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“What’s your business with Jerome Washington?” said Reed, flicking ash into a bowl engraved with the state’s motto: SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS—thus always to tyrants.
“I’m his lawyer.”
“Connelly withdrew, I understand.”
“And then fled the country, apparently.”
“Maybe you should, too.”
“I’m not going to do that. And don’t ask me why,” said Jack. “So you’re handling the case for the commonwealth?”
Reed jabbed out his cigarette with two hard strikes into the bowl. “There’s actually some debate going on about who the prosecutor will be on this.”
“You fellows fighting over what looks to be an easy win?”
Reed lit up another smoke. “Fact is, we might be talking Richmond.”
Jack felt his gut seize. “Heavyweights coming in?”
“Gotta make a stand somewhere. Hell, they’re right now trying to integrate our schools.”
“Which the Supreme Court ordered take place fourteen years ago.”
Reed chuckled. “That’s right, isn’t it?”
“Wheels of justice move slow. But they are moving now.”
“Look, what the hell are you trying to do here, Jack? Kiss a colored’s ass?”
“I’m just a lawyer with a client charged with two murders. Now, walk me through the arraignment. Why no bail? And why did Connelly waive the preliminary hearing?”
“I’m not letting a cold-blooded killer loose on the streets. The magistrate agreed. And so did George.”
“Funny that George even signed on for this.”
“Magistrate appointed him when we thought Washington was indigent. George just happened to be around.”
“Did anyone ask Mr. Washington if he was indigent? There is a procedure for that.”
Reed said disdainfully, “Come on, how many coloreds have any money?”
“So you’re telling me that George didn’t really want to represent him, and pissed away valuable rights of Mr. Washington that he could have asserted—”
“Mr. Washington,” sneered Reed. “Listen to yourself for Chrissakes.”
“What would you call him?”
“You probably don’t want to hear.”
“So George didn’t raise legal issues he should have. But I can tell you that I will. And I’m going to fight for every last one of them so long as I’m on this case.”
“Might be your last case. Who can say?”
The two lawyers eyeballed each other across the span of the desk.
“Is that a threat, Justin?”
“Parts of this country started out different and stayed that way. Got an election coming up that could be the deciding factor. Might end up with two countries.”
