Sycamore Row - John Grisham

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Aw, the old icebreaker, at least with black folks. “I did,” Jake said modestly. “I thought so. Good job. Great job.” “Thanks. Look, I’m actually here on business, and, well, I need to speak with Lettie here in private. No offense or anything, but I have to tell her something confidential.” “What is it?” she asked, confused. “Why is it private?” Simeon asked. “Because the law says it is,” Jake replied, fudging a bit. The law had nothing to do with this situation. In fact, as he muddled through this encounter he began to realize that his big news perhaps wasn’t so confidential after all. There was no doubt Lettie would tell her husband everything before Jake pulled out of the driveway. The last will and testament of Seth Hubbard was now a public record and would be scrutinized by every lawyer in town within twenty-four hours. Where was the privacy, the confidentiality? Simeon angrily tossed a beer can against the tree, sending a line of foam across the trunk. He bolted to his feet, growling, “All right, all right,” as he kicked the milk crate. He reached into the cooler, grabbed another beer, and stomped away, mumbling and cursing under his breath. The shadows consumed him as he moved deeper into the trees, no doubt watching and listening. Lettie, almost whispering, said, “Very sorry about that, Mr. Brigance.” “No problem. Look, Ms. Lang, there is a very important matter we need to discuss as soon as possible, preferably tomorrow in my office. It’s about Mr. Hubbard and his last will and testament.” Lettie bit her bottom lip as she stared wild-eyed at Jake. Tell me more. Jake continued: “The day before he died, he made a new will, one that he dropped in the mail so I would receive it after his death. It appears to be a valid will, but I’m sure it will be contested by his family.” “Am I in his will?” “You certainly are. In fact, he left a sizable portion of his estate to you.” “Oh God.” “Yes. He wants me to be the lawyer for his estate, and I’m sure that will be contested too. That’s why we need to talk.” Her right hand covered her mouth as she mumbled, “Oh my Lord.” Jake looked at the house where the light from its windows cut through the darkness. A shadow moved beyond it, probably Simeon circling around. Jake had the sudden desire to hop in the old Saab and cut a trail quickly back to civilization. She asked, nodding, “Should I tell him?” “That’s up to you. I would have included him but I’ve heard stories about his drinking. Didn’t know what shape he’s in right now. But, to be honest, Ms. Lang, he’s your husband and he should come with you tomorrow. That is, if he’s in good shape.” “He’ll be in good shape, I promise.” Jake handed her a business card and said, “Anytime tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be in my office waiting.” “We’ll be there, Mr. Brigance. And thank you for comin’ here.”
“It’s very important, Ms. Lang, and I felt like I needed to meet you. We could be in for a long, hard fight together.” “I’m not sure I understand.” “I know. I’ll explain it tomorrow.” “Thank you, Mr. Brigance.” “Good night.”
Page 3 and 4: This book is a work of fiction. Nam
Page 5 and 6: Contents Cover Title Page Copyright
Page 7 and 8: 1 They found Seth Hubbard in the ge
Page 9 and 10: Touching nothing, he backed away an
Page 11 and 12: 2 Jake Brigance stared at the brigh
Page 13 and 14: shift and whose primary responsibil
Page 15 and 16: Dell was an old tart with the quick
Page 17 and 18: indictment. Secretly, Jake hoped Ma
Page 19 and 20: she left; now, though, he almost mi
Page 21 and 22: in knowing I will not be there to s
Page 23 and 24: She did as he instructed, and when
Page 25 and 26: “They’ll make all sorts of clai
Page 27 and 28: 4 The drive from central Memphis to
Page 29 and 30: Lettie carefully poured the coffee
Page 31 and 32: minutes of near silence, they lost
Page 33 and 34: suicide. The second was addressed n
Page 35 and 36: 5 By noon Monday the entire bar ass
Page 37 and 38: Jake said, “Tell me about Seth Hu
Page 39 and 40: “My client wants me to wait until
Page 41 and 42: and her husband rarely made things
Page 43 and 44: 6 The parking lot of the Irish Road
Page 45 and 46: pretending to mourn at $200 an hour
Page 47 and 48: disbelief, then pointed to the park
Page 49: “I just got home and you’re rea
Page 53 and 54: ead the two-page will. Slowly, her
Page 55 and 56: “You have a filthy mind. I love i
Page 57 and 58: 8 Russell Amburgh hid behind a news
Page 59 and 60: good hurricane season, lots of dama
Page 61 and 62: was out of his mind. You can’t ma
Page 63 and 64: fictionalized, but through it all t
Page 65 and 66: seen liquor in the house; Seth didn
Page 67 and 68: the picnic table. An hour earlier,
Page 69 and 70: in ten years. And your family, with
Page 71 and 72: 10 Three well-dressed lawyers from
Page 73 and 74: in different circles. As the favore
Page 75 and 76: everyone who crossed him and defend
Page 77 and 78: “Sure. I’d fight over a lot les
Page 79 and 80: 11 A nosy paralegal sniffing throug
Page 81 and 82: Herschel was sitting behind the whe
Page 83 and 84: estate here and there. One of my jo
Page 85 and 86: “No comment, Dumas,” Jake said,
Page 87 and 88: the law than you do anyway. And, I
Page 89 and 90: Judge Atlee said, “Before we get
Page 91 and 92: “Skole, Your Honor. Skole, Rumky,
Page 93 and 94: people in the courtroom. Even Judge
Page 95 and 96: out of state. Otherwise, everyone i
Page 97 and 98: stairwell shook. Roxy called after
Page 99 and 100: To Jake, it was significant that Ha
Page 101 and 102:
“No. My job is to protect the wil
Page 103 and 104:
contest. Hell, we got three trials
Page 105 and 106:
14 The Berring Lumber Company was a
Page 107 and 108:
“That was my job. We talked every
Page 109 and 110:
Kamila said, “He got pretty aggre
Page 111 and 112:
“But why?” she managed to ask.
Page 113 and 114:
suspect. He ran a ten-man litigatio
Page 115 and 116:
too few square feet. Now, though, t
Page 117 and 118:
“I think so.” Benjy dealt black
Page 119 and 120:
so much, and with such authority, t
Page 121 and 122:
the window. They rode in silence un
Page 123 and 124:
panel. He was brash, loud, smart, f
Page 125 and 126:
mother had been blown away by a saw
Page 127 and 128:
jury also ruled against nasty littl
Page 129 and 130:
17 The usual white-collar crowd gat
Page 131 and 132:
The lawyer calmly said, “Ethics a
Page 133 and 134:
went to court. “I hear he’s got
Page 135 and 136:
closed his eyes and heard the voice
Page 137 and 138:
taken. He shook hands with Wade Lan
Page 139 and 140:
client can get a fair trial. This i
Page 141 and 142:
They looped twice around the square
Page 143 and 144:
was blatantly obvious they were the
Page 145 and 146:
Jake welcomed her into his office.
Page 147 and 148:
Jake nodded and smiled. This woman
Page 149 and 150:
had been a long time since he viewe
Page 151 and 152:
Portia said. “It’s a lot easier
Page 153 and 154:
20 Ancil Hubbard was no longer Anci
Page 155 and 156:
start slingin’ all your racist sh
Page 157 and 158:
“In due course,” Jake said. “
Page 159 and 160:
office, one of three empty ones ups
Page 161 and 162:
corrected Jake in open court on two
Page 163 and 164:
Hubbard is Wednesday, his sister Th
Page 165 and 166:
When everyone was in place and some
Page 167 and 168:
Lanier introduced himself with a sa
Page 169 and 170:
Some come and go.” Jake glared at
Page 171 and 172:
incident when a friend or business
Page 173 and 174:
Death by deposition continued on We
Page 175 and 176:
23 Leaving the courthouse in a hurr
Page 177 and 178:
“I suppose. Herschel and Ramona c
Page 179 and 180:
and I think he paid something like
Page 181 and 182:
24 On the morning of Christmas Eve,
Page 183 and 184:
“What’s the point here, Lucien?
Page 185 and 186:
To be fair, there were some Langs i
Page 187 and 188:
might just know how to throw one. T
Page 189 and 190:
25 For those contesting the handwri
Page 191 and 192:
for pursuing Lettie, but was met wi
Page 193 and 194:
typewriters, law books, and more fi
Page 195 and 196:
26 On the last Friday in January, R
Page 197 and 198:
adviser had already worn thin. Luci
Page 199 and 200:
“And these are the guys from D.C.
Page 201 and 202:
Such a conspicuous purchase would n
Page 203 and 204:
He produced some paperwork, and the
Page 205 and 206:
worked the front while his sister h
Page 207 and 208:
28 On Monday, February 20, Judge At
Page 209 and 210:
courtroom, but there were advantage
Page 211 and 212:
Judge Atlee relit his pipe with a m
Page 213 and 214:
“I’m not his lawyer, okay? Neve
Page 215 and 216:
“Chuck Bennett, but I didn’t wa
Page 217 and 218:
“I have no idea. Probably one app
Page 219 and 220:
since Hubbard died. And now this. N
Page 221 and 222:
30 Early Thursday morning Simeon La
Page 223 and 224:
nonetheless serious rules was one t
Page 225 and 226:
Lang’s daughter,” he said, and
Page 227 and 228:
He owned two furniture factories in
Page 229 and 230:
settlement. He has a strategy to fo
Page 231 and 232:
32 Eight days after the Roston trag
Page 233 and 234:
“Saturday is your day off. I’m
Page 235 and 236:
dean was waiting on us at school, t
Page 237 and 238:
case so screwed up it’ll never ge
Page 239 and 240:
me he was no longer counsel of reco
Page 241 and 242:
notoriously clannish and sensitive
Page 243 and 244:
was napping, Lettie gently shook hi
Page 245 and 246:
facing me in Chancery Court, in thi
Page 247 and 248:
everywhere. There are gaps in every
Page 249 and 250:
35 Two weeks before the scheduled s
Page 251 and 252:
clients with the greatest interests
Page 253 and 254:
on, “Now, and listen to me, I wil
Page 255 and 256:
They went through all ninety-seven
Page 257 and 258:
oughly $1.5 million. It took the po
Page 259 and 260:
“No, Lucien, I’m more concerned
Page 261 and 262:
awake. He assumed he was an officer
Page 263 and 264:
37 Jake walked into the Coffee Shop
Page 265 and 266:
Mr. Eli Rady, had filed four lawsui
Page 267 and 268:
“I’m always sober in the mornin
Page 269 and 270:
ack was cramping and Lonny tried to
Page 271 and 272:
“Where’s Mr. Willie going to li
Page 273 and 274:
In six months, he’d gone through
Page 275 and 276:
enough. They drove to a fish shack
Page 277 and 278:
pot, flirting with the clerks who k
Page 279 and 280:
ickering for later.” After the re
Page 281 and 282:
So far, his firm had either spent o
Page 283 and 284:
Jake said, “Judge, I’d like to
Page 285 and 286:
40 Lucien shuffled the deck and def
Page 287 and 288:
“I did,” Lonny said. “Tell me
Page 289 and 290:
“Should I tell Judge Atlee?” Ha
Page 291 and 292:
41 In his defense of Carl Lee Haile
Page 293 and 294:
this?’ However, it is not your re
Page 295 and 296:
was rich, and she also knew his rel
Page 297 and 298:
Funeral Instructions: I want a simp
Page 299 and 300:
holographic will, thus entitled to
Page 301 and 302:
42 The detective was leaving the ho
Page 303 and 304:
eight doses a day of Demerol, at a
Page 305 and 306:
“Not to my knowledge. There was n
Page 307 and 308:
10:00 p.m. Jake asked the easy ques
Page 309 and 310:
happened to be looking for a part-t
Page 311 and 312:
windows, arranged magazines, even w
Page 313 and 314:
“About a year, then she moved awa
Page 315 and 316:
here, Wade. Judge, this is a clear
Page 317 and 318:
Fritz said, “Seventy-five hundred
Page 319 and 320:
“Don’t bet on it. You can’t l
Page 321 and 322:
Lettie stared at him, dumbfounded.
Page 323 and 324:
her deposition back in December and
Page 325 and 326:
“Twelve.” “So it’s been twe
Page 327 and 328:
as a witness until two weeks ago, i
Page 329 and 330:
“We’ll see. Maybe it’s not ov
Page 331 and 332:
airport lounges, all of which he no
Page 333 and 334:
victims. He was well acquainted wit
Page 335 and 336:
emember all the white families she
Page 337 and 338:
46 After butting heads with the Mem
Page 339 and 340:
not a single way to get it in.”
Page 341 and 342:
awake and eager to witness this une
Page 343 and 344:
or so away, and she was yelling and
Page 345 and 346:
And we were certain the sheriff wou
Page 347 and 348:
47 The jurors filed silently out of
Page 349 and 350:
“I’m afraid to ask,” Jake sai
Page 351 and 352:
thought he looked lost. When he cou
Page 353 and 354:
“Are you okay?” Jake whispered
Page 355 and 356:
sipped wine by Harry Rex’s pool a
Page 357 and 358:
admitted to college will qualify fo
Page 359 and 360:
“I’d be delighted.” He was th
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Sycamore Row - John Grisham

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