Sacrifice

minds.'

'Are you claiming the prosecution caused your client's outburst, Mr. Simmons?'

'Well, yes…I mean, if they hadn't…'

'Denied! Let's go.'

Wolfe turned away from the bench to return to her seat. Caught my eye.

The defense attorney stood up again. 'Your Honor, may I have a few minutes with my client before the jury comes back in?'

'No, counsel, you may not.'

'Your Honor, I ask for this time because I believe it might promote a settlement of this matter.'

'There is no settlement,' Lola snapped out at him. 'It's too damn late for that.'

'I don't need your permission to plead to the indictment,' the defense attorney shot back.

'Then do it. It's a B felony, and we're asking for the max.'

'Your Honor, could we approach?'

The judge nodded. Wolfe and Lola came up on one side, the defense attorney on the other. Couldn't hear what they were saying. Finally, the defense attorney walked back to his table, began talking urgently to his client, waving his arms.

I felt it coming.

The defense attorney stood up one last time. 'Your Honor, my client has authorized me to withdraw his plea of Not Guilty and to plead to the indictment as charged. My client is a very ill man. Besides that, he wishes to spare the young lady the trauma of cross-examination. I believe…'

'Counselor, save your presentation for the dispositional phase of these proceedings. If your client wants to change his plea, I will take his allocution.'

They kept the jury out of the courtroom while the defendant admitted the whole thing. His lawyer promised extensive psychiatric testimony to explain the whole thing. Lola and Wolfe sat silently.

The judge discharged the jury, thanking them for their attention. I watched their faces— the defense attorney had read them right— if they had gotten their chance, his client was going down.

The defense attorney asked for bail to be continued. Lola pointed out the defendant was now a convicted felon, facing mandatory imprisonment, with great motivation to flee the jurisdiction.

The judge listened, asked the defense if there was any rebuttal. Listened again. Then she revoked the defendant's bail, slammed her gavel for emphasis, and walked off the bench.

The fat defense attorney turned to Wolfe and Lola. 'You just put a very sick man in prison. I hope you're pleased with yourselves.'

Wolfe and Lola looked at the lawyer, blank expressions on their faces. Then they slapped each other a loud high-five.

83

She stopped in the aisle next to where I was seated, like she'd forgotten something. Never looked down.

'I need to talk to you,' I said, just past a whisper.

'You know the Sun Bear bar. On Continental, just off Queens Boulevard?'

'I can find it.'

'Seven o'clock,' she said, walking away.

84

I got away from the courthouse complex. Found a pay phone and went to work.

'My bread is upon the waters, mahn,' Jacques said. 'When a message comes back, I will reach out for you.'

'Okay, thanks. Is Clarence around?'

'Yes, my friend. He is around you. Guard your health.'

'Gardens,' Mama answered the phone.

'It's me, Mama.'

She waited, not saying anything. Hell, she's the one who taught me. 'Is the boy there?'

'Sure, boy here. Good boy, helps Mama.'

'Doesn't he have an appointment? You understand…?'

'Sure, understand. With the lady. Lady come here now.'

'Every day?'

'Sure, every day.'

'Okay, anybody call?'

'Your friend, say to meet him at car wash, tomorrow at seven. She didn't say who called. Didn't need to.'