Sycamore Row - John Grisham

know?”
“He was all right. I mean, for a man his age he was pretty good.” She said this as
though she’d had many, and of all ages. “I got the impression he just wanted to hole up
in the room and screw for a week. That’s kind of impressive for an old guy, black or
white.”
Wade Lanier was having a beer in the men’s grill at the country club when Clapp
tracked him down. He teed off every Sunday morning at precisely 7:45 with the same
three pals, played eighteen holes, usually won more money than he lost, then drank
beer for a couple of hours over poker. He quickly forgot about the cards and the beer
and made Clapp repeat every word of his conversation with Julina Kidd.
Most of what she said would not be admissible in court; however, the fact that she
could take the stand, let the jury absorb her ethnicity, and chat about her claim for
sexual harassment at the hands of Seth Hubbard would sway any white jury to believe
the old guy and Lettie were probably doing business. They would believe that Lettie had
gotten as close as humanly possible, and she had influenced him. She had used her body
to work her way into his will. Lanier couldn’t prove it by a preponderance of evidence,
but he could certainly imply it in a powerful way.
He left the country club and drove to his office.
Early Monday morning, Ian and Ramona Dafoe drove three hours from Jackson to
Memphis and had a late breakfast with Herschel. Their relationship had deteriorated
and it was time to patch things up, or that’s what Ramona said anyway. They were on
the same side; it was foolish for them to bicker and distrust one another. They met at a
pancake house, and, after the usual efforts at reconciliation, Ian launched into a strongarmed
plea for Herschel to ditch Stillman Rush and his firm. His lawyer, Wade Lanier,
was far more experienced, and, frankly, was worried that Rush would be a hindrance at
trial. He was a pretty boy, too showy, cocky, and likely to alienate the jury. Lanier had
watched him closely now for over four months and did not like what he saw. There was
a big ego and not much talent. Trials can be won or lost by the arrogance of a lawyer,
and Wade Lanier was worried sick. He was even threatening to bail out.
And there was more. As evidence of the inequality of their lawyers, Ian revealed the
story of the other will and its attempted bequest of $50,000 to Lettie. He did not name
names because he didn’t want Stillman Rush to screw up things. Herschel was stunned,
but also thrilled. But wait—it gets better. Now Wade Lanier had found a black woman
who sued Seth for sexual harassment.
Look at what my lawyer is doing, and compare it to yours. Your boy is not in the
game, Herschel. Lanier understands guerrilla warfare; your lawyer is a Boy Scout. Let’s
join forces here. Lanier even has a deal to offer: if we come together, get rid of Rush,
and allow Lanier to represent both of us, he’ll cut his fee to 25 percent of any