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am's grandson？〃
〃Oh； he's still lead counsel。 I'm the director of pro bono for Kravitz & Bane； so I'm here to assist him。〃
〃We're monitoring this thing very closely；〃 Larramore said； his face wrinkling fiercely in the center； then relaxing at the end of each sentence。 〃Looks like it will go down to the wire。〃
〃They always do；〃 Goodman said。 〃How serious is the governor about a clemency hearing？〃
〃I'm sure he'll entertain the idea of a hearing。 The granting of clemency is an entirely different matter。 The statute is very broad； as I'm sure you know。 He can mute the death sentence and instantly parole the convict。 He can mute it to life in prison； or something less than that。〃
Goodman nodded。 〃Will it be possible for me to see him？〃
〃He's scheduled to return here at eleven。 I'll speak to him then。 He'll probably eat lunch at his desk； so there may be a gap around one。 Can you be here？〃
〃Yes。 This must be kept quiet。 Our client is very much opposed to this meeting。〃
〃Is he opposed to the idea of clemency？〃
〃We have seven days to go； Mr。 Larramore。 We're not opposed to anything。〃
Larramore crinkled his nose and exposed his upper teeth； and picked up the itinerary again。 〃Be here at one。 I'll see what I can do。〃
〃Thanks。〃 They chatted aimlessly for five minutes； then Larramore was besieged by a series of urgent phone calls。 Goodman excused himself and left the capitol。 He paused again at the Japanese magnolias and removed his jacket。 It was nine…thirty； and his shirt was wet under the arms and sticking to his back。
He walked south in the general direction of Capitol Street； four blocks away and considered to be the main street of Jackson。 In the midst of the buildings and traffic of downtown； the governor's mansion sat majestically on manicured grounds and faced the capitol。 It was a large antebellum home surrounded by gates and fences。 A handful of death penalty opponents had gathered on the sidewalk the night Tole was executed and yelled at the governor。 Evidently； he had not heard them。 Goodman stopped on the sidewalk and remembered the mansion。 He and Peter Wiesenberg had walked hurriedly through a gate to the left of the main drive with their last plea； just hours before Tole was gassed。 The governor at that time was having a late dinner with important people； and had bee quite irritated with their interruption。 He denied their final request for clemency； then； in the finest Southern tradition； invited them to stay for dinner。
They'd politely declined。 Goodman explained to His Honor that they had to hurry back to Parchman to be with their client as he died。 〃Be careful；〃 the governor had told them； then returned to his dinner party。
Goodman wondered how many protestors would be standing on this spot in a few short days； chanting and praying and burning candles； waving placards； and yelling at McAllister to spare old Sam。 Probably not very many。
There has seldom been a shortage of office space in the central business district in Jackson； and Goodman had little trouble finding what he wanted。 A sign directed his attention to vacant footage on the third floor of an ugly building。 He inquired at the front desk of a finance pany on the ground level； and an hour later the owner of the building arrived and showed him the available space。 It was a dingy two…room suite with worn carpet and holes in the wallboard。 Goodman walked to the lone window and looked at the front of the capitol building three blocks away。 〃Perfect；〃 he said。
〃It's three hundred a month； plus electricity。 Rest room's down the hall。 Six…month minimum。〃
〃I need it for only two months；〃 Goodman said； reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a neatly folded collection of cash。
The owner looked at the money； and asked； 〃What kind of business are you in？〃
〃Marketing analysis。〃
〃Where are you from？〃
〃Detroit。 We're thinking about establishing a branch in this state； and we need this space to get started。 But for only two months。 All cash。 Nothing in writing。 We'll be out before you know it。 Won't make a sound。〃
The owner took the cash and handed Goodman two keys； one for the office； the other for the entrance on Congress Street。 They shook hands and the deal was closed。
Goodman left the dump and returned to his car at the capitol。 Along the way he chuckled at the scheme he was pursuing。 The idea was Adam's brainchild； another long shot in a series of desperate plots to save Sam。 There was nothing illegal about it。 The cost would be slight； and who cared about a few dollars at this point？ He was； after all； Mr。 Pro Bono at the firm； the source of great pride and self…righteousness among his peers。 Nobody； not even Daniel Rosen； would question his expenditures for a little rent and a few phones。
After three weeks as a death row lawyer； Adam was beginning to yearn for the predictability of his office in Chicago； if； in fact； he still had an office。 Before ten o'clock Wednesday； he had finished a claim for postconviction relief。 He had talked with various court clerks four times； then with a court administrator。 He had talked with Richard Olander in Washington twice concerning the habeas claim attacking the gas chamber； and he had talked with a clerk at the death desk at the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans regarding the ineffectiveness claim。
The claim alleging Sam's lack of mental petence was now in Jackson； by fax with the original to follow by Fed…Ex； and Adam was forced to politely beg the court's administrator to speed things up。 Hurry up and deny it； he said； though not in those words。 If a stay of execution was forthing； it would in all likelihood be issued by a federal judge。
Each new claim brought with it a scant new ray of hope； and； as Adam was quickly learning； also the potential for another loss。 A claim had to clear four obstacles before it was extinguished … the Mississippi Supreme Court； the federal district court； the Fifth Circuit； and the U。S。 Supreme Court … so the odds were against success； especially at this stage of the appeals。 Sam's bread and butter issues had been litigated thoroughly by Wallace Tyner and Garner Goodman years ago。 Adam was now filing the crumbs。
The clerk at the Fifth Circuit doubted if the court would care to indulge in another oral argument； especially since it appeared that Adam would be filing new claims every day。 The three…judge panel would probably consider only the briefs。 Conference calls would be used if the judges wished to hear his voice。
Richard Olander called again to say the Supreme Court had received Adam's petition for cert； or request to hear the case； and that it had been assigned。 No； he did not think the Court would care to hear oral argument。 Not this late in the game。 He also informed Adam that he had received by fax a copy of the new claim of mental inpetency； and that he would monitor it through the local courts。 Interesting； he said。 He asked again what new claims Adam might be contemplating； but Adam wouldn't say。
Judge Slattery's law clerk； Breck Jefferson； he of the permanent scowl； called to inform Adam that His Honor had received by fax a copy of the new claim filed with the Mississippi Supreme Court； and frankly His Ho