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McAllister chose not to introduce his band of clones； all of whom were suffering from either migraines or hemorrhoids。 Their faces were contorted from pain； or perhaps from quite serious deliberation about legal matters at hand。 〃Hope we haven't jumped the gun； Mr。 Hall；〃
Slattery said as he slipped a pair of reading glasses on his nose。 He was in his early forties； one of the young Reagan appointees。 〃When do on expect to officially file your petition here in federal court？〃
〃Today；〃 Adam said nervously； still astounded by the speed of it all。 This was a positive evelopment though； he'd decided while driving o Jackson。 If Sam got any relief； it would be in federal court； not state。
〃When can the state respond？〃 the judge sked Roxburgh。
‘ 〃Tomorrow morning。 Assuming the petition ere raises the same issues as those raised in e supreme court。〃
〃They're the same；〃 Adam said to Roxburgh；
Then he turned to Slattery。
〃I was told to be here at eleven o'clock。 What time did the meeting tart？〃
〃The meeting started when I decided it would start； Mr。 Hall；〃 Slattery said icily。 〃Do you have a problem with that？〃
〃Yes。 It's obvious this conference started some time ago； without me。〃
〃What's wrong with that？ This is my office； end I'll start meetings whenever I want。〃
〃Yeah； but it's my petition； and I was invited here to discuss it。 Seems as though I should've been here for the entire meeting。〃
〃You don't trust me； Mr。 Hall？〃 Slattery was easing forward on his elbows； thoroughly enjoying this。
〃I don't trust anybody；〃 Adam said； staring at His Honor。
〃We're trying to acmodate you； Mr。 Hall。 Your client doesn't have much time； and I'm only trying to move things along。 I thought you'd be pleased that we were able to arrange this meeting with such speed。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Adam said； and looked at his legal pad。 There was a brief silence as the tension eased a bit。
Slattery held a sheet of paper。 〃Get the petition filed today。 The state will file its response tomorrow。 I'll consider it over the weekend and issue a ruling on Monday。 In the event I decide to conduct a hearing； I need to know from both sides how long it will take to prepare。 How about you； Mr。 Hall？ How long to get ready for a hearing？〃
Sam had twenty…two days to live。 Any hearing would have to be a hurried； concise affair with quick witnesses and； he hoped； a swift ruling by the court。 Adding to the stress of the moment was the crucial fact that Adam had no idea how long it would take to prepare for a hearing because he'd never tried such a matter。 He'd participated in a few minor skirmishes in Chicago； but always with Emmitt Wycoff close by。 He was just a rookie； dammit！ He wasn't even certain where the courtroom was located。
And something told him that the eleven vultures examining him at this precise second knew full well he didn't know what the hell he was doing。 〃I can be ready in a week；〃 he said with a steady poker face and as much faith as he could muster。
〃Very well；〃 Slattery said； as if this was fine； a good answer； Adam； good boy。 A week was reasonable。 Then Roxburgh whispered something to one of his warlocks； and the whole bunch thought it was funny。 Adam ignored them。
Slattery scribbled something with an ink pen； then studied it。 He gave it to Breck the clerk who treasured it and raced off to do something。 His Honor looked along the wall of legal infantry to his right； then he dropped his gaze upon young Adam。
〃Now； Mr。 Hall； there's something else I'd like to discuss。 As you know； this execution is scheduled to take place at twenty…two days； and I would like to know if this court can expect any additional filings on behalf of Mr。 Cayhall。 I know this is an unusual bequest； but we're operating here in an unusual Situation。 Frankly； this is my first involvement with a death penalty case as advanced as this one； and I think it's best if we all work together here。〃
In other words； Your Honor； you want to make damned sure there are no stays。 Adam thought for a second。 It was an unusual request； and one that was quite unfair。 But Sam had a constitutional right to file anything at anytime； and Adam could not be bound by any promises made here。 He decided to be polite。 〃I really can't say； Your Honor。 Not now。 Maybe next week。〃
〃Surely you'll file the usual gangplank appeals；〃 Roxburgh said； and the smirking bastards around him all looked at Adam with wondrous amazement。
〃Frankly； Mr。 Roxburgh； I'm not required to discuss my plans with you。 Or with the court； for that matter。〃
〃Of course not；〃 McAllister chimed in for some reason； probably just his inability to stay quiet for more than five minutes。
Adam had noticed the lawyer sitting to Roxburgh's right； a methodical sort with steely eyes that seldom left Adam。 He was young but gray； clean…shaven； and very neat。 McAllister favored him； and had leaned to his right several times as if receiving advice。 The others from the AG's office seemed to accede to his thoughts and movements。 There was a reference in one of the hundred articles Adam had clipped and filed away about an infamous litigator in the AG's office known as Dr。 Death； a clever bird with a penchant for pushing death penalty cases to their conclusion。 Either his first or last name was Morris； and Adam vaguely recalled a Morris something or other mentioned moments earlier during Roxburgh's garbled introduction of his staff。
Adam assumed him to be the nefarious Dr。 Death。 Morris Henry was his name。
〃Well； hurry up and file them then；〃 Slattery said with a good dose of frustration。 〃I don't want to work around the clock as this thing goes down to the wire。〃
〃No sir；〃 Adam said in mock sympathy。
Slattery glared at him for a moment； then returned to the paperwork in front of him。 〃Very well； gentlemen； I suggest you stick by your telephones Sunday night and Monday morning。 I'll be calling as soon as I've made a decision。 This meeting is adjourned。〃
The conspiracy on the other side broke up in a ；furry of papers and files snatched from the table end sudden mumbled conversations。 Adam was earest the door。 He nodded at Slattery； offered feeble 〃Good day； Your Honor；〃 and left the ffice。 He gave a polite grin to the secretary and as into the hallway when someone called his name。 It was the governor； with two flunkies tow。
〃Can we talk a minute？〃 McAllister asked； rusting a hand at Adam's waist。 They shook r a second。
〃What about？〃
〃Just five minutes； okay。〃
Adam looked at the governor's boys waiting a few feet away。 〃Alone。 Private。 And off the record；〃 he said。
〃Sure；〃 McAllister said； then pointed to a set of double doors。 They stepped inside a small empty courtroom with the lights off。 The governor's hands were free。 Someone else carried his briefcase and bags。 He stuck them deep in his pockets and leaned against a railing。 He was lean and well dressed； nice suit； fashionable silk tie； obligatory white cotton shirt。 He was under forty and aging remarkably well。 Only a touch of gray tinted his sideburns。 〃How's Sam？〃 he asked； feigning deep concern。
Adam snorted； looked away； then sat his briefcase on the floor。 〃Oh； he's wonder