按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lway。 He vanished as they left the building。
Two groups of cameras were ready outside。 On the front steps； Roxburgh was addressing one batch of reporters； and not far away on the sidewalk； the governor was holding forth。 As Adam walked by； he heard McAllister say that clemency was being considered； and that it would be a long night。 Tomorrow would be even tougher。 Would he attend the execution？ someone asked。 Adam couldn't hear the reply。
They met at Hal and Mal's； a popular downtown restaurant and watering hole。 Hez found a large table in a corner near the front and ordered a round of beer。 A blues band was cranked up in the back。 The dining room and bar were crowded。
Adam sat in a corner； next to Hez； and relaxed for the first time in hours。 The beer went down fast and calmed him。 They ordered red beans and rice； and chatted about the hearing。 Hez said he'd performed wonderfully； and the law students were full of pliments。 The mood was optimistic。 Adam thanked them for their help。 Goodman and Glass were at the far end of the table； lost in a conversation about another death row case。 Time passed slowly； and Adam attacked his dinner when it arrived。
〃This is probably not a good time to bring this up；〃 Hez said out of the corner of his mouth。 He wanted no one to hear but Adam。 The band was even louder now。
〃I guess you'll go back to Chicago when this is over；〃 he said； looking at Goodman to make sure he was still engaged with Glass。
〃I guess so；〃 Adam said； without conviction。 He'd had little time to think past tomorrow。
〃Well； just so you'll know； there's an opening in our office。 One of my guys is going into private practice； and we're looking for a new lawyer。 It's nothing but death work； you know。〃
〃You're right；〃 Adam said quietly。 〃This is a lousy time to bring it up。〃
〃It's tough work； but it's satisfying。 It's also heartbreaking。 And necessary。〃 Hez chewed on a bite of sausage； and washed it down with beer。 〃The money is lousy； pared with what you're making with the firm。 Tight budget； long hours； lots of clients。〃
〃How much？〃
〃I can start you at thirty thousand。〃
〃I'm making sixty…two right now。 With more on the way。〃
〃I've been there。 I was making seventy with a big firm in D。C。 when I gave it up to e here。 I was on the fast track to a partnership； but it was easy to quit。 Money's not everything。〃
〃You enjoy this？〃
〃It grows on you。 It takes strong moral convictions to fight the system like this。 Just think about it。〃
Goodman was now looking their way。 〃Are you driving to Parchman tonight？〃 he asked loudly。
Adam was finishing his second beer。 He wanted a third； but no more。 Exhaustion was rapidly setting in。 〃No。 I'll wait until we hear something in the morning。〃
They ate and drank and listened to Goodman and Glass and Kerry tell war stories of other executions。 The beer flowed； and the atmosphere went from optimism to outright confidence。
Sam lay in the darkness and waited for midnight。 He'd watched the late news and learned that the hearing was over； and that the clock was still ticking。 There was no stay。 His life was in the hands of a federal judge。
At one minute after midnight； he closed his eyes and said a prayer。 He asked God to help Lee with her troubles； to be with Carmen； and to give Adam the strength to survive the inevitable。
He had twenty…four hours to live。 He folded his hands over his chest； and fell asleep。
47
NUGENT waited until exactly seven thirty to close the door and start the meeting。 He walked to the front of the room； and surveyed his troops。
〃I just left MSU；〃 he said somberly。
〃The inmate is awake and alert； not at all the blithering zombie we read about in the paper this morning。
〃 He paused and smiled and expected everyone to admire his humor。 It went undetected。
〃In fact； he's already had his breakfast； and is already bitching about wanting his recreation time。 So at least something is normal around here。 There's no word from the federal court in Jackson； so this thing is on schedule unless we hear otherwise。 Correct； Mr。 Mann？〃
Lucas was sitting at the table across the front of the room； reading the paper and trying to ignore the colonel。 〃Right。〃
〃Now； there are two areas of concern。 First is the press。 I've assigned Sergeant Moreland here to handle these bastards。 We're gonna move them to the Visitors Center just inside the front gate； and try to keep them pinned down there。 We're gonna surround them with guards； and just dare them to venture about。 At four this afternoon； I'll conduct the lottery to see which reporters get to watch the execution。 As of yesterday； there were over a hundred names on the request list。 They get five seats。
〃The second problem is what's happening outside the gate。 The governor has agreed to assign three dozen troopers for today and tomorrow； and they'll be here shortly。 We have to keep our distance from these nuts； especially the skinheads； sumbitches are crazy； but at the same time we have to maintain order。 There were two fights yesterday； and things could've deteriorated rapidly if we hadn't been watching。 If the execution takes place； there could be some tense moments。 Any questions？〃
There were none。
〃Very well。 I'll expect everyone to act professionally today； and carry this out in a responsible manner。 Dismissed。〃 He snapped off a smart salute； and proudly watched them leave the room。
Sam straddled the bench with the checkerboard in front of him； and waited patiently for J。 B。 Gullitt to enter the bullpen。 He sipped the stale remains of a cup of coffee。
Gullitt stepped through the door； and paused as the handcuffs were removed。 He rubbed his wrists； shielded his eyes from the sun； and looked at his friend sitting alone。 He walked to the bench and took his position across the board。
Sam never looked up。
〃Any good news； Sam？〃 Gullitt asked nervously。 〃Tell me it won't happen。〃
〃Just move；〃 Sam said； staring at the checkers。
〃It can't happen； Sam；〃 he pleaded。
〃It's your turn to go first。 Move。〃
Gullitt slowly lowered his eyes to the board。
The prevailing theory of the morning was that the longer Slattery sat on the petition； the greater the likelihood of a stay。 But this was the conventional wisdom of those who were praying for a reprieve。 No word had e by 9 A。m。； nothing by 9：30。
Adam waited in Hez Kerry's office； which had bee the operations center during the past twenty…four hours。 Goodman was across town supervising the relentless hounding of the governor's hotline； a task he seemed to savor。 John Bryan Glass had parked himself outside Slattery's office。
In the event Slattery denied a stay； they would immediately appeal to the Fifth Circuit。 The appeal was pleted by nine； just in case。 Kerry had also prepared a petition for cert to the U。S。 Supreme Court if the Fifth Circuit turned them down。 The paperwork was waiting。 Everything was waiting。
To occupy his mind； Adam called everyone he could think of。 He called Carmen in Berkeley。 She was asleep and fine。 He called Lee's condo； and； of course； there was no answer。 He called Phelps' office and talked to a secretary。 He called Darlene to tell her he h