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“We won’t know until we ask him.”
“Jerome is not thinking clearly,” she commented.
“You apparently thought he was thinking clearly when he didn’t want to take the plea deal that Battle offered. So why not now?” When she didn’t respond he added, “Hell, Desiree, if I were on a jury I might convict both of them on the evidence the commonwealth has compiled.”
“So you believe they did it?”
“Doesn’t matter what I believe. And I’m sorry if that doesn’t dovetail with your big-picture strategy. But if we can get Battle to do a deal, Pearl will get to go home to their kids, which is what Jerome wants.”
“And he rots in prison for the rest of his life?”
“At the end of the day it’s his decision.”
She was about to respond when someone knocked at the door.
Jack rose and pulled his pistol from his desk. “Who is it?” he called out.
“Donny,” the low voice answered.
CHAPTER 35
JACK OPENED THE DOOR AND there stood Donny Peppers, a bald, muscled man in his fifties, with a silvery mustache curved over his top lip. He had on black slacks and a white short-sleeved shirt that revealed thick, tattooed forearms. He lifted his sunglasses, revealing a pair of penetrating blue-gray eyes.
“Hey, Donny, come on in,” said Jack.
Peppers noted the gun Jack held and said, “Heard you had trouble. Piece of advice, trade that peashooter in for something a little more robust, like this.”
From his waistband clip holster Peppers pulled out a large revolver with custom wooden grips. “Single action Sturm and Ruger Super Blackhawk chambering the forty-four Remington Magnum cartridge. It’s definitely a two-hander, but it’ll drop a bear.”
“Thanks for the recommendation,” said Jack.
He introduced DuBose, who said, “We certainly can use your help.”
“I heard some of it. Tell me the rest.”
Jack and DuBose went through the entire case, and Peppers wrote down some things in a black notebook. He then leveled his gaze on DuBose. “What’s your story?”
“Do I need one?” she said coolly.
“So you just dropped down from heaven to help Jack? What’s in it for you?”
“Would justice for the accused work?”
“I don’t know because I don’t know you, at least not yet.” He turned to Jack. “Word is there are important people outside the state who are watching this case.”
“We’ve met one of them, Howard Pickett. One of George Wallace’s cronies.”
Peppers nodded. “Country’s at a tipping point. And this Blackwhite stuff is right in the middle of it.”
“Black-white stuff?” parroted DuBose in a scolding tone.
Peppers glanced her way. “I was just making an observation. And Bliley?”
“What about him?” asked Jack.
“Don’t think he’s going to be the judge on this.”
Jack gaped. “What are you talking about?”
