Page 64 of The Devil's Advocate

‘The very same. You mind stepping out for a few minutes so we can talk?’

Taylor didn’t need the gun, even though he still felt fearful at the sight of the district attorney at his front door. He locked the pistol, placed it on the hall table, and went outside. He gestured to one of the chairs and watched Korn fold his long frame into it. It was not an awkward maneuver, but it looked as though chairs were somehow alien to Korn. As if his height and shape were not made to fit most things. Once he’d sat down, he held out an open hand to the chair next to it.

Taylor took a seat, and as he did so, he caught a strange scent on the air – decay. On the table beside the chair was a paperback ofTo Kill A Mockingbird. Avery’s favorite novel. He liked to read it every year, in the summer. He could remember sitting on this very porch, after helping his father in the fields that day, a cool glass of lemonade beside him and the light of an oil lamp illuminating Scout’s world. Which was, at that time at least, not so very different from his own.

‘My apologies for the call at this hour. I’ve been somewhat busy preparing for a trial. You may have heard about it. I’m prosecuting the Dubois boy. The one who killed Skylar Edwards.’

Taylor nodded, ‘Sure, it’s all over the town. The papers too. Poor girl.’

And then, Taylor stopped talking. He knew why Korn was here. He swallowed, and told himself to be more careful with his words.

‘I am aware that you have received a summons for jury service, Mr. Avery. Given how far you live outside of town, and the fact that you have not read any articles on the murder, nor watched any news reports, it’s likely you will be selected to serve on the jury for that case.’

Taylor had read a lot of articles. Watched a lot of news reports. He’d pretty much said so not two seconds ago. He simply nodded, keeping his tongue in check.

‘This farm has been in your family for a long time. Five generations, so I’m told,’ said Korn.

‘That’s right. We’ve been lucky. Running a farm is no easy business. Never has been, and it’s only getting harder,’ said Taylor, who decided farming was a safer subject than murder trials.

‘As you know, I have responsibility for the law in this county. But I am aware of all that goes on, administratively. There’s talk of a casino looking to buy some land out of town. Build a mall, movie theater, all that jazz. You heard about this?’

Taylor nodded. He’d had offers to buy his land from two separate law firms on behalf of large companies looking to develop just such a venture. He’d declined them both. Even though the offer was good and would have set him and his family up for another two or three generations. In truth he didn’t even consider it.

This was Avery land. They had several rye fields, which kept the cattle fed, and they had enough left over to sell on the side along with the milk. They were largely self-sustaining. His father had worked the land all his life, just as his father had before him, and Taylor was set upon doing the same.

‘See, if there’s a commercial development which is in the county’s best interest, there are certain laws they can use to purchase land. They can get court orders, and you and your family would have to move. Those orders usually mean you don’t get full market price for your property. Maybe twenty cents on the dollar. Maybe less.’

Taylor suddenly felt cold, even though it was a warm evening.

‘I am not without influence, you know,’ said Korn.

‘I guess,’ said Taylor.

‘No need to guess. Take my word for it. I can make those orders go away. I can make the casinos go away. Or I can help fast-track that process and get you kicked off this farm by winter. Maybe you can remember that when you’re deliberating on your verdict in the Dubois case. You’re a respected man around these parts. Fair, I’ve always said. And your fellow jurors will no doubt follow your lead. Don’t you think?’

‘It’s possible,’ said Avery.

‘I think they will. You persuade your fellow jurors to find Andy guilty and your grandson will be milking cattle in that shed over there when he’s your age. If you were to question my judgment, well, that would be a bad thing. Your tenure on this land is in my gift. For now, I give you that gift. But gifts can be taken away if nothing is received in return.’

Korn leaned forward, and Taylor caught the smell again. It reminded him of the time he found a dead turtle underneath the house.

‘It would be a travesty of justice if that Dubois boy was set free by a jury,’ said Korn.

It was clear to Taylor what was expected from him. He didn’t know anything about the case other than what was in the news. Forensic evidence linking Andy Dubois to the murder, so they said. Still, he knew Korn shouldn’t be here, and he didn’t appreciate being threatened. Some rural folk have an extremely keen mind, sharper than any street hustler. An innate wisdom, perhaps.

Taylor nodded. Said nothing.

‘I believe we have an understanding, Mr. Avery,’ said Korn, extending a long, pale hand.

Taylor took the handshake, surprised by how cold Korn’s skin felt, as if it had been in an ice bath.

‘Goodnight,’ said Korn.

Taylor watched him leave, get into his car and drive away quietly. He didn’t know Andy Dubois, Skylar Edwards or her family. When the jury summons arrived he had silently prayed that he would not be called as a juror, because it would mean hiring someone else to help with the farm while he was at court. If he was selected, he would do his duty according to the law and his oath on the Bible. Taylor took these things seriously. Church every Sunday, with the family, without fail. He didn’t like Korn, even before he had threatened him. There was something odd about the man. A strange light in his eyes that Taylor only ever saw fleetingly, but which sent a chill down his back, nonetheless.

One thing that was as important as his land was his name.

The Averys were part of the land. Their blood and sweat had sewn those crops for decades, and their cattle had grazed their fields through their own generations. The Averys paid their debts and gave what they could to the poor. Now a man of the law was asking Taylor to betray his oath, and his name, if called upon.