Sycamore Row - John Grisham

went to court.
“I hear he’s got a secret weapon these days.”
“What kind?”
“They say Lucien Wilbanks has returned to the bar. And not for drinking. He’s
supposedly hanging around Jake’s office.”
The lawyer said, “He’s back. I’ve seen him in the courthouse digging through old land
records and wills. Hasn’t changed a bit.”
“That’s sad to hear.”
“Did he appear to be sober?”
“Somewhat.”
“Surely Jake won’t let him near the jury.”
“I doubt if Judge Atlee will allow him in the courtroom.”
“He can’t practice law, can he?”
“No, he was permanently disbarred, which means, in his case, he has to wait eight
years before he can apply for reinstatement.”
“It’s permanent, but for eight years?”
“Yep.”
“That makes no sense.”
“That’s the law.”
“The law, the law.”
“Who said, ‘The first thing we should do is kill all the lawyers’?”
“I think it was Shakespeare.”
“I thought it was Faulkner.”
To which the lawyer replied, “When we start quoting Shakespeare, it’s time for me to
leave.”
The phone call came from Floyd Green at Parchman. By a vote of 3 to 2, the Parole
Board had decided to release Dennis Yawkey. There was no explanation. Floyd made
some vague references to the mysterious workings of the Parole Board. Jake knew the
State had a long, sordid tradition of cash for pardons, but he refused to believe the
Yawkey family could have been sophisticated enough to pull off a bribe.
Ten minutes later, Ozzie called with the same news. He conveyed his disbelief and
frustration. He told Jake that he, Ozzie, would personally drive to Parchman the
following day to retrieve Dennis, and that he would have two hours alone with the boy
in the car. He would make every threat possible, and forbid the kid to enter the city
limits of Clanton.
Jake thanked him and called Carla.