Between Black and White (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #2)(15)

“Sounds like an opening statement,” Tom said, forcing a smile. Tom knew he had just heard the theme of the state’s case against Bocephus Haynes.

This time Helen returned the smile. “I thought you were a law professor, Tom.”

“I was. For forty years. But now I’m practicing again.”

“And you and your partner hit Willistone Trucking Company last year for ninety million dollars in Henshaw County, Alabama.”

Tom was impressed. He figured most lawyers in Alabama had heard of the verdict, but Helen was a Tennessee prosecutor. “How did you hear about that?”

“Because it was in the goddamn USA Today. Legendary law professor hits big verdict in Alabama. Yada, yada, yada. Aren’t they making a movie about it?”

Tom shrugged, his face turning red. “I hadn’t heard anything about that.”

“Well, they should.” She chuckled. “The best part of that verdict is that you beat that arrogant, overrated prick Jameson Tyler.”

Now Tom laughed. “You know Jameson?” Tom asked.

“Unfortunately, I’ve met him at several ABA meetings. You taught him too, right?”

Tom nodded.

“I was also glad to see Jack Willistone put out of business,” Helen continued. “Jack had been running trucks up and down Highways 64 and 31 for years, collecting speeding tickets that always seemed to mysteriously disappear before we could prosecute them.” She paused, shaking her head in disgust. “One of Jack’s biggest customers was Andy Walton. If you hadn’t put Jack in jail where he belongs, I bet his sorry ass would be at Andy’s funeral tomorrow.”

For a moment an awkward silence fell over the courtroom. Then the smile faded from Helen’s face.

“What can I do for you, Tom?” she asked.

“Helen, we need to obtain some discovery from you,” Tom said. “What do I—?”

“Hold it,” she interrupted, raising her hand to stop him. “Tom, are you telling me that you are going to represent Bo in this case?”

Tom nodded, forcing a smile again. “Yes. What did you think I was doing here?”

Helen didn’t smile back. “I was hoping you were here as a concerned friend and former teacher.” She paused, recrossing her legs. “Bo is charged with capital murder, Tom. He shot Andy Walton in cold blood, hanged him from a tree on Andy’s farm, and then set his body on fire. The evidence is overwhelming.”

“We’d like to see some of this evidence,” Tom said.

Helen peered up at him. “Tom, you are barking up the wrong tree coming down here out of state, having been out of the courtroom as long as you have. As an old friend, I would strongly encourage you to not get involved. One big trucking verdict in Alabama doesn’t mean you’re ready for a capital murder trial in Tennessee.”

“We’d like to get some discovery from you,” Tom said, keeping his voice calm despite the surge of anger he felt. He was tiring of Helen’s act.

Helen sighed and shook her head. “There is no discovery in a criminal case in Tennessee before the grand jury issues an indictment and the defendant is arraigned, Tom. You would know this if you tried criminal cases in Tennessee on a regular basis. I really wish you would reconsider what you’re doing.” She gazed at him with mock sympathy. “I would hate for your legacy to be tarnished.”

Tom managed a grin. “I’m not worried about that, Helen.” He held out his hand, and she stood to shake it. “My notice of appearance will be filed first thing tomorrow morning.”

Tom started to walk away, and Helen’s voice called after him. “You’ll need local counsel, Tom. You can’t just waltz down here from Tuscaloosa and enter an appearance in a capital murder case. Since the primary thrust of your practice is in Alabama, you’ll need local counsel.”

When he reached the double doors, Tom turned to face her.

“And don’t think I’m going to educate you the whole way,” Helen continued. She had sat back down and had begun flipping through her file again. “That’s really not my—”

“Raymond Pickalew will be our local counsel, General,” Tom interrupted, addressing her for the first time by her formal title. “I believe you know Ray Ray.”

Helen looked up from the file, her eyes widening in bewilderment. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words didn’t come.

He had finally rattled her.

“And if you aren’t going to be forthcoming with the state’s evidence, we’ll be requesting an expedited preliminary hearing.”

Tom opened the door.

“The prelim is the defendant’s right,” Helen said, her voice as hard as iron as she scowled at Tom from across the courtroom.

“I know it is,” Tom said, smiling at her and closing the door behind him.





10


The law office of Raymond Pickalew was located on First Street, about a block south of the courthouse square and two doors down from Bo’s office. The receptionist, a big-busted redhead named Bonnie who dressed in jeans and a low-cut sweater, said that her boss was working from home today. He lived in a cabin just off the Elk River about twenty minutes south of town. She had no qualms giving Tom the address of the cabin and Ray Ray’s cell number but said, “He’s bad about not answering it.”