up among the dozens of charities His Eminence started and supported in this community.”
Vail stood up and walked back to the window. He needed a cigarette to balance out the foul smell of Shoat’s cigar. He took a long swig of his drink.
“What if I say no?”
“I don’t think even you would be that arrogant,” Shoat said. “Besides, you know what the city would think of you, turning down a pro bono after winning yourself a half-million-dollar settlement?”
“Tell you me truth, Your Honor, I really don’t give a big shit what the city thinks. If I wanted to be popular I’d have a sex change operation and enter the Miss America contest.”
“You don’t turn down a judge’s request, Vail, and you know it. That would be suicidal. Turn me down and you’ll insult every judge on this circuit. They’d eat you alive every time you walked in a courtroom. Care for another drink?”
“No thanks, it’s a little early for me. But I’m going to have a cigarette. You want me to step outside?”
“Oh, go ahead,” Shoat said irritably, getting up and pouring himself another scotch.
Vail lit up and watched a wrecker hook up one of the two cars in the fender bender. He leaned forward and looked up and down the street. There wasn’t a pedestrian in sight. It was a verystrange sight, particularly in mid-afternoon. As the wrecker towed the black car away, Shoat walked to the window behind his desk and also looked out.
“Still sleeting?” he asked.
“No. But it’s below freezing so it’s not going to melt. Better drive carefully on the way home.”
“I don’t have to drive, Mr. Vail, one of the perks of the job. I have a car and driver. Quite an impressive fellow, actually. Quite well read for a colored. Keeps up on things. I sometimes try out my written decisions on him. Get their side of the picture.”
“
Their
side?”
“Coloreds, Spanish. I like to be fair and open. Hear their side of the story.”
“That’s very commendable. Ever pay any attention to them?”
Shoat did not answer. He just glared at Vail. Then the sneer crept back. He took another long pull of scotch and clamped his teeth around the cigar.
“This case is generating a lot of national attention,” he said, his eyes as lifeless and cold as pebbles. “The bishop was well known all over the world. That means the national press will be here in force. I want this Stampler to have the best defense possible. When we burn him, I don’t want anybody saying he didn’t get the fairest possible trial. And I’m going to give you a lot of leeway, just so there’s no criticism of the justice system here.”
“Sixty days to prepare his trial is no leeway at all. Who’s prosecuting?”
“I have no idea.”
“Yancey doesn’t have a good prosecutor left. Jane Venable’s leaving this month to go into private practice with, you know, Winken, Blinken and Nod or whoever.”
“I assume he’ll find somebody equal to the task.”
Vail walked across the room and back. He had no choice.
“Slam-dunk and I’m the basket,” he said to himself.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Nothing,” Vail said. “Look, I haven’t even met this kid yet. All I know about the case is what I read in this morning’s paper. I want ninety days. I want the preliminary hearing postponed until Friday so I can spend all day tomorrow with my client. I want a subpoena so I can get into the scene of the crime without any hassle. And I want the D.A. out of my hair for thenext thirty-six hours—he’s been working this case since last night. I want the same consideration. And I want full disclosure from the D.A.’s office, I don’t want any bullshit about that.”
“Sixty days, Vail. That’s all you get. We have to get this over with. However, I concede your other points, they’re all reasonable requests.”
“Also I get court expenses, that’s standard.”
“Court expenses yes. Personal expenses, expert witnesses, travel, all your problem.”
Vail
Vail stood up and walked back to the window. He needed a cigarette to balance out the foul smell of Shoat’s cigar. He took a long swig of his drink.
“What if I say no?”
“I don’t think even you would be that arrogant,” Shoat said. “Besides, you know what the city would think of you, turning down a pro bono after winning yourself a half-million-dollar settlement?”
“Tell you me truth, Your Honor, I really don’t give a big shit what the city thinks. If I wanted to be popular I’d have a sex change operation and enter the Miss America contest.”
“You don’t turn down a judge’s request, Vail, and you know it. That would be suicidal. Turn me down and you’ll insult every judge on this circuit. They’d eat you alive every time you walked in a courtroom. Care for another drink?”
“No thanks, it’s a little early for me. But I’m going to have a cigarette. You want me to step outside?”
“Oh, go ahead,” Shoat said irritably, getting up and pouring himself another scotch.
Vail lit up and watched a wrecker hook up one of the two cars in the fender bender. He leaned forward and looked up and down the street. There wasn’t a pedestrian in sight. It was a verystrange sight, particularly in mid-afternoon. As the wrecker towed the black car away, Shoat walked to the window behind his desk and also looked out.
“Still sleeting?” he asked.
“No. But it’s below freezing so it’s not going to melt. Better drive carefully on the way home.”
“I don’t have to drive, Mr. Vail, one of the perks of the job. I have a car and driver. Quite an impressive fellow, actually. Quite well read for a colored. Keeps up on things. I sometimes try out my written decisions on him. Get their side of the picture.”
“
Their
side?”
“Coloreds, Spanish. I like to be fair and open. Hear their side of the story.”
“That’s very commendable. Ever pay any attention to them?”
Shoat did not answer. He just glared at Vail. Then the sneer crept back. He took another long pull of scotch and clamped his teeth around the cigar.
“This case is generating a lot of national attention,” he said, his eyes as lifeless and cold as pebbles. “The bishop was well known all over the world. That means the national press will be here in force. I want this Stampler to have the best defense possible. When we burn him, I don’t want anybody saying he didn’t get the fairest possible trial. And I’m going to give you a lot of leeway, just so there’s no criticism of the justice system here.”
“Sixty days to prepare his trial is no leeway at all. Who’s prosecuting?”
“I have no idea.”
“Yancey doesn’t have a good prosecutor left. Jane Venable’s leaving this month to go into private practice with, you know, Winken, Blinken and Nod or whoever.”
“I assume he’ll find somebody equal to the task.”
Vail walked across the room and back. He had no choice.
“Slam-dunk and I’m the basket,” he said to himself.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Nothing,” Vail said. “Look, I haven’t even met this kid yet. All I know about the case is what I read in this morning’s paper. I want ninety days. I want the preliminary hearing postponed until Friday so I can spend all day tomorrow with my client. I want a subpoena so I can get into the scene of the crime without any hassle. And I want the D.A. out of my hair for thenext thirty-six hours—he’s been working this case since last night. I want the same consideration. And I want full disclosure from the D.A.’s office, I don’t want any bullshit about that.”
“Sixty days, Vail. That’s all you get. We have to get this over with. However, I concede your other points, they’re all reasonable requests.”
“Also I get court expenses, that’s standard.”
“Court expenses yes. Personal expenses, expert witnesses, travel, all your problem.”
Vail
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