Sycamore Row

ever wanted to see or hear again, but that would not be the case. Finally, slowly, Jake rose and pushed the eject button. “We’d better go see the judge.”
    “Can you get it admitted?” Ozzie asked.
    “No way in hell,” Harry Rex said. “I can think of ten different ways to keep it out, and not a single way to get it in.”
    “All we can do is try,” Jake said. He raced across the street, his heart pounding, his mind spinning. The other lawyers were milling around the courtroom, happy it was Friday and eager to get home with a major win under their belts. Jake spoke briefly to Judge Atlee and said it was urgent the lawyers meet in his office down the hall where there was a television and a VCR. When they were assembled there, around the table, and when His Honor had filled and lit his pipe, Jake explained what he was doing. “The deposition was given two days ago. Lucien was there and asked some questions.”
    “Didn’t know he was a lawyer again,” Wade Lanier said.
    “Hang on,” Jake said dismissively. “Let’s watch the tape, then we can fight.”
    “How long is it?” asked the judge.
    “About an hour.”
    Lanier said, “This is a waste of time, Judge. You can’t admit this deposition if I wasn’t there and didn’t have the chance to examine the witness. This is absurd.”
    Jake said, “We have time, Your Honor. What’s the rush?”
    Judge Atlee puffed away. He looked at Jake, and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Play it.”
    For Jake, the second time through the video was just as gut grinding as the first. Things he wasn’t sure he heard right the first time were confirmed. He glanced repeatedly at Wade Lanier, whose indignation wore off as the story overwhelmed him. By the end, he seemed deflated. All of the lawyers for the contestants had been transformed. Their cockiness had vanished.
    When Jake removed the tape, Judge Atlee kept staring at the blank screen. He relit his pipe and exhaled a gust of smoke. “Mr. Lanier?”
    “Well, Judge, it’s patently inadmissible. I wasn’t there. I didn’t have the chance to examine or cross-examine the witness. Not really fair, you know?”
    Jake blurted, “So it’s in keeping with the spirit of this trial. A surprise witness here, an ambush there. I thought you understood these tricks, Wade.”
    “I’ll ignore that. It’s not a proper deposition, Judge.”
    Jake said, “But what could you ask him? He’s describing events that happened before you were born, and he’s the only surviving witness. It would be impossible for you to cross-examine him. You know nothing about what happened.”
    Lanier said, “It’s not properly certified by the court reporter. That lawyer in Alaska is not licensed to practice in Mississippi. I could go on and on.”
    “Fine. I’ll withdraw it as a deposition and offer it as an affidavit. A statement given by a witness sworn before a notary public. The court reporter was also a notary public.”
    Lanier said, “It has nothing to do with Seth Hubbard’s testamentary capacity on October 1 of last year.”
    Jake countered, “Oh, I think it explains everything, Wade. It proves without a doubt that Seth Hubbard knew exactly what he was doing. Come on, Judge, you’re letting everything else in for the jury to hear.”
    “That’s enough,” Judge Atlee said sternly. He closed his eyes andseemed to meditate for a moment. He breathed deeply as his pipe went out. When he opened his eyes he said, “Gentlemen, I think the jury should meet Ancil Hubbard.”

    Ten minutes later, court was called to order. The jury was brought in and the large screen was set up again. Judge Atlee apologized to the jurors for the delay, then explained what was happening. He looked at the contestants’ table and said, “Mr. Lanier, do you have any more witnesses.”
    Lanier rose as if crippled by arthritis and said, “No. We rest.”
    “Mr. Brigance?”
    “Your Honor, I would like to recall Ms. Lettie Lang for limited purposes. It will just take a moment.”
    “Very well. Ms. Lang, please remember that you have already been sworn and are still under oath.”
    Portia leaned forward and whispered, “Jake, what are you doing?”
    “Not now,” he whispered. “You’ll see.”
    With her last visit to the witness stand still a horrible memory, Lettie settled herself in and tried to appear calm. She refused to look at the jurors. There had been no time to prepare her; she had no idea what was coming.
    Jake began,