Sycamore Row - John Grisham

emember all the white families she’d worked for. The Pickering episode was so
unpleasant I’m sure she tried to forget it. And the most important aspect of that little
story is that Lettie never knew about the handwritten will. I could have prepared her,
Judge. That’s my point. I could have softened the impact. You, though, allowed an
ambush, and the trial flipped in a matter of seconds.”
Jake glared at the old man as he spoke, though he was well aware that Reuben V.
Atlee was not one to be reprimanded. But this time the judge was wrong, and Jake was
angry at the injustice. He had nothing to lose at this point, so why not lay it all on the
table?
The judge puffed and seemed to eat the smoke, then it drifted out. “I disagree.
Regardless, though, I expect you to maintain your dignity. Lawyers do not curse in my
chambers.”
“My apologies. I sometimes curse in the heat of the battle, doubt if I’m the only one.”
“I’m not sure the jury has flipped, as you say.”
Jake hesitated. He almost reminded the judge that he knew almost nothing about
juries. He so rarely saw them, which was part of the problem. In Chancery Court, he
ruled supreme as judge and jury and had the luxury of admitting all evidence. He could
sift through it, separate the good from the bad, and issue a ruling he deemed fair.
Jake was not about to argue. Instead, he said, “Judge, I have a lot of work to do.”
Judge Atlee waved at the door, and Jake left. Harry Rex caught him as he was leaving
the courthouse and said, “Ozzie called the office, said they’re still at the jail in Memphis
and trying to get him out. Right now they can’t get a bond set.”
Jake frowned and said, “A bond, for what?”
“He’s charged with public drunkenness and resisting arrest. It’s Memphis. They throw
in the resisting charge every time they haul someone in.”
“I thought Ozzie had contacts there.”
“I guess he’s lookin’ for them. I told you it was a mistake to send that drunk to
Alaska.”
“Is this really helpful right now?”
“No. What are you doin’ for lunch?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Let’s get a beer.”
“No, Harry Rex. Some juries get offended when the lawyer reeks of alcohol.”
“You’re not still worried about this jury, are you?”
“Knock it off, would you?”
“I gotta go to court in Smithfield this afternoon. Good luck. I’ll check in later.”
“Thanks.” As Jake crossed the street to his office, he realized that Harry Rex had not
missed a word in the courtroom since Monday morning.
Dewayne Squire was the vice president of Berring Lumber Company. On the Thursday
before the suicide, he and Seth had engaged in a disagreement over a large shipment of