Sycamore Row - John Grisham

good-bye. Lucien was headed for the airport; Ancil, the hotel. When he got there, the
detective was waiting.
In a crowded courtroom that was silent, even stunned, Fritz Pickering told his story,
every devastating detail. Lettie absorbed it in total defeat, her head bowed, her eyes on
the floor, then her eyes closed in agony. She shook her head from time to time as if she
disagreed, but no one in the courtroom believed her.
Lies, lies, lies.
Fritz produced a copy of his mother’s handwritten will. Jake objected to its admission
into evidence on the grounds that there was no way to prove Irene Pickering’s
handwriting, but Judge Atlee barely heard him. It became evidence. Wade Lanier asked
his witness to read the fourth paragraph, the one giving $50,000 to Lettie Lang. He read
it slowly and loudly. A couple of the jurors shook their heads in disbelief.
Wade Lanier hammered away. “So, Mr. Pickering, you and your sister sat Lettie Lang
down at the kitchen table and showed her the will handwritten by your mother,
correct?”
“Correct.”
“And if she testified earlier that she had never seen a will, then she was lying,
correct?”
“I suppose.”
“Objection,” Jake said.
“Overruled,” His Honor snarled from the bench.
It was apparent, at least to Jake, that Judge Atlee was now the enemy. He viewed
Lettie as a liar, and in his world there was no greater sin. Over the years he had jailed
several litigants when they were caught red-handed telling lies, but always in divorce
cases. A night in jail worked wonders in the search for veracity.
Lettie was in no danger of going to jail; that would be far more preferable. At that
dreadful moment, with the jurors squirming nervously and glancing around, she was in
danger of losing about $20 million, give or take, before taxes of course.
When a witness is telling the truth, and the truth hurts, a trial lawyer has no
alternative but to attack the witness’s credibility. Jake sat stone-faced as if he expected
Fritz to say what he was saying, but just under the skin he was desperately searching for
a soft spot. What did Fritz have to gain by testifying? Why would he waste his time?
“Mr. Brigance,” Judge Atlee said when Lanier tendered the witness.
Jake stood quickly and faked as much confidence as possible. The first rule every trial
lawyer learns is to never ask a question if you don’t know the answer. But when you’re
staring at certain defeat, toss the rules. Shooting wildly from the hip, Jake said, “Mr.
Pickering, how much are you being paid to testify here today?”
The bullet landed between his eyes. He actually flinched as his jaw dropped, and he
shot a desperate look at Wade Lanier. Lanier shrugged and nodded. Go ahead, it’s no
big deal.