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“No chance of that here, since there’s no innocent man involved.”
“And he was arrested before the indictment was handed down, so I still have the right to request a preliminary hearing.”
Battle shook his head. “That right was waived at the arraignment.”
“By prior counsel who I believe acted without regard for my client’s interests.”
“A preliminary hearing? You just want a peek at the prosecution’s case, right? Well, let me tell you something. We have uncovered so much evidence and built such a strong case that the grand jury had no problem returning that indictment. Hell, I’m ready to go to trial pretty much right now. I hope you are, too. So what use will a hearing be?”
“Lot of firepower for this one case. I wonder why?”
“And you can keep right on wondering.”
“Who called the police?” Jack asked.
“Good Samaritan, I imagine. Seeing a colored man around here, what was he supposed to do?”
“He worked here, as I said, and you conceded. And I imagine the neighbors were used to seeing him around and thus would have had no cause to call the police.”
“I know what a jury will think about a Negro man being in this house,” retorted Battle. He pointed at the blood on the rug. “And your boy was a real monster.”
“So he murdered two people and then hung around until the deputies showed up?”
“No, no, son, they got here in time to prevent his escape.” He gave Jack another empathetic look. “You real sure about this?”
Jack pulled a small Brownie camera from his pocket. “You mind?”
“Snap away.”
Jack took pictures of the blood marks, the overturned furniture, the damaged photo of the Randolphs, and anything else that looked important. He noted the footprints in the blood. There were a few that looked like they could be Jerome’s. He saw something curious by the chair where Anne Randolph had been found, and took multiple pictures of the carpet while Battle looked on without a lick of interest.
After Jack finished, Battle tapped him on the arm. “Can I make an observation?”
“Help yourself,” said Jack as he placed the camera back in his pocket.
“You are scared to death.”
“Oh, you believe so?” replied Jack.
“You’re wondering why the hell you pulled the trigger on this. And you’re hoping there’s a way out. Well, there is. You just say the magic words, ‘I withdraw as counsel.’”
“For never having met me, you seem to think you know me better than my momma and daddy do.”
“I’ve seen an army of fresh-faced lawyers just itching to take their shot. And do you know what usually happens to them?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“They lose everything they care about. And you got a lot to lose. Like your whole damn race, son.” He paused for dramatic effect. “You think on that.”
“Can I look around while I think on that?”
“Sure. I’ll have a deputy go with you while you’re thinking on it. But don’t take too long, Mr. Lee. I’m thinking this whole case is gonna go real quick. And it’s gonna end with a barbeque in the electric chair at the state pen in Richmond, if the governor and the General Assembly do their damn jobs.”
CHAPTER 14
LATER, AS JACK WAS LEAVING the house, a couple walked up to the front entrance. The woman was around Jack’s age and the man with her a few years older. She was blond, lovely, seemed fragile as ice chips in August, and was dressed all in mourning black. The man was around five ten, trim, and wore a tailored light beige summer suit. His expression was a comingling of confidence and concern.
The woman was pressing a tissue against her reddened eyes, while the man had his arm draped protectively around her.
