Sycamore Row - John Grisham

start slingin’ all your racist shit, and somebody’s gonna buy it. You’re a fool.”
“And you’re not a lawyer, Mr. Sheriff. But thanks for the legal advice anyway. It’ll be
forgotten by the time I get back to my cell.”
Ozzie rocked back and flung his feet upon his desk, his cowboy boots impressive with
a new shine. He gazed at the ceiling, frustrated, and said, “You’re makin’ it easy for the
white folks to hate Lettie Lang, you know that, Booker?”
“She’s black. They hated her long before I came to town.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been elected twice by the white folks in this county.
Most of them are good people. They’ll give Lettie a fair shake, or at least they would
have until you showed up. Now it’s black versus white and we don’t have the votes.
You’re an idiot, you know that, Booker? I don’t know what kinda law you do up in
Memphis, but it ain’t workin’ down here.”
“Thanks for the coffee and doughnuts. Can I go now?”
“Please go.”
Sistrunk stood and walked to the door, where he stopped and said, “By the way, I’m
not sure your jail complies with federal law.”
“Sue me.”
“A lot of violations.”
“It might get worse.”
Portia was back before noon. She waited and chatted with Roxy while Jake finished a
long phone call, then she went up the stairs. Her eyes were red, her hands shook, and
she looked like she hadn’t slept in a week. They managed some small talk about the
dinner the night before. Finally, Jake asked, bluntly, “What’s going on?”
She closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead and began talking. “We were up all night,
one big nasty fight. Simeon was drinking, not bad, but enough to get himself riled up.
Momma and I said that Sistrunk had to go. He, of course, didn’t like that, and so we
fought. A houseful of people, and we’re fighting like a bunch of idiots. He finally left
and we haven’t seen him since. That’s the bad news. The good news is that my mother
will sign whatever it takes to get rid of the Memphis lawyers.”
Jake walked to his desk, picked up a sheet of paper, and handed it to her. “It just says
that she fires him. That’s all. If she signs it, then we’re in business.”
“What about Simeon?”
“He can hire all the lawyers he wants, but he’s not named in the will; therefore, he’s
not an interested party. Judge Atlee will not recognize him, nor his lawyers. Simeon’s
game is over. This is between Lettie and the Hubbard family. Will she sign it?”
Portia stood and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Where is she?”
“Outside in the car.”
“Please ask her to come in.”
“She doesn’t want to. She’s afraid you’re upset with her.”