ay/G :enni0er said. She crawled out o0 his la and ran u stairs. 4he ro0essor had 0inished/ so <ichelle wra ed u . E:ud!e B>@are>s decision is eA ected in a 0ew days.G As the story ended/ :ayson waved the remote in the air. E8ou still watchin!IG Renee shoo3 her head. E8ou can chan!e the station or turn it o00.G :ayson did the latter. @e scanned his news a er but couldn>t resist the ur!e to bas3 in his wi0e>s own recent success. ESo/G he o ened smu!ly/ Eyour interview went well/ huhIG Renee beamed with sel0+satis0action. EKm+hmm. %t seemed more li3e they were wooin! me rather than interviewin! me= almost be!!in!. Bne woman told me rivately % was a head and shoulder above all o0 the other candidates/ even the inside ones.G She crossed her 0in!ers. E%t loo3s li3e % mi!ht be chie0 o0 anesthesiolo!y soon/ a0ter all.G :ayson smiled. ECon>t sur rise me none/G he 9o3ed. E%>m !lad.G EAnd this hos ital>s 0ar bi!!er and better than where % am now/G Renee !ushed. E%t>s !ot more modern eJui ment and it>s hal0 the commute?and %>d even ma3e a lot more moneyFG E%>m !lad/G :ayson re eated. ELoo3s li3e a win+win deal.G Renee bit her lower li . EKm/ honey/ %>m sorry about how % acted a0ter % didn>t !et the other 9ob. % shouldn>t have blamed you.G :ayson held out his hand. Renee !ot u and tumbled into his la . @e hu!!ed and 3issed her. E%>m sorry what % do 0or a livin! sometimes creates hardshi s 0or you.G Renee ressed her chee3 a!ainst his. E:ust li3e the reverend said last Sunday: God closes some doors/ o ens others. 4he im ortant thin! is we>re !rate0ul 0or what we have.G E.ell/G :ayson said/ E%>m !rate0ul 0or you and :enni0er.G EAnd %>m !rate0ul 0or :enni0er and you/G Renee whis ered. She 3issed him tenderly on the li s. EAnd toni!ht %>m !oin! to show you 9ust how !rate0ul.G :ayson arched his eyebrows. E%t>s a date.G @e 3issed her a!ain. <a!dalena entered the room/ causin! Renee to Juic3ly rise. EEAcuse me so much/G the house3ee er said and turned around. :ayson stood and called to her. E%t>s alri!ht <a!da.G 4he woman sto ed at the 0oot o0 the stairs leadin! to the 0amily bedrooms but didn>t turn around. E<a!daIG he called louder. ;inally/ she turned. :ayson !estured with his indeA 0in!er. ECome on. .hat is itIG <a!dalena slowly inched her way bac3 and sto ed. ESiIG Renee ointed at the envelo e in her hand. E.hat>s thatIG <a!dalena raised the envelo e toward :ayson but said nothin!.

:ayson acce ted it and loo3ed it over. E%t>s 0rom %mmi!ration.G @e ste ed closer to her. E<aybe this is in0ormation about your childrenIG <a!dalena shru!!ed. ESe(or/ um/ <r. Coo3. % so a0raid % don>t o en.G Renee too3 the osition neAt to :ayson. E.hen did you !et thisIG E4he mail today. A 0ew hours.G :ayson widened his eyes. EA 0ew hoursI .hy didn>t you say somethin!IG E% so a0raid/G <a!dalena re eated. E.hat i0 my children/ they no comeIG Renee too3 the woman by the arms and !ently dra!!ed her onto the so0a. E'ow you 9ust sit ri!ht here and i0 you want/ <r. Coo3 will o en the letter 0or you.G She sat as well. :ayson nodded. E.ould you li3e me to do thatIG <a!dalena nodded/ then ut her hands over her 0ace and started cryin!. She ulled out a set o0 rosary beads 0rom her a ron oc3et and made the si!n o0 the cross. :ayson 0elt dee com assion 0or her?as well as tre idation. @is own heartbeat be!an to race. EB3ay/ here !oesHG @e tore o00 the ed!e o0 the envelo e/ tossed the scra on the table and ulled out three sheets o0 a er. Please Lord/ he rayed in his thou!hts/ !ive this dear woman some eace. Renee held on to <a!dalena and loo3ed u at :ayson. E.ell/ what does it sayIG :ayson sat on the other side o0 the sobbin! woman and dro ed the letter into her la . ECon!ratulationsFG @e smiled and ut his hands on her shoulders. E8our children will be arrivin! in America around 4han3s!ivin!.G <a!dalena stared at :ayson. She o ened her mouth but no words came 0orth. Renee hu!!ed her. E4hat>s wonder0ul newsFG <a!dalena 0olded her hands and loo3ed to the heavens. E4han3 you/ :esusF 4han3 youF % romise % be so !ood mother. % ta3e them to mass every Sunday.G :ayson stood. E%>ll !et you a !lass o0 water?or would you li3e a beerIG <a!dalena lau!hed. EBh/ <r. Coo3/ you ma3e so 0unny. 'o trouble 0or me.G :ayson wal3ed toward the 3itchen. E%t>s no trouble. % was !oin! to !et a soda anyway. @e sto ed at the re0ri!erator and o ened it. E.hat>ll it beIG <a!dalena/ clearly not used to bein! served/ 0umbled 0or words. EKm/ soda/ than3 you.G :ayson ointed. E@ow about you/ honIG E%>ll 9ust ta3e a si o0 yours.G :ayson busied himsel0 in the 3itchen but the uncertain 0ate o0 another erson at the mercy o0 %mmi!ration o00icials 0looded his thou!hts. 4he rin!in! tele hone 9arred him bac3 to his more immediate situation and he answered it. A0ter less than a minute on the tele hone he slowly wal3ed bac3 into the livin! room holdin! the 0ull !lasses. Renee sto ed chattin! with <a!dalena and 0ocused on her husband. E.hat is it/ honIG E4hat was :ud!e B>@are>s cler3/G :ayson announced. E@e wants everybody bac3 at eleven tomorrow.G Renee ut her hand to her mouth. ECon>t tell me he>s already?G EKm+hmm/G :ayson re lied. E@e>s made his decision.G *****

C%A$TE# T&ENTY*T%#EE

@is alms were sweaty. :ayson>s/ not the 9ud!e>s. :ayson stared at the a ers in B>@are>s hands/ tryin! to count how many sheets he held. %n his eA erience as an attorney/ a 9ud!e holdin! several sheets o0 a er meant the !rantin! o0 a motion. Kn0ortunately/ B>@are only held a cou le o0 sheets. :ayson noted that su erior court 9ud!es in the Commonwealth o0 <assachusetts secured li0etime tenure. 4hey didn>t have to bother with the indi!nity o0 runnin! 0or re+ election as in some other states. 'evertheless/ they tended to be an ambitious lot/ ho in! 0or a hi!her a ointment 0rom the !overnor/ erha s bein! 0avored 0or one o0 only seven coveted Su reme :udicial Court seats/ or a s ot on some hi!h+ ro0ile blue ribbon anel. ConseJuently/ no 9ud!e wanted to be seen as so0t on crime/ so when !rantin! a de0ense motion to dismiss a com laint or su ress evidence the 9ud!e usually laid out a myriad o0 reasons with !reat care. 4he ronouncement tended to be lon!/ with the words/ E4he court has no choice but toHG almost always recedin! the decision. :ayson studied B>@are/ who/ at recisely $$:#T a.m./ ut on a air o0 readin! !lasses and 0illed the crowded room with his loud/ ras y voice. E4his case/G he o ened/ E resents one o0 the most di00icult tas3s a sittin! 9ud!e can be 0aced with: whom to believe. Bn the one side we have the word o0 a youn! woman at the be!innin! o0 her career as a law en0orcement o00icer.G :ayson !lanced at Stone/ who a eared sti00 and 0ri!htened/ li3e a deer cau!ht in the headli!hts o0 an oncomin! automobile. :ayson had advised the youn! man to eA ect the motion to be denied. @e !enerally dis ensed this advice because that was the outcome in the overwhelmin! ma9ority o0 cases. :ayson wanted his clients to re are 0or a lon!/ tedious slo!. Contrary to what a eared on television/ the wheels o0 the criminal 9ustice system turned very slowly. Stone>s two+year stint at the Su00ol3 County :ail awaitin! trial wasn>t uncommon. :ayson had seen the time between arrest and trial 0or some de0endants stretch to three years. B>@are continued: EBn the other side we have a man who has served the ublic 0or over nineteen yearsHG :ayson had 0ound Stone/ as de0endants !o/ to hold more contradictions than most. @e hadn>t !raduated 0rom hi!h school/ but read voraciously. @e had lived in the home o0 a blac3 0amily 0or a year and admitted o en a00ection 0or its matriarch/ but eA ressed clearly racist belie0s. @e lon!ed 0or what he had never en9oyed?the intimate com anionshi o0 a woman/ but was disconcerted by the amorous attention o0 several women. @e considered himsel0 a reli!ious man/ yet he had willin!ly committed an act o0 terrorism. ;inally/ rather than re eatedly ro0ess his innocence to :ayson?as almost all clients did?Stone had re eatedly attem ted to con0ess his !uilt. 4he tone o0 B>@are>s voice rose a hal0 note. E;or this court to determine which witness is more credible?Gary Scott or AleAis .ashin!ton?it must eAamine who has the most to lose i0 his or her testimony is true.G :ayson !lanced at Connie. She shru!!ed and crossed her 0in!ers. E%n this situation it>s clearly B00icer .ashin!ton/G B>@are asserted. E%n 0act/ B00icer .ashin!ton has everythin! to lose by volunteerin! her testimony/ includin! her career/ her re utation/ and Juite ossibly/ her 0reedomHG :ayson dared not ta3e the 9ud!e>s o enin! remar3s to mean a ositive outcome 0or his side. @e snea3ed a Juic3 loo3 at Rahmani and Anderson. Rahmani sat emotionless. Anderson as usual/ loo3ed li3e a man who had 9ust lost a s ortin! bet.

B>@are shi0ted 0rom an assessment o0 eo le to an assessment o0 evidence. E'ot only was a credible witness roduced by the de0ense/ but so was substantial evidence corroboratin! the claims o0 that witness.G :ayson chec3ed on Stone. @ow lon! could a man stare without blin3in!I :ud!e B>@are shu00led his a ers to the neAt a!e. E@oweverHG :ayson hated that word. %t meant Eclose but not close enou!h.G @e made brie0 eye contact with Stone and shoo3 his head to indicate they had lost. EHevidence o0 current or recent wron!doin! does not necessary mean such behavior occurred in the ast.G Camn it/ :ayson thou!ht/ but he did have a 0ew ideas 0or other motions. E%t can/ howeverHG :ayson si!hed. 4here he !oes a!ain with that however business. EH rovide evidence su ortin! a claim o0 a attern o0 behavior.G B>@are eered above his !lasses and resumed readin!. E4hat leads this court to as3/ does the evidence resented su ort the de0ense claim o0 ast behaviorIG :ayson clenched his 0ists. @ere it comes. E4he court 0inds that it clearly does.G .hatI :ayson widened his eyes. Cid he hear the old man ri!htI 'ow his silent reactions mirrored the call+res onse attern at church. ECoes the evidence su ort the de0ense claim that the olice did in 0act misre resent the truth when re ortin! the circumstances surroundin! the search o0 the de0endant>s vehicleIG .ellI E4his court 0inds that it clearly does.G Clearly doesF ECoes the evidence su ort the de0ense claim that the olice did in 0act misre resent the truth in order to obtain a warrant to search the de0endant>s residenceIG Go ahead/ 8our @onorF E4his court 0inds that it clearly does.G 4han3 youF E4he Su reme Court o0 the Knited States has been uneJuivocally clear: Ma## v )hio held the ;ourth Amendment rohibition a!ainst Lunreasonable searches and sei7ures/> and there0ore the eAclusionary rule/ eAtends to de0endants in 0ederal and state court.G PreachF E4he eo le have asserted that *nited States v +eon and Ari,ona v -vans eAtend to L!ood 0aith> eAce tions. 4heir oint is accurate and well ta3en/ but clearly this was not a L!ood 0aith> error on the art o0 the oliceHG ClearlyF EHbut deliberate disre!ard 0or ro er search warrant rocedure.G :ud!e B>@are sto ed and si!hed. E4his court>s reservations notwithstandin!/ it has no choice but to 0ind the search o0 the de0endant>s vehicle and the warrant used to search the de0endant>s residence were in 0act tainted by olice misconduct. 4here0ore all evidence obtained therein is inadmissible.G 4he s ectators !as ed/ then tal3ed loudly amon! themselves. B>@are ounded his !avel/ silencin! them.

:ayson stood. E8our @onor/ in li!ht o0 the court>s decision/ the de0ense moves 0or dismissal o0 all char!es.G B>@are addressed the ACAs. ECo the eo le have any evidence other than the ma and the contents 0rom the de0endant>s a artmentIG Rahmani stood. E.ell/ um/ 8our @onor/ we/ um/ don>t thin3 so but?G E4hen the de0ense>s motion is !ranted.G Anderson stood. E8our @onor/ the eo le as3 that the de0endant remain in custody endin! an immediate a eal. @e has no ties here in &oston/ oses a si!ni0icant 0li!ht ris3 and?G E8our @onor/G :ayson interru ted/ Ethe de0ense as3 that the de0endant be immediately released.G @e mounted the er0unctory rotest 0or show. E;or!et it/ counselor/G B>@are told :ayson. E<r. Anderson is correct. %>ll hold my decision in abeyance. %t>s bac3 to 9ail 0or your client endin! the a eal. 4he eo le>s reJuest is !ranted. 4a3e the de0endant bac3 into custody. .e>re ad9ourned.G @e ban!ed his !avel one last time. %mmediately a0ter B>@are descended 0rom the bench/ the re orters lun!ed toward :ayson. Stone>s three 0emale admirers called to him/ but he didn>t turn toward them. ;our court o00icers/ s read out between the s ectators and the attorneys/ 3e t the crowd bac3. :ayson 0aced Stone. E%t>s not over yet/ &rian. %t>s a hot case. B>@are did the ri!ht thin! because he>s retirin!.G Stone !lanced at the a roachin! court o00icer/ brandishin! handcu00s/ and held out his hands while turnin! his 0ace to as3 :ayson a Juestion. E.hat ha ens nowIG E4hey>re !oin! to a eal. % told you they would i0 we won.G E@ow lon! will it ta3eIG ECould be days?or wee3s/G :ayson re lied. E%>ll do everythin! % can to s eed it u .G E.h+what should % doIG :ayson leaned closer to Stone. E&e atient/ and remember: Con>t tal3 to anyone about the case. 'obody. Es ecially now.G @e ointed at himsel0. E%>ll handle the re orters.G :ayson as3ed Connie to ta3e care o0 his brie0case and Stone. @e sJuee7ed ast the hordes o0 s ectators and ste ed into the hall. Rahmani and Anderson stood a 0ew yards away already busy uttin! their s in on the results. E4his certainly isn>t over by any stretch o0 the ima!ination/G Rahmani insisted. E.e eA ect this rulin! to be overturned almost immediately by the A ellate Court.G Anderson 0umed. E'o child will be sa0e i0 this rulin! is allowed to stand. %t>s a?G 4he re orters abandoned the ACAs in order to stic3 their cameras and micro hones into the victor>s 0ace. E:ayson/ how does it 0eel to be a winnerIG one woman as3ed. E%>m not the winner. %t>s the eo le o0 <assachusetts who are the winners/G :ayson retorted. E&ecause o0 the coura!e o0 one &oston olice o00icer/ and the wisdom o0 one 9ud!e/ the ri!hts !uaranteed to all o0 us by the Knited States Constitution have been a00irmed.G EAre you disa ointed the 9ud!e didn>t let your client !o 0reeIG E.ell/ &rian and % are disa ointed/ but we understand the 9ud!e>s osition.G E.hat do you say to comments that Stone>s li0e isn>t worth last wee3>s news a er i0 he mana!es to wal3 on account o0 a technicalityIG

:ayson o ened his hands. ELe!ally/ &rian Stone is resumed innocent. %0 he !oes 0ree it>s because in the eyes o0 the law he>s an innocent man.G 4he re orters/ ea!er to see a ublic brawl/ cleared a ath 0or Reverend &radley. :ayson 0rowned. 4he reverend snorted li3e an an!ry bull. E@ow does it 0eel to betray your eo le and hel a white man who murdered an innocent little blac3 !irl to !o 0reeIG :ayson maintained eye contact with the reverend/ whose breath stan3 0rom co00ee consum tion. @e didn>t want a heated con0rontation with a !rievin! 0ather to lay on the news. E%>m very sorry 0or your loss/ sir/G he said calmly/ Ebut the 9ud!e has ruled. 4he best thin! everyone can do is to roceed 0rom there.G E4his isn>t over/G Reverend &radley declared. E.e>ll !et 9ustice 0or my little !irlFG :ayson said nothin!. ;ortunately/ a siA+0eet tall/ male court o00icer ste ed near :ayson/ his silent resence ensurin! that matters would not !et out o0 hand. :ayson answered a 0ew more Juestions/ then waved the re orters o00. 4hey res ected his wishes and 0ocused on Reverend &radley/ a man not 3nown 0or turnin! down a micro hone. :ayson and Connie boarded an elevator/ already occu ied by several eo le obviously unaware o0 the drama that had recently un0olded. Attorney and arale!al would say nothin! about the hearin! until they reached his car/ as was their ractice. .hile the elevator carried him down to the lobby/ :ayson ima!ined the headlines in the a ers echoin! what Anderson/ Rahmani and Reverend &radley had all said: E4his isn>t over.G N :ayson watched the lar!e television mounted ei!ht 0eet o00 the !round on the second 0loor o0 4erminal & at Lo!an %nternational Air ort. &usiness dro ed o00 considerably a0ter seven o>cloc3/ so less than thirty eo le stood or wal3ed in his vicinity. 4he twenty+ 0our+hour 'ew En!land+oriented news station 0eatured a handsome Latino with a smooth/ velvety voice. 4he station identi0ication and current time/ seven+0i0teen .m./ were dis layed electronically below the breast oc3et o0 the anchorman>s suit. :ayson aid attention to the current story. E4his mornin! an a ellate court in &oston denied the a eal o0 the Su00ol3 County district attorney/ which had sou!ht to overturn last wee3>s dismissal o0 all char!es a!ainst accused murderer &rian Stone.G :ayson chec3ed the other lar!e screen a 0ew 0eet away 0or Renee>s 0li!ht number. She would arrive a cou le o0 minutes be0ore ei!ht= a bit early. She had attended a wor3+ related/ three+day con0erence in Chica!o= her last duty 0or her current em loyer be0ore she would smu!ly !ive a month>s notice. @i!hway tra00ic had been better than eA ected/ so :ayson had reached the air ort early/ a 0eat he rarely accom lished. @e re0ocused on the news story. E4he <assachusetts seven+member Su reme :udicial Court is eA ected to announce whether it will !rant a hearin! on the matter sometime within the neAt 0ew days.G :ayson 0elt relieved the re orter hadn>t mentioned his name. Since :ud!e B>@are had !ranted his motion/ a uni0ormed olice o00icer had been assi!ned to watch his law o00ice twenty+0our hours a day. @e had received numerous threatenin! and nuisance tele hone calls/ and the olice scanned all ac3a!es he received 0or ossible dan!erous contents.

:ayson too3 a 0ew ste s 0orward while listenin! to the end o0 the re ort and s otted the last erson on earth he wanted to see comin! toward him. She toted a lar!e overni!ht ba! and urse. E@ello/ :ayson/G Leslie urred and sto ed about two 0eet 0rom him. She wore 9eans/ a ti!ht 0ittin!/ short+sleeved blouse that 7i ed u the 0ront/ and a air o0 hi!h heel shoes. She turned her head le0t and ri!ht/ a arently chec3in! 0or the resence o0 anyone else. 'ot wantin! to be seen in ublic with her/ :ayson chec3ed as well. E.hat are you doin! here/ Leslie/ 0ollowin! meIG he sna ed. Althou!h !reatly annoyed/ he noticed she had lost a little wei!ht/ which made her seAier than ever. @e also noticed the leasant scent o0 her er0ume but chose to 3ee that 0act to himsel0. EGet over yoursel0/G Leslie !rumbled. E% was !oin! to as3 i0 you were 0ollowin! me.G :ayson !lanced at his watch/ then hustled Leslie to a nearby dar3/ enclosed bar and !rill. @e bou!ht two diet sodas/ which they carried to a small table 0arthest 0rom the door. 4he other ten eo le scattered about aid them no attention. Leslie clutched her ba! with her le0t hand and mana!ed her drin3 with her ri!ht. EGuess %>m the last erson on earth you wanted to see/ huhIG :ayson si!hed. E.hat are you doin! here/ LeslieIG E.e>re at an air ort/G she said. E%>m catchin! a 0li!ht. Cuh.G E.hereIG E&ac3 to Costa Rica/ than3s to your ass/G Leslie in0ormed him sarcastically. E% didn>t do much/G :ayson re lied/ res ondin! as i0 the remar3 had been sincere. E% 9ust called your lawyer and made a 0ew su!!estions. 4he dru! case was wea3. She robably would>ve done those thin!s anyway.G @e noticed Leslie holdin! her breath. E.hat>s wron!IG EShit/G she muttered and 0urtively stared at a erson standin! near the door. :ayson scrutini7ed a tall 0emale security o00icer who had barely entered the room. E4a3e it easy/G he advised. ECrin3 your soda.G E% beat the dru! ra / than3s to you/G Leslie whis ered/ Ebut %mmi!ration>s still loo3in! to de ort my ass.G :ayson snic3ered. ELeslie/ she>s air ort security/ not %mmi!ration. 4hat>s in the second lace. %n the 0irst lace they>ve !ot millions o0 eo le to contend with/ not 9ust you.G @e chuc3led. ELoo3/ didn>t they let you wal3 out the 0ront door a0ter the dru! char!es were dro ed when they were su osed to 3ee you 0or a de ortation hearin!I 4hey>re not eAactly 0amous 0or their e00iciency.G @e made a sli!ht !esture with his head. ESeeI She>s leavin!.G E% 9ust can>t !o bac3 to bein! loc3ed u /G Leslie whined. E8ou don>t 3now what it was li3e.G :ayson shru!!ed. E4hen you>re doin! the ri!ht thin!/ !ettin! the hell out.G E&et you>re !lad to !et rid o0 me.G E8es % am.G E4hen why>d you hel meIG E8ou wouldn>t understand.G E4ry me.G :ason si!hed a!ain. E% hel ed you because you needed hel / because % could hel and because you>re :enni0er>s mother.G

E8eah/ yeah/ yeah. So how>s the 3id anywayIG E@er name>s :enni0er. She>s 0ine. She>ll turn seven in a 0ew days.G EKm+hmm/G Leslie mumbled. ESo you>re holdin! the !un now. %0 % bother you a!ain you>ll ull the tri!!er and %>ll !et my ass ic3ed u by %mmi!ration.G She aused to si her drin3. EGuess % should>ve 3nown better than to tan!le with the !reat lawyer/ :ayson Coo3.G She chan!ed her demeanor and smiled. E8ou s an3ed my ass !ood?but not the way you wanted to/ % bet.G EGet over yoursel0 already/G :ayson retorted. E8ou need to start a new li0e. .hat are you !oin! to do once you !et bac3 to Costa RicaIG ELeslie leaned 0orward and !rinned. E% !ot nearly ten !rand in cash in this ba!.G :ayson widened his eyes. EReallyIG ECamn strai!ht. A little resent 0rom that asshole they ic3ed me u with 0or 3ee in! my mouth shut/G Leslie added. E@e told me to ta3e ten/ which % already wired to mysel0 bac3 home/ but you 3now how % li3e a bi! ti er.G She 9i!!led the ba!. EAnd % !ot me some 0a3e %C shit that>ll !et me out o0 the country.G :ayson whistled. E:esus/ Leslie. .hat i0 they chec3?G E4hey don>t chec3 out nothin! but these hon3ers/G Leslie said and 3neaded her breasts with her ri!ht hand. E% could snea3 a !oddamn battleshi ast them.G :ayson shoo3 his head. Same old Leslie. She>d never chan!e. @e stood. E.ell/ i0 there>s nothin! else/ % better !o.G Leslie !rabbed him by the hand. ECo you have to !o alreadyIG :ayson loo3ed into her eyes and detected intense loneliness. She reminded him o0 Connie/ a little. &ut while Connie still believed in love/ Leslie obviously didn>t 3now the meanin! o0 the word. E.e shouldn>t be seen to!ether/G he 0inally answered. E%>ve been in the news lately. 4he last thin! you need is some nosy re orter botherin! us.G Leslie loo3ed around. E8ou>re ri!ht. 8ou better !o.G She stood also. ;or an aw3ward moment/ :ayson didn>t 3now what to do. @ow does one say !ood+ bye to his blac3mailerI Leslie answered his silent Juestion. She !rabbed him by the tie/ ulled him toward her and 3issed him on the li s. :ayson didn>t resist. Leslie whis ered in his ear. E% chose the ri!ht 0ather 0or the 3id/ whatever the reason.G :ayson smiled. E4han3 you/G he said. EGo with God/ Leslie.G She smir3ed and bac3ed away sha3in! the ba!. E%>m !oin! with more than that.G She turned and 0ired one more artin! shot. E8ou mi!ht see me a!ain.G :ayson reached 0or a a er na 3in and wi ed hard to remove the woman>s li stic3 0rom his mouth. Any trace and Renee would surely !o ballistic. @e watched Leslie sashay away and !arnered leasure at seein! Leslie>s bac3side?0or more reasons than one. @e waited 0or 0ive minutes be0ore leavin! the bar and !rill. As he eAited the lace he heard his tele hone rin! and answered it. E:ayson/ !uess whatI % located that erson/G Connie announced. :ayson became eAcited. EReallyI AndIG EBnce we hear 0rom the S:C about Stone/ we>re all set.G Connie>s voice indicated concern. EKm/ :ayson/ are you sure about thisIG E'o/ but % can>t thin3 o0 any other way/G he re lied/ and swerved to avoid collidin! with a runnin! child. E@ey/ Renee>s 0li!ht is due so %>ll tal3 to you later. 4han3s.G @e

hun! u and considered his lan involvin! Stone/ about which his client 3new nothin!. @e reco!ni7ed his idea constituted a !amble/ a !amble way outside his com0ort 7one. *****

C%A$TE# T&ENTY*'OU#

4wo days a0ter Labor Cay/ :ayson/ with Stone at his side/ cautiously wal3ed a !auntlet movin! away 0rom the rear o0 the Su00ol3 County :ail. 4he voices o0 over two do7en shoutin! re orters blended with those o0 rou!hly ei!hty rotestors. E:ayson/ were you sur rised the S:C re0used to even hear the a ealIG E@ow does it 0eel to !et away with murder/ you i!IG E&rian/ whatcha !onna do now that you>re a 0ree manIG ECo you see the 0ace o0 the little blac3 !irl you 3illed in your dreamsIG Photo!ra hers/ camera o erators and sound technicians 9ostled 0or ositions closest to the 9ust released 9ail inmate. :ayson stayed close to Stone/ who carried a du00el ba! containin! his ersonal belon!in!s. 4he latter wore a sli!ht smile and the lon!+sleeved dress shirt and tie he had worn 0or court nearly three wee3s be0ore. .ith the bri!ht sun overhead and the one o>cloc3 tem erature in the mid+seventies/ :ayson wished he were at a Red SoA !ame. @e read the various/ bobbin!/ handmade si!ns wielded by the mostly blac3/ teeth+barin!/ an!ry rotestors/ which included E'o 9ustice/ 'o eaceFG and EChild KillerFG Reverend &radley o0 course/ stood at the head o0 the crowd?or mob/ de endin! on one>s oint o0 view?ur!in! them on. :ayson whis ered to Stone. 4he nervous youn! man nodded/ then a0ter a roachin! a waitin! rented van/ turned around to 0ace the re orters. @e cleared his throat and re ared to answer a 0ew Juestions. An hour reviously/ he and :ayson had reviewed a 0ew remar3s they ho ed would lay well on the a0ternoon and evenin! news. E@ow do you 0eel/ &rianIG Stone smiled. EKm/ % 0eel !ood.G E.ere you sur rised the S:C didn>t even hear the a ealIG EKm/ % thin3 <r. Coo3 should answer that/G Stone re lied/ as he had been advised should any Juestions about the le!al as ects o0 his situation come u . :ayson smiled. E.e were very leased and not at all sur rised that the Commonwealth>s Su reme :udicial Court saw no reason to review the rulin! by :ud!e B>@are.G <ichelle Lin! sJuee7ed between her collea!ues to !et closer to Stone and brandished her micro hone. E&rian/ did you 0eel con0ident when you discovered your attorney would be an A0rican AmericanIG :ayson maintained a neutral eA ression. @e res ected <ichelle. 4hey both understood that althou!h romantically interested in Dictor/ she had a 9ob to do. &esides/ none o0 the Juestions as3ed so 0ar?includin! that one?had been unantici ated. E.ell/ % don>t have much eA erience with lawyers/ ma>am/G Stone said/ Ebut <r. Coo3 is a 0ine lawyer who treated me with res ect and wor3ed very hard 0or me.G E.hatcha !onna do now/ &rianIG E%P%>d li3e to 0ind some lace where % can !et some ice cream/G Stone answered.

4he re orters lau!hed and ro00ered more Juestions/ but :ayson held u his hands. ECome on now/ ladies and !entlemen/G he said/ Ewe have to be !oin!.G @e nodded at Stone/ who rom tly turned toward the van. EGet in the bac3 seat Juic3ly and sit behind the driver/G :ayson instructed. Stone 0ollowed orders. :ayson climbed into the 0ront seat and closed the door. Dictor/ behind the wheel/ chec3ed the rearview mirror. EEverybody buc3le u /G he ordered. E.e>ve !ot to !et ast the rotestors.G :ayson ressed his bac3 a!ainst his seat and s o3e to Stone. ELoo3 strai!ht ahead. 4he television cameras are rollin!. Con>t do anythin! you don>t want rebroadcasted on the evenin! news.G Stone nodded. EB3ay/ % 9ust want to !et out o0 here.G :ayson 0aced the 0ront. EB3ay/ Dictor. 'ice and easy.G Dictor drove the van slowly ast the rotestors/ who were bein! collectively restrained by &oston olice o00icers. :ayson couldn>t hel but be struc3 by the irony o0 the situation: &oston co s rotectin! a man whom &oston co s had un0airly ut in rison. Bne rotestor/ a youn! A0rican American man/ bro3e ast the human barricade. @e ran to :ayson>s side o0 the van and ounded on the door with his 0ists. E;uc3in! Kncle 4om/G he yelled be0ore a olice o00icer !rabbed him and ulled him bac3wards. E8ou let me catch you on the street/ ni!!aFG Embarrassed/ :ayson winced and wished the brother hadn>t uttered that word/ es ecially in 0ront o0 a white man. 4he crowd disa eared 0rom view as Dictor turned onto 'ashua Street and 9oined the sto +and+!o dance o0 vehicles enterin! Storrow Crive. :ayson turned to chec3 on his client. E8ou o3ayIG E8es/ than3 you. .here>re we !oin!IG :ayson 0aced the 0ront a!ain. ELi3e % told you/ we>re ta3in! you to a motel out o0 town.G @e 0elt uncom0ortable tal3in! to Stone about anythin! but the case. EConnie>s already boo3ed a room 0or you under her name. 8ou shouldn>t be bothered.G E.hat about my thin!sI <y car/ such as it is/ my clothes/ my/ um ersonal thin!s.G E.hat>s le0t o0 your clothes are at the motel/G :ayson in0ormed him. E8our landlord sold your 0urniture. 4he olice still have your car/ com uter and boo3s. <y !uess is ri!ht now the 0eds are loo3in! 0or anythin! they can/ ho in! to !et you on 0ederal char!es.G Stone covered his mouth with his 0ist. ECan they do thatIG :ayson shru!!ed. ELet>s not tal3 about that ri!ht now. Let>s 9ust !et you to your room so you can rest.G E.ho>s ayin! 0or the hotelIG Stone as3ed. E<otel/G :ayson corrected him. E%t>ll be art o0 the tab the state ic3s u 0or your le!al costs. % chose an out+o0 the way lace that a 0ormer cli?um/ someone % 3now owns. %t>s !ot woods and not much tra00ic/ so you can wal3 around. % 0i!ured you>d want to do that.G Stone nodded. E4han3 you/ :ayson. % a reciate everythin! you>ve done 0or me.G :ayson leaned closer to Dictor. EEverythin! setIG E8eah/G Dictor re lied. ELet>s 3ee our 0in!ers crossed.G :ayson could 0eel the tension inside the car and a!ain noted the irony. An A0rican American and an Asian were rotectin! a white racist. @e and Dictor started tal3in! about the third year law student>s new term at 'ortheastern Law School/ which had 9ust

be!un. Eventually/ they dri0ted to a olite ar!ument about the best contem orary baseball slu!!ers in the !ame. :ayson reached 0or the radio and 0ound a country music station. 'ormally he would have no idea where to locate such music. @owever/ he recalled that in one re ort concernin! Stone>s car/ the investi!ator had made note o0 the radio station. :ayson chuc3led and ad9usted the volume loud enou!h 0or Stone to hear but so0t enou!h to 3ee the sounds 0rom irritatin! him or inter0erin! with his chat with Dictor. :ayson 0li ed down the sun visor near his head/ uncovered the mirror attached and a!ain chec3ed on his client. Stone stared out the window li3e a curious child/ obviously !ettin! reacJuainted with 0reedom. A0ter about twenty minutes/ tra00ic be!an to thin out. :ayson and Dictor shi0ted to discussin! the en!ines o0 cars. :ayson stretched to see the driver>s console and as3ed aloud/ E@ow much !as do we haveIG @e lowered his voice. E'obody>s 0ollowin!IG E4he tan3>s 0ull/G Dictor re lied loudly. E'o e/ % 3e t an eye out/G he whis ered. EKm/ :aysonIG Stone called. :ayson suddenly 0elt uncom0ortable a!ain. E8esIG EAbout those boo3s and thin!s the olice haveHG E8eah/ what about themIG EKm/ as 0ar as %>m concerned/ they can 3ee them/G Stone said. E% mean/ % won>t be needin! them anymore.G :ayson nodded. EB3ay.G N E.e>re hereFG :ayson called to his snoo7in! client. Stone awo3e and sat u ri!ht. E.Pwhere are weIG E.e>re at the motel in a small town called 'orwood/G Dictor re lied/ Eabout 0i0teen miles 0rom &oston.G Dictor had ar3ed at the end o0 the siAteen+unit com leA/ away 0rom the main street/ such as it was. 4he three men wal3ed to the last room and sto ed in 0ront o0 a door mar3ed $$-. :ayson 3noc3ed. Connie o ened the door and ste ed outside/ literally bloc3in! their entrance. She wore a burnt oran!e dress and had tied her hair bac3 with a matchin! scar0. She closed the door behind her and stood neAt to :ayson. ECon!ratulations/ &rian/G she said. E4han3 you/G Stone re lied. @e loo3ed u77led. EAren>t we !oin! insideIG :ayson ste ed between Stone and the door/ and too3 a dee breath. E'ot yet.G E.hy notIG :ayson o ened his hands. E&rian/ %>ve?we>ve ta3en the liberty o0 doin! somethin! we thin3 is in your best interest.G E.hat do you meanIG :ayson si!hed. E.ell/ the bad search rulin! is only !ood 0or this case by the state o0 <assachusetts. 4he evidence they 0ound can still be used in a civil case a!ainst you. Also/ % can !uarantee you the :ustice Ce artment has a team o0 lawyers wor3in! on some way to ic3 you u sooner rather than later?and they>ll 0ind somethin!. 4rust me/ they will.G Stone shoo3 his head. ESo you>re sayin! that my 0reedom won>t last lon!.G

E% don>t thin3 so/G :ayson conceded. E'ow/ we came u with this idea/ but we don>t 3now what you>ll thin3 o0 it/ but it was all we could do to 3ee you out o0 court?maybe rison/ 0or many years.G :ayson turned and 3noc3ed on the door. ECome on in/G a so0t voice on the other side said. :ayson !rabbed the door3nob/ turned it and ushed the door o en. A short/ ortly/ A0rican American woman about siAty+years+old !ot to her 0eet with the aid o0 a hand+carved wooden cane. She wore thic3 !lasses and a sim le/ lon! blue dress s otted with small/ white 0lowers. She made no attem t to move 0orward as the 0our adults entered the room and s read out. Dictor closed the door and turned o00 the television. All eyes 0ocused on Stone. Stone too3 two ste s toward the woman and sto ed. @e widened his eyes in terror and ressed his 3nuc3les a!ainst his li s. E4wo <amaIG he as3ed. E8es/ child/G the women answered in a !entle voice. E%>m sorry/ <rs. Kin!/G :ayson said. E.hat did he call youIG 4he old woman smiled. E@e called me L4wo <ama.> All my children who % too3 care o0 call me that. 4hey say %>m their second mother.G @er voice indicated southern roots. Stone>s breathin! became labored. @e !lared at :ayson. E.hy>d you brin! her hereI 8ou had no ri!htFG he shouted. E% told you not to !o?G E%t>s my 9ob to do what>s best 0or you/G :ayson interru ted/ remainin! calm. EAs you obviously 3now/ this is Rosetta Kin!/ the widow who too3 you in 0or a year when you were a child in Ar3ansas. %t wasn>t easy/ but we 0ound her and contacted her.G Stone shoo3 his head. E% told you not to ryF 8ou shouldn>t have dra!!ed her into this.G E<rs. Kin! volunteered to hel /G Connie asserted/ ste in! 0orward. EShe did.G E4hat>s ri!ht/G the woman insisted. E% ain>t never turned my bac3 on one o0 my children no matter how much trouble they went and !ot themselves into.G Dictor hel ed her sit down. She than3ed him and continued. EBver the years % done raised over a hundred children in my house. Later/ sometimes they>s in 9ail or in trouble/ and % ta3es my &ible and !oes down to see them/ do what % can.G She held out her arms. ECome on/ child. Come to 4wo <ama.G Stone too3 a ste 0orward but sto ed. @e ut his hands over his 0ace and started sobbin!. E% can>t/ 4wo <ama. 8ou don>t 3now what %>ve done. % didn>t mean to/ but %>ve done a terrible thin!.G <rs. Kin! 3e t her arms eAtended. E% 3nows all about it/ and i0 you did what they said/ you>re ri!ht. 8ou done a terrible thin!.G EGod won>t ever 0or!ive meFG Stone wailed. E%>m !oin! to hellFG EGod 0or!ives anybody who as3s 0or 0or!iveness/ child/G <rs. Kin! said. EAnd the !ood Lord ain>t never turned @is bac3 on you and neither will %.G She shoo3 her arms. E'ow are you !onna come here or do % have to !et u IG 4he hum o0 the air+conditioner and Stone>s sobs roduced the only sounds in the room 0or several seconds. :ayson watched with com assion as Stone slowly shu00led to the woman/ 0ell on his 3nees and rested his head in her la . @e cried so hard and shoo3 so violently :ayson 0eared he mi!ht ass out. :ayson !lanced at Connie/ tears rollin! down her 0ace/ and Dictor/ who Juic3ly used his indeA 0in!er to wi e under his ri!ht eye.

:ayson smiled and si!hed. So his mother>s advice had 0inally trum ed Seth Greenber!>s. .hat Stone needed now a lawyer couldn>t !ive him/ but a mother could. 4his 3ind woman/ with her meaty arms wra ed around his !uilt+o ressed client/ seemed to be 9ust whatHwell/ in this case/ what the lawyer ordered. :ayson 3nelt neAt to Stone. EListen/ &rian/G he said. E<rs. Kin! has a vacant room above the !ara!e at her home in Ar3ansas. She>s a!reed to let you stay there. 'obody will 3now. .e only 3now about her because you told us. 4here was a 0ire so all the records were destroyed.G E'oFG Stone said without li0tin! his head. E% can>t brin! her any more ain than % have.G E&rian/ you>ve !ot to understand/G :ayson insisted sternly. E8ou>ve !ot to disa ear or in a wee3 or a month you>ll be bac3 in court and there>ll be nothin! % can do.G E8eah/G Dictor a!reed. E8ou should chan!e your name.G EAnd !row out your hair and !row a beard or somethin!/G Connie added. E8ou wouldn>t be able to 0i!ht the :ustice Ce artment/G :ayson declared/ and stood. E4hey>ve !ot millions o0 dollars at their dis osal.G Stone wi ed his eyes with a tissue Connie !ave him/ and blew his nose. E&ut % don>t have a 9ob or any money to ay 0or my room and board.G <rs. Kin! smiled. E%>ve !ot so many thin!s that need 0iAin! and loo3in! a0ter on that bi! ol> lace. And % still ta3e care o0 youn!>uns. 8ou could hel out there too. Bh/ you>d earn your 3ee / all ri!ht.G Stone closed his eyes and whis ered. E&ut 4wo <ama/ %>mH% mean/ % used to beH% mean/ % was all miAed u H% meanH%P%HG E.ell/ used+to+be don>t count/G <rs. Kin! declared. E% used to be thin at one time.G She lau!hed. :ayson smiled at the woman>s sel0+de reciatin! humor and addressed Stone. E%t>ll be o3ay 0or you to stay here 0or a day or two/ then you>ve !ot to !et out o0 <assachusetts and vanish. 4here>s nothin! about <rs. Kin! in any o0 the bac3!round material % read about you. 4hey don>t 3now anythin! about her.G Connie nodded. ESo no one would thin3 o0 loo3in! 0or you there.G Stone wi ed his nose a!ain. E.hat about the county sheri00 thereIG <rs. Kin! ointed at hersel0. E@e used to be one o0 my boys/ 9ust li3e you. @e won>t bother nobody.G Stone stood and 0aced :ayson. EA0ter all that %Hwell/ a0ter everythin!/ the way % tal3ed to you?and Connie. .hy>re you doin! this 0or meIG :ayson shru!!ed. E4o be truth0ul/ %>m not really sure.G @e shru!!ed a!ain. ELet>s 9ust say %>m doin! this not 9ust 0or you/ but 0or my Bne <ama.G N Later that evenin!/ :ayson/ still wearin! his suit/ sat on the 0loor with the Cuchess :enni0er and si ed ima!inary tea. ;or 0ive minutes he had listened to his dau!hter/ wearin! a lastic tiara/ s ea3 enthusiastically about her second+!rade teacher and the homewor3 she had recently com leted. Eventually/ she switched to the sub9ect o0 one o0 her classmates.

E% showed <arie/ one o0 the new !irls/ how to chec3 out a boo3 at the school library/G :enni0er said. She arran!ed the unused cu s into a strai!ht line and continued. E% li3e <arie. She has an accent because she>s 0rom @aiti.G E4hat>s !ood you hel ed her/G :ayson said. EAnd how was your day/ <ilordIG :enni0er as3ed. ECid you hel someone todayIG :ayson smiled at his recious little !irl. 4he E<ilordG bit was new/ but he reco!ni7ed the Juestion. %t had been the theme 0or the revious month at their church. She/ Renee and he 0reJuently osed that Juestion when inJuirin! about each other>s day. :ayson stared into :enni0er>s lar!e brown eyes and rivately conceded the child did stron!ly resemble Leslie. @owever/ she eA ressed hersel0 li3e he and Renee did. She was de0initely their child/ not hers. E8es/G he 0inally answered. E% did hel someone today.G E.hat did you do/ <ilordIG :enni0er as3ed. :ayson smiled. E.ell/ % hel ed someone who was lost 0ind his mother/ then she bou!ht him some ice cream.G :enni0er smiled. E%>m sure he li3ed that.G E8es/G :ayson a!reed/ and too3 a si 0rom his tiny cu . E8es he did.G *****

E$ILOGUE

Seth Greenber! ushed his !lasses 0urther u the brid!e o0 his nose and wi!!led in bed/ re arin! to watch the Saturday eleven .m. news. @is 0ellow residents at the nursin! home in .ellesley/ one o0 the most a00luent towns in <assachusetts/ had lon! since retired 0or the ni!ht. Greenber! had rebu00ed an attendant>s intrusion into his room to hel him !et ready 0or bed. @e reco!ni7ed that later he would have to a olo!i7e and acce t her o00er. 4he romo 0or the news earlier that day had indicated that :ayson Coo3 would be 0eatured. Greenber! 0elt very roud one o0 his students had done so well. @e was a !ood man/ that :ayson= the best o0 the lot who had attended the <assachusetts School o0 Law. %n 0act/ he had sto ed by 9ust a cou le o0 wee3s a!o to watch a Red SoA !ame with his old mentor. Greenber!>s bony hands shoo3 as he o ened his lar!e scra boo3 0illed with cli in!s and notices about his 0ormer students. @e wanted to review the recent entries. 4he ei!hty+year+old man 0li ed a!es and lau!hed out loud/ re!aled by the headlines toutin! :ayson>s success. %t had been about two years since he had ta3en that nasty &rian Stone case and 3ic3ed everybody>s ass= a case no one thou!ht he could ossibly win?no one but his old law ro0essor. 'ow his rotO!O was bac3 in the news/ and deservedly so. Greenber! believed the bi! muc3ety+muc3s runnin! the local news stations in Greater &oston hated to ac3nowled!e the accom lishments o0 those who hadn>t attended one o0 the eA ensive colle!es in the area. .henever re orters wanted to invite a tal3in! head to eA lain some le!al oint to the viewers/ they always scrambled to 0ind some snooty ro0essor 0rom @arvard. @ardly anyone had ever called him or one o0 his <SL collea!ues. B3ay/ o3ay/ with his lar!e !lasses/ bald head and 0ive+0eet/ ei!ht+inch 0rame he didn>t loo3 li3e a movie star. Bh well/ those days had lon! since assed. 4o hell with

those re orters/ he thou!ht/ and to hell with those su ercilious bastards at @arvard/ 0or that matter. Greenber! ushed a button on the television remote control/ turnin! u the volume. @e could still do that much. &e0ore that second stro3e he could !et around 0airly well and 0end 0or himsel0. 'ow he had to de end on others?and other thin!s?to assist him in his daily activities. @e turned his head to !lance at the wheelchair neAt to the bed. Camned contra tion. .ell/ he mused/ eo le do !et out o0 the way when they see a motori7ed wheelchair a roachin!. Greenber! chuc3led. @e had never been one to com lain or 0eel sorry 0or himsel0. @e had en9oyed a !ood ei!ht decades on earth/ had married?and been divorced by?three lovely :ewish women/ and had sired seven reasonably bri!ht children/ who all visited or called re!ularly. Greenber! heard the music si!nalin! the be!innin! o0 the news ro!ram. @e sto ed ruminatin! and started watchin!. <ichelle Lin! a eared/ sittin! alone at the anchor des3. A0ter biddin! the viewer !ood evenin!/ she eA lained that her co+anchor had the ni!ht o00 and launched into the to story. E4oday was a s ecial day 0or a man considered a lawyer>s lawyer in the <assachusetts le!al community.G 4hat Chinese !al sure was a retty little thin!/ Greenber! noted. She had interviewed him a cou le o0 times and had always been res ect0ul and 0air. She had made a name 0or hersel0 on that Stone case/ and had married Dictor Somethin!/ one o0 :ayson>s 0ormer interns. Dictor had ta!!ed alon! on one o0 :ayson>s visits to the nursin! home the revious year. A bri!ht 3id/ too/ Greenber! remembered. Really 3new the law?and baseball. E:ayson Coo3/G <ichelle Lin! re orted/ Ewas one o0 three reci ients who received the hi!hly res ected Coura!e Award 0rom the 0ormer ;irst Lady o0 the Knited States.G A0ter a brie0 mention o0 :ayson>s rOsumO/ she relinJuished the air time to a youn!/ attractive woman ori!inally 0rom Dietnam whose name Greenber! couldn>t re eat accurately. <ust be Asian !irls ni!ht on Channel Ei!ht/ Greenber! 9o3ed. .ell/ he had always been an eJual o ortunity o!ler: white/ blac3/ Asian/ whatever. @e couldn>t touch anymore/ but he could still loo3 as much as he wanted. 4he re orter stood in a s acious corridor accom anied by the mu00led sound o0 bi! band music. E<ichelle/G she o ened/ Ethe Coura!e Award ceremony is always held in the city o0 one o0 its reci ients.G She ointed at a lar!e maho!any door. E%>m standin! outside the door o0 the Pla7a &allroom at the &oston Par3 Pla7a @otel and 4owers in downtown &oston. About three hundred !uests are dancin! ri!ht now/ but a 0ew hours a!o they watched three brave Americans acce t a !reat honor 0rom the 0ormer ;irst Lady.G Greenber! chec3ed on the cloc3 radio neAt to his bed. @e normally didn>t watch Channel Ei!ht>s news but sus ected much time would be allocated to :ayson>s event because one o0 its re orters had been so involved in the &rian Stone story. 4he re orter>s rerecorded voice could be heard while the ima!e on the television screen switched to a lar!e/ well+lit banJuet hall. 4he camera 0ocused on a handsome elderly woman standin! at the odium deliverin! a messa!e/ but the re orter s o3e over the woman. E4he Coura!e Award is resented to only three eo le every year? eo le demonstratin! coura!e by ta3in! a stand on some issue or cause/ or on behal0 o0 some erson or !rou / o0ten standin! alone a!ainst revailin! ublic o inion.G

Greenber! 9ud!ed that the woman at the odium wearin! a smart navy blue suit still had some !ood loo3s le0t in her. She wore her !ray hair conservatively/ han!in! 9ust below her ears/ 0rom which dan!led hu!e diamond earrin!s. Since her husband/ whom Greenber! had never considered the bri!htest bulb on the tree/ had le0t o00ice/ she had made a name 0or hersel0 0rom involvement with charities and causes 0or social 9ustice. ;inally/ the ;irst Lady>s voice could be heard. EHta3in! a very un o ular case/ which criminal de0ense lawyers o0ten do/ and a!reein! to de0end an alle!ed white su remacist accused o0 lantin! a bomb that destroyed a church and 3illed a twelve+year+ old blac3 !irl. &ut :ayson Coo3 ut aside his ersonal 0eelin!sHG E:ust li3e % tau!ht him/G Greenber! whis ered smu!ly. EHand wor3ed to ensure that his client would !et a 0air trial/ as reJuired by our ConstitutionHG Greenber! smiled when the camera 7oomed in on :ayson/ sittin! with his wi0e and nine+year+old dau!hter. 4he old man couldn>t have been more roud i0 one o0 his own children had been sittin! there. @e had met :ayson>s wi0e and dau!hter a cou le o0 times= the wi0e had seemed a bit stando00ish/ but that little cherub?what was her name/ :enni0erI She had been a real deli!ht. Good manners/ too. 'ot li3e most o0 the s oiled/ bratty !randchildren?includin! his own?who visited the residents at the nursin! home. 4he ;irst Lady continued. E@e received numerous threats directed at him and his client/ but he continued to wor3 tirelessly to do what each o0 us ho es an attorney would do 0or us i0 we were char!ed with a crime: de0end his client to the best o0 his ability.G E8ou tell them/ little lady/G Greenber! eAclaimed. @e ressed the button to turn u the sound one more notch. 4he Elittle lady>sG volume rose. E4his brave man>s e00orts in de0endin! his client too3 an uneA ected turn when he discovered there eAisted within the local olice de artment a ro!ue !rou o0 vi!ilantes callin! themselves Lthe Protectors/> who were routinely violatin! the civil ri!hts o0 eo le they deemed Lun+American> by s yin! on them/ sto in! them without robable cause and conductin! ille!al searches o0 their ro erty.G 4he camera anned out to show the mostly white/ mostly middle+a!ed/ well+ dressed !uests/ and about thirty media ro0essionals. E:ayson Coo3/G the s ea3er said/ Eunderstood that in our system o0 9ustice/ constitutional rotections cannot be selectively a lied.G Greenber! ulled on the swin!in! arm o0 the table neAt to his bed. @e !rabbed a cu 0illed with water and too3 a si 0rom a straw. E% always li3ed her/G he asserted. ESubseJuent investi!ations led to the destruction o0 this band o0 criminals carryin! bad!es/G the ;irst Lady announced/ Eand led to the arrest or 0orced resi!nation o0 0ourteen &oston olice o00icers/ includin! a de uty chie0.G E@an!in!>s too !ood 0or those sons o0 bitches/G Greenber! !rowled. ESince then/ :ayson Coo3 has been a ointed by the !overnor to serve the state in another ca acity/ and has already distin!uished himsel0 there as well.G 4he resenter smiled and eAtended her hand. ELadies and !entlemen/ % !ive you our third reci ient o0 this year>s Coura!e Award: Su erior Court :ud!e :ayson &en9amin Coo3.G As :ayson made his way to the sta!e and the odium amid a thunderous standin! ovation/ Greenber! dro ed the remote control onto his la . @e had intended to a laud with the other members o0 the audience/ but he could no lon!er 0eel his hands. Also/ 0or some ineA licable reason he 0elt eAtremely slee y. @e closed his eyes and seemed to be

havin! a stran!e dream: @e could see himsel0 in bed watchin! :ayson on television. Such a wonder0ul student/ that one. :ud!e :ayson Coo3 addressed the crowd o0 admirers/ but Greenber! couldn>t hear his words. 'o matter. 4he discom0ort and restrictions that had a00licted his a!ed body 0or years had all miraculously disa eared. 8es/ he would close his eyes and !o to slee . @e 0elt such eace. Such contentment. @e hadn>t 0elt this ha y in many yearsH. UUU Author note: % ho e you en9oyed readin! this novel. ;or more in0ormation on my writin! ro9ects visit my website at www.3elvinlreed.com. 8ou can send me an e+mail at 3elvinV3elvinlreed.com. 4han3 you 0or readin!. +iscover other titles ! "elvin L. #eed at Smashwords.com President Pro 4em

Acknowled,ments

;irst o0 all/ % than3 my beauti0ul and wonder0ul wi0e/ <arieta/ 0or her willin!ness to sacri0ice so much o0 our recious time to!ether/ which enabled me to com lete this novel. As my initial reader and critic/ her contributions have been eAtremely valuable throu!hout the rocess o0 writin! this boo3. % a reciate the considerable time 0ellow church arishioner :an .oodbine and my sister/ Pamela Shaw/ too3 to read the entire novel and rovide me with valuable 0eedbac3. % than3 my 0amily 0or their su ort/ es ecially my brother <elvin. % also than3 0riends :immy/ Ken/ @u!h and &arry 0or their encoura!ement in whatever endeavor % underta3e. % than3 two individuals 0rom my ast who have assed away: Arvid Go len/ my hi!h school En!lish teacher/ who was the 0irst erson to su!!est % 3ee writin!/ and my 0irst writin! mentor/ C. <ar3 Rider/ who challen!ed me to become a better writer. %>m still wor3in! on that. % a reciate the time many individuals s ent answerin! my numerous Juestions about technical matters substantially outside o0 my 3nowled!e. 4hey sus ended the activities o0 their wor3day to assist a stran!er who said he was writin! a novel. Amon! these individuals/ &oston attorney :ames Cilday was es ecially charitable with his time. ;inally/ % than3 attorney :ose h @ill in <adison/ .isconsin/ whose !enerosity years a!o hel ed me 0inish !raduate school. ***** %his book is dedicated to my beloved wife. Marieta. and to my dear. de#arted brother. /regory

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