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Packer removed the handcuffs and slammed the door behind Sam； who focused on the heavy…set woman seated on the other side of the screen。 He rubbed his wrists for her benefit and took a few steps to the seat opposite her。 He did not recognize the woman。 He sat down； lit a cigarette； and glared at her。
She scooted forward in her chair； and nervously said； 〃Mr。 Cayhall； my name is Dr。 Stegall。〃 She slipped a business card through the opening。 〃I'm the psychiatrist for the State Department of Corrections。〃
Sam studied the card on the counter in front of him。 He picked it up and examined it suspiciously。 〃Says here your name is N。 Stegall。 Dr。 N。 Stegall。〃
〃That's correct。〃
〃That's a strange name； N。 I've never met a woman named N。 before。〃
The small； anxious grin disappeared from her face； and her spine stiffened。 〃It's just an initial； okay。 There are reasons for it。〃
〃What's it stand for？〃
〃That's really none of your business。〃
〃Nancy？ Nelda？ Nona？〃
〃If I wanted you to know； I would've put it on the card； now wouldn't I？〃
〃I don't know。 Must be something horrible； whatever it is。 Nick？ Ned？ I can't imagine hiding behind an initial。〃
〃I'm not hiding； Mr。 Cayhall。〃
〃Just call me S。； okay？〃
Her jaws clenched and she scowled through the screen。 〃I'm here to help you。〃
〃You're too late； N。〃
〃Please call me Dr。 Stegall。〃
〃Oh； well； in that case you can call me Lawyer Cayhall。〃
〃Lawyer Cayhall？〃
〃Yes。 I know more law than most of the clowns who sit over there where you are。〃
She managed a slight； patronizing smile； then said； 〃I'm supposed to consult you at this stage of the proceedings to see if I can be of any assistance。 You don't have to cooperate if you don't want。〃
〃Thank you so much。〃
〃If you need to talk to me； or if you need any medication now or later； just let me know。〃
〃How about some whiskey？〃
〃I can't prescribe that。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Prison regulations； I guess。〃
〃What can you prescribe？〃
〃Tranquilizers； Valium； sleeping pills； things like that。〃
〃For what？〃
〃For your nerves。〃
〃My nerves are fine。〃
〃Are you able to sleep？〃
Sam thought for a long moment。 〃Well； to be honest； I am having a little trouble。 Yesterday I slept off and on for mo more than twelve hours。 Usually I'm good for fifteen or sixteen。〃
〃Twelve hours？〃
〃Yeah。 How often do you get over here to death row？〃
〃Not very often。〃
〃That's what I thought。 If you knew what you were doing； you'd know that we average about sixteen hours a day。〃
〃I see。 And what else might I learn？〃
〃Oh； lots of things。 You'd know that Randy Dupree is slowly going insane； and no one around here cares about him。 Why haven't you been to see him？〃
〃There are five thousand inmates here； Mr。 Cayhall。 I … 〃
〃Then leave。 Go away。 Go tend to the rest of them。 I've been here for nine and a half years and never met you。 Now that y'all are about to gas me； you e running over with a bag full of drugs to calm my nerves so I'll be sweet and gentle when you kill me。 Why should you care about my nerves and my sleeping habits？ You're working for the state and the state is working like hell to execute me。〃
〃I'm doing my job； Mr。 Cayhall。〃
〃Your job stinks； Ned。 Get a real job where you can help people。 You're here right now because I've got thirteen days and you want me to go in peace。 You're just another flunkie for the state。〃
〃I didn't e here to be abused。〃
〃Then get your big ass out of here。 Leave。 Go and sin no more。〃
She jumped to her feet and grabbed her briefcase。 〃You have my card。 If you need anything； let me know。〃
〃Sure； Ned。 Don't sit by the phone。〃 Sam stood and walked to the door on his side。 He banged it twice with the palm of his hand； and waited with his back to her until Packer opened it。
Adam was packing his briefcase in preparation for a quick trip to Parchman when the phone rang。 Darlene said it was urgent。 She was right。
The caller identified himself as the clerk of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans； and was remarkably friendly。 He said the Cayhall petition attacking the constitutionality of the gas chamber had been received on Monday； had been assigned to a three…judge panel； and that the panel wanted to hear oral argument from both sides。 Could he be in New Orleans at 1 P。m。 tomorrow； Friday； for the oral argument？
Adam almost dropped the phone。 Tomorrow？ Of course； he said after a slight hesitation。 One o'clock sharp； the clerk said； then explained that the court did not normally hear oral argument in the afternoon。 But because of the urgency of this matter； the court had scheduled a special hearing。 He asked Adam if he'd ever argued before the Fifth Circuit before。
Are you kidding； Adam thought。 A year ago I was studying for the bar exam。 He said no； in fact he had not； and the clerk said he would immediately fax to Adam a copy of the court's rules governing oral argument。 Adam thanked him profusely； and hung up。
He sat on the edge of the table and tried to collect his thoughts。 Darlene brought the fax to him； and he asked her to check the flights to New Orleans。
Had he caught the attention of the court with his issues？ Was this good news； or just a formality？ In his brief career as a lawyer； he had stood alone before the bench to argue a client's position on only one occasion。 But Emmitt Wycoff had been seated nearby； just in case。 And the judge had been a familiar one。 And it had happened in downtown Chicago； not far from his office。 Tomorrow he would walk into a strange courtroom in a strange city and try to defend an eleventh…hour plea before a panel of judges he'd never heard of。
He called E。 Garner Goodman with the news。 Goodman had been to the Fifth Circuit many times； and as he talked Adam relaxed。 It was neither good news nor bad； in Goodman's opinion。 The court was obviously interested in the lawsuit； but they'd heard it all before。 Both Texas and Louisiana had sent similar constitutional claims to the Fifth Circuit in recent years。
Goodman assured him that he could handle the arguments。 Just be prepared； he said。 And try to relax。 It might be possible for him to fly to New Orleans and be there； but Adam said no。 He said he could do it alone。 Keep in touch； Goodman said。
Adam checked with Darlene； then locked himself in his office。 He memorized the rules for oral argument。 He studied the lawsuit attacking the gas chamber。 He read briefs and cases。 He called Parchman and left word for Sam that he would not be there today。
He worked until dark； then made the dreaded trip to Lee's condo。 The same note was sitting on the counter； untouched and still declaring that she was in bed with the flu。 He eased around the apartment and saw no signs of movement or life during the day。
Her bedroom door was slightly opened。 He tapped on it while pushing。 〃Lee；〃 he called out gently into the darkness。 〃Lee； are you all right？〃
There was movement in the bed； though he couldn't see what it was。 〃Yes dear；〃 she said。 〃e in。〃
Adam slowly sat on the edge of the bed and tried to focus on her。 The only light was a faint beam from the hallway。 She pushed herself up and rested on the pillows。 〃I'm better；〃 sh