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've believed he earned over four hundred thousand dollars a year。 And he couldn't have cared less。 E。 Garner Goodman was happy with his work。 He was trying his best to save another soul from being legally killed。
He left the library and drove a few blocks to the Mississippi College School of Law。 A professor there by the name of John Bryan Glass taught criminal procedure and law； and also had begun publishing scholarly articles against the death penalty。 Goodman wanted to make his acquaintance； and to see if maybe the professor had a few bright students interested in a research project。
The professor was gone for the day； but scheduled to teach a 9 A。M。 class on Thursday。 Goodman checked out the law school's library； then left the building。 He drove a few blocks to the Old State Capitol Building； just killing time； and took an extended tour of it。 It lasted for thirty minutes； half of which was spent at the Civil Rights Exhibit on the ground floor。 He asked the clerk in the gift shop about a bed and breakfast； and she suggested the Millsaps…Buie House； about a mile down the street。 He found the lovely Victorian mansion just where she'd said； and took the last vacant room。 The house was immaculately restored with period pieces and furnishings。 The butler fixed him a Scotch and water； and he took it to his room。
39
THE Auburn House opened for business at eight。 A feeble and dispirited security guard in a bad uniform unlocked the gate across the drive； and Adam was the first person into the parking lot。 He waited in his car for ten minutes until another parked nearby。 He recognized the woman as the counselor he'd met in Lee's office two weeks earlier。 He stopped her on the sidewalk as she was entering a side door。 〃Excuse me；〃 he said。 〃We've met before。 I'm Adam Hall。 Lee's nephew。 I'm sorry； but I don't remember your name。〃
The lady held a worn briefcase in one hand and a brown lunch bag in the other。 She smiled and said； 〃Joyce Cobb。 I remember。 Where's Lee？〃
〃I don't know。 I was hoping you might know something。 You haven't heard from her？〃
〃No。 Not since Tuesday。〃
〃Tuesday？ I haven't talked to her since Saturday。 Did you talk to her Tuesday？〃
〃She called here； but I didn't talk to her。 It was the day they ran that drunk driving story in the paper。〃
〃Where was she？〃
〃She never said。 She asked for the administrator； said she would be out for a while； had to get some help； stuff like that。 Never said where she was or when she was ing back。〃
〃What about her patients？〃
〃We're covering for her。 It's always a struggle； you know。 But we'll manage。〃
〃Lee wouldn't forget these girls。 Do you think maybe she's talked to them this week？〃
〃Look； Adam； most of these girls don't have phones； okay？ And Lee certainly would not go into the projects。 We're seeing her girls； and I know they haven't talked to her。〃
Adam took a step back and looked at the gate。 〃I know。 I need to find her。 I'm really worried。〃
〃She'll be okay。 She's done this once before； and everything worked out。〃 Joyce was suddenly in a hurry to get inside。 〃If I hear something； I'll let you know。〃
〃Please do。 I'm staying at her place。〃
〃I know。〃
Adam thanked her； and drove away。 By nine； he was at the office； buried in paper。
Colonel Nugent sat at the end of along table in the front of a room filled with guards and staff people。 The table was on a slight platform twelve inches above the rest of the room； and behind it on the wall was a large chalkboard。 A portable podium sat in a corner。 The chairs along the table to his right were empty； so that the guards and staff sitting in the folding chairs could see the faces of the more important ones on Nugent's left。 Morris Henry from the Attorney General's office was there； thick briefs lying before him。 Lucas Mann sat at the far end taking notes。 Two assistant superintendents were next to Henry。 A flunkie from the governor's office was next to Lucas。
Nugent glanced at his watch； then began his little pep talk。 He referred to his notes； and aimed his ments at the guards and staff。 〃As of this morning； August 2； all stays have been lifted by the various courts； and there's nothing to stop the execution。 We are proceeding as if it will take place as planned； at one minute after midnight next Wednesday。 We have six full days to prepare； and I am determined for this thing to take place smoothly； without a hitch。
〃The inmate has at least three petitions and appeals currently working their way through the various courts； and； of course； there's no way to predict what might happen。 We are in constant contact with the Attorney General's office。 In fact； Mr。 Morris Henry is here with us today。 It is his opinion； and an opinion shared by Mr。 Lucas Mann； that this thing will go down to the wire。 A stay could be granted at any moment； but that looks doubtful。 We have to be ready regardless。 The inmate is also expected to request a clemency hearing from the governor； but； frankly； that is not expected to be successful。 From now until next Wednesday； we will be in a state of preparedness。〃
Nugent's words were strong and clear。 He had center stage； and was obviously enjoying every moment of it。 He glanced at his notes； and continued。 〃The gas chamber itself is being prepared。 It's old and it hasn't been used in two years； so we're being very careful with it。 A representative of the manufacturer arrives this morning； and will conduct tests today and tonight。 We'll go through a plete rehearsal of the execution over the weekend； probably Sunday night； assuming there's no stay。 I have collected the lists of volunteers for the execution team； and I'll make that determination this afternoon。
〃Now； we're being inundated with requests from the media for all sorts of things。 They want to interview Mr。 Cayhall； his lawyer； our lawyer； the warden； the guards； other inmates on the row； the executioner； everybody。 They want to witness the execution。 They want pictures of his cell and the chamber。 Typical media silliness。 But we must deal with it。 There is to be no contact with any member of the press unless I first approve it。 That goes for every employee of this institution。 No exceptions。 Most of these reporters are not from around here； and they get their jollies making us look like a bunch of ignorant rednecks。 So don't talk to them。 No exceptions。 I'll issue the appropriate releases when I deem necessary。 Be careful with these people。 They're vultures。
〃We're also expecting trouble from the outside。 As of about ten minutes ago； the first group of Ku Klux Klansmen arrived at the front gate。 They were directed to the usual spot between the highway and the administration building where the protests take place。 We've also heard that other such groups will be here shortly； and it appears as if they plan to protest until this thing is over。 We'll watch them closely。 They have the right to do this； so long as it's peaceful。 Though I wasn't here for the last four executions； I've been told that groups of death penalty supporters usually show up and raise hell。 We plan to keep these two groups separated； for obvious reasons。〃
Nugent couldn't sit any longer； and stood stif