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〃We'll do it again。 I have a thick notebook full of questions。〃
〃They've all been asked。〃
〃Yeah； Sam； but they haven't been answered； have they？〃
Sam stuck the filter between his lips。
〃And they haven't been asked by me； have they？〃
〃You think I'm lying。〃
〃Are you？〃
〃No。〃
〃But you haven't told the whole story； have you？〃
〃What difference does it make； counselor？ You've read Bateman。〃
〃Yeah； I've memorized Bateman； and there are a number of soft spots in it。〃
〃Typical lawyer。〃
〃If there's new evidence； then there are ways to present it。 All we're doing； Sam； is trying to create enough confusion to make some judge somewhere give it a second thought。 Then a third thought。 Then he grants a stay so he can learn more。〃
〃I know how the game is played； son。〃
〃Adam； okay； it's Adam。〃
〃Yeah； and just call me Gramps。 I suppose you plan to appeal to the governor。〃
〃Yes。〃
Sam inched forward in his chair and moved close to the screen。 With the index finger of his right hand； he began pointing at a spot somewhere in the center of Adam's nose。 His face was suddenly harsh； his eyes narrow。 〃You listen to me； Adam；〃 he growled； finger pointing back and forth。 〃If I sign this piece of paper； you are never to talk to that bastard。 Never。 Do you understand？〃
Adam watched the finger but said nothing。
Sam decided to continue。 〃He is a bogus son of a bitch。 He is vile； sleazy； thoroughly corrupt； and pletely able to mask it all with a pretty smile and a clean haircut。 He is the only reason I'm sitting here on death row。 If you contact him in any way； then you're finished as my lawyer。〃
〃So I'm your lawyer。〃
The finger dropped and Sam relaxed a bit。 〃Oh； I may give you a shot； let you practice on me。 You know； Adam； the legal profession is really screwed up。 If I was a free man； just trying to make a living； minding my own business； paying my taxes； obeying the laws and such； then I couldn't find a lawyer who'd take the time to spit on me unless I had money。 But here I am； a convicted killer； condemned to die； not a penny to my name； and I've got lawyers all over the country begging to represent me。 Big； rich lawyers with long names preceded with initials and followed by numerals； famous lawyers with their own jets and television shows。 Can you explain this？〃
〃Of course not。 Nor do I care about it。〃
〃It's a sick profession you've gotten yourself in。〃
〃Most lawyers are honest and hardworking。〃
〃Sure。 And most of my pals here on death row would be ministers and missionaries if they hadn't been wrongly convicted。〃
〃The governor might be our last chance。〃
〃Then they might as well gas me now。 That pompous ass'll probably want to witness my execution； then he'll hold a press conference and replay every detail for the world。 He's a spineless little worm who's made it this far because of me。 And if he can milk me for a few more sound bites； then he'll do it。 Stay away from him。〃
〃We can discuss it later。〃
〃We're discussing it now； I believe。 You'll give me your word before I sign this paper。〃
〃Any more conditions？〃
〃Yeah。 I want something added here so that if I decide to fire you again； then you and your firm won't fight me。 That should be easy。〃
〃Let me see it。〃
The agreement was passed through the slit again； and Adam printed a neat paragraph at the bottom。 He handed it back to Sam； who read it slowly and laid it on the counter。
〃You didn't sign it；〃 Adam said。
〃I'm still thinking。〃
〃Can I ask some questions while you're thinking？〃
〃You can ask them。〃
〃Where did you learn to handle explosives？〃
〃Here and there。〃
〃There were at least five bombings before Kramer； all with the same type； all very basic … dynamite； caps； fuses。 Kramer； of course； was different because a timing device was used。 Who taught you how to make bombs？〃
〃Have you ever lit a firecracker？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Same principle。 A match to the fuse； run like crazy； and boom。〃
〃The timing device is a bit more plicated。 Who taught you how to wire one？〃
〃My mother。 When do you plan to return here？〃
〃Tomorrow。〃
〃Good。 Here's what we'll do。 I need some time to think about this。 I don't want to talk right now； and I damned sure don't want to answer a bunch of questions。 Let me look over this document； make some changes； and we'll meet again tomorrow。〃
〃That's wasting time。〃
〃I've wasted almost ten years here。 What's another day？〃
〃They may not allow me to return if I don't officially represent you。 This visit is a favor。〃
〃A great bunch of guys； aren't they？ Tell them you're my lawyer for the next twenty…four hours。 They'll let you in。〃
〃We have a lot of ground to cover； Sam。 I'd like to get started。〃
〃I need to think； okay。 When you spend over nine years alone in a cell； you bee real good at thinking and analyzing。 But you can't do it fast； understand？ It takes longer to sort things out and place them in order。 I'm sort of spinnin' right now； you know。 You've hit me kinda hard。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃I'll be better tomorrow。 We can talk then。 I promise。〃
〃Sure。〃 Adam placed the cap on his pen and stuck it in his pocket。 He slid the file into the briefcase； and relaxed in his seat。 〃I'll be staying in Memphis for the next couple of months。〃
〃Memphis？ I thought you lived in Chicago。〃
〃We have a small office in Memphis。 I'll be working out of there。 The number's on the card。 Feel free to call anytime。〃
〃What happens when this thing is over？〃
〃I don't know。 I may go back to Chicago。〃
〃Are you married？〃
No。； 〃Is Carmen？〃 〃No。 〃What's she like？〃
Adam folded his hands behind his head and examined the thin fog above them。 〃She's very smart。 Very pretty。 Looks a lot like her mother。〃
〃Evelyn was a beautiful girl。〃
〃She's still beautiful。〃
〃I always thought Eddie was lucky to get her。 I didn't like her family； though。〃
And she certainly didn't like Eddie's； Adam thought to himself。 Sam's chin dropped almost to his chest。 He rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose。 〃This family business will take some work； won't it？〃 he said without looking。
〃Yep。〃
〃I may not be able to talk about some things。〃
〃Yes you will。 You owe it to me； Sam。 And you owe it to yourself。〃
〃You don't know what you're talking about； and you wouldn't want to know all of it。〃
〃Try me。 I'm sick of secrets。〃
〃Why do you want to know so much？〃
〃So I can try and make some sense of it。〃
〃That'll be a waste of time。〃
〃I'll have to decide that； won't I？〃
Sam placed his hands on his knees； and slowly stood。 He took a deep breath and looked down at Adam through the screen。 〃I'd like to go now。〃
Their eyes met through the narrow diamonds in the partition。 〃Sure；〃 Adam said。 〃Can I bring you anything？〃
〃No。 Just e back。〃
〃I promise。〃
11
PACKER closed the door and locked it； and together they stepped from the narrow shadow outside the conference room into the blinding midday sun。 Adam closed his eyes and stopped for a second； then fished through his pockets in a desperate search for sunglasses。 Packer waited patiently； his eyes sen