Sycamore Row

the questions, then load up the fiction for the jury.
    Her testimony was a dramatic blend of emotion, bad acting, lying, and exaggerating. Jake began stealing glances at the jury to see if anyone was suspicious. As she bawled again, Tracy McMillen, number two, met Jake’s look and frowned as if to say, “Can you believe this?”
    At least that was Jake’s reading. He could be wrong. His instincts had been rattled and he didn’t fully trust them. Tracy was his favorite juror. Their eyes had been meeting for two days now, and things had been elevated almost to the point of flirting. It wasn’t the first time Jake had used his good looks to win over a juror, nor would it be the last. Another glance over and he caught Frank Doley shooting one of his patented “I can’t wait to burn you” looks.
    Wade Lanier wasn’t perfect. He kept her on direct far too long and began to lose people. Her voice was grating and her crying was a tired old act. Those watching suffered along with her, and when Lanier finally said, “I tender the witness,” Judge Atlee quickly tapped the gavel and said, “Let’s recess for fifteen minutes.”
    The jurors left and the courtroom cleared out. Jake stayed at his table, as did Lettie. It was time to acknowledge each other. Portia moved her chair closer so the three of them could speak softly in a smallhuddle. Lettie began with “Jake, I’m so sorry. What have I done?” Her eyes were instantly wet.
    “Why didn’t you tell me, Lettie? If I had known about the Pickerings, I could have been prepared.”
    “It didn’t happen that way at all, Jake. I swear I never discussed no will with Miss Irene. Never. Not before she wrote it, not after. I didn’t even know about it until I came to work that mornin’ and all hell broke loose. I swear, Jake. You gotta let me explain this to the jury. I can do it. I can make them believe me.”
    “It’s not that simple. We’ll talk about it later.”
    “We need to talk, Jake. Herschel and Ramona are lyin’ through their teeth. Can’t you make ’em stop?”
    “I don’t think the jury is buying much of this.”
    Portia said, “They don’t like Ramona.”
    “I can understand that. I need to run to the restroom. Any word from Lucien?”
    “No, I checked the phone messages during lunch. Some lawyers, some reporters, and one death threat.”
    “A what?”
    “Some dude said they gonna burn your house again if you win all that money for them niggers.”
    “How nice. I sort of like it. It brings back fond memories of the Hailey trial.”
    “I saved it. You want me to tell Ozzie?”
    “Sure.”

    Harry Rex caught Jake outside the restroom and said, “Spoke with Chilcott. No deal. No interest in talking settlement. In fact, he almost laughed in my face, said they have another surprise or two.”
    “What?” Jake asked in a panic.
    “Well, of course he wouldn’t tell me. That would ruin the ambush, right?”
    “I can’t take another ambush, Harry Rex.”
    “Just keep your cool. You’re doing fine. I don’t think Herschel and Ramona impressed too many jurors.”
    “Should I go after her?”
    “No. Take it easy. If you pin her down, she’ll just start crying again. The jury’s sick of her.”
    Five minutes later, Jake walked to the podium and said, “Now, Mrs. Dafoe, your father died on October 2 of last year, correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “Before he died, when was the last time you saw him?”
    “I didn’t keep notes, Mr. Brigance. He was my daddy.”
    “Isn’t it true that you last saw him in late July, over two months before he died?”
    “No, that’s not true at all. I saw him all the time.”
    “The last time, Mrs. Dafoe. When was the last time?”
    “Again, I didn’t keep up with the dates. Probably a couple of weeks before he died.”
    “Are you sure about that?”
    “Well, no, I’m not positive. Do you make a note every time you visit your parents?”
    “I’m not the witness, Mrs. Dafoe. I’m the lawyer who’s asking the questions. Are you sure you saw your father a couple of weeks before he died?”
    “Well, uh, I can’t be positive.”
    “Thank you. Now, what about the children, Will and Leigh Ann? When was the last time they saw their grandfather before he died?”
    “Oh, heavens, Mr. Brigance. I have no idea.”
    “But you testified they saw him all the time, right?”
    “Of course, yes. They loved their granddaddy.”
    “Did he love them?”
    “He adored them.”
    Jake smiled and walked to the