A Time to Kill

"From who?" Jake demanded, glaring at his friend with shiny, pink eyes.

"Buckley," Lucien said smugly.

"Buckley," Jake repeated. "I don’t understand."

"I knew you wouldn’t."

"Do you mind explaining?"

"I guess I could. But you can’t repeat it. It’s very confidential. Came from good sources."

"Who?"

"Can’t tell."

"Who are your sources?" Jake insisted.

"I said I can’t tell. Won’t tell. Okay?"

"How can Buckley put pressure on Noose?"

"If you’ll listen, I’ll tell you."

"Buckley has no influence over Noose. Noose despises him. Told me so himself. Today. Over lunch."

"I realize that."

"Then how can you say Noose is feeling some heat from Buckley?"

"If you’ll shut up, I’ll tell you."

Jake finished a beer and called for Sallie.

"You know what a cutthroat and political whore Buck-ley is."

Jake nodded.

"You know how bad he wants to win this trial. If he wins, he thinks it will launch his campaign for attorney general."

"Governor," said Jake.

"Whatever. He’s ambitious, okay?"

"Okay."

"Well, he’s been getting political chums throughout the district to call Noose and suggest that the trial be held in Ford County. Some have been real blunt with Noose. Like, move the trial, and we’ll get you in the next election. Leave it in Clanton, and we’ll help you get reelected."

"I don’t believe that."

"Fine. But it’s true."

"How do you know?"

"Sources."

"Who’s called him?"

"One example. Remember that thug that used to be sheriff in Van Buren County? Motley? FBI got him, but he’s out now. Still a very popular man in that county."

"Yeah, I remember."

"I know for a fact he went to Noose’s house with a couple of sidekicks and suggested very strongly that Noose leave the trial here. Buckley put them up to it."

"What did Noose say?"

"They all cussed each other real good. Motley told Noose he wouldn’t get fifty votes in Van Buren County next election. They promised to stuff ballot boxes, harass the blacks, rig the absentee ballots, the usual election practices in Van Buren County. And Noose knows they’ll do it."

"Why should he worry about it?"

"Don’t be stupid, Jake. He’s an old man who can do nothing but be a judge. Can you imagine him trying to start a law practice. He makes sixty thousand a year and would starve if he got beat. Most judges are like that. He’s got to keep that job. Buckley knows it, so he’s talking to the local bigots and pumping them up and telling how this no-good nigger might be acquitted if the trial is moved and that they should put a little heat on the judge. That’s why Noose is feeling some pressure."

They drank for a few minutes in silence, both rocking quietly in the tall wooden rockers. The beer felt great.

"There’s more," Lucien said.

"To what?"

"To Noose."

"What is it?"

"He’s had some threats. Not political threats, but death threats. I hear he’s scared to death. Got the police over there guarding his house. Carries a gun now."

"I know the feeling," Jake mumbled.

"Yeah, I heard."

"Heard what?"

"About the dy***ite. Who was he?"

Jake was flabbergasted. He stared blankly at Lucien, unable to speak.

"Don’t ask. I got connections. Who was he?"

"No one knows."

"Sounds like a pro."

"Thanks."

"You’re welcome to stay here. I’ve got five bedrooms."

The sun was gone by eight-fifteen when Ozzie parked his patrol car behind the Saab, which was still parked behind the Porsche. He walked to the foot of the steps leading up to the porch. Lucien saw him first.

"Hello, Sheriff," he attempted to say, his tongue thick and ponderous.

"Evenin’, Lucien. Where’s Jake?"

Lucien nodded toward the end of the porch, where Jake lay sprawled on the swing.

"He’s taking a nap," Lucien explained helpfully.

Ozzie walked across the squeaking boards and stood above the comatose figure snoring peacefully. He punched him gently in the ribs. Jake opened his eyes, and struggled desperately to sit up.

"Carla called my office lookin’ for you. She’s worried sick. She’s been callin’ all afternoon and couldn’t find you. Nobody’s seen you. She thinks you’re dead."

Jake rubbed his eyes as the swing rocked gently. "Tell her I’m not dead. Tell her you’ve seen me and talked to me and you are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am not dead. Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow. Tell her, Ozzie, please tell her."

"No way, buddy. You’re a big boy, you call her and tell her." Ozzie walked off the porch. He was not amused.

Jake struggled to his feet and staggered into the house. "Where’s the phone?" he yelled at Sallie. As he dialed, he could hear Lucien on the porch laughing uncontrollably.

The last hangover had been in law school, six or seven years earlier; he couldn’t remember. The date, that is. He couldn’t remember the date, but the pounding head, dry mouth, short breath, and burning eyes brought back painful, vivid memories of long and unforgettable bouts with the tasty brown stuff.

He knew he was in trouble immediately, when his left eye opened. The eyelids on the right one were matted firmly together, and they would not open, unless manually opened with fingers, and he did not dare move. He lay there in the dark room on a couch, fully dressed, including shoes, listening to his head pound and watching the ceiling fan rotate slowly. He felt nauseated. His neck ached because there was no pillow. His feet throbbed because of the shoes. His stomach rolled and flipped and promised to erupt. Death would have been welcome.

Jake had problems with hangovers because he could not sleep them off. Once his eyes opened and his brain awoke and began spinning again, and the throbbing between his temples set in, he could not sleep. He had never understood this. His friends in law school could sleep for days with a hangover, but not Jake. He never managed more than a few hours after the last can or bottle was empty.

Why? That was always the question the next morning. Why did he do it? A cold beer was refreshing. Maybe two or three. But ten, fifteen, even twenty? He had lost count. After six, beer lost its taste, and from then on the drinking was just for the sake of drinking and getting drunk. Lucien had been very helpful. Before dark he had sent Sallie to the store for a whole case of Coors, which he gladly paid for, then encouraged Jake to drink. There were a few cans left. It was Lu-cien’s fault.

Slowly he lifted his legs, one at a time, and placed his feet on the floor. He gently rubbed his temples, to no avail. He breathed deeply, but his heart pounded rapidly, pumping more blood to his brain and fueling the small jackhammers at work on the inside of his head. He had to have water. His

…putted to the point where it was easier to leave his mouth open like a dog in heat. Why, oh why?

He stood, carefully, slowly, retardedly, and crept into the kitchen. The light above the stove was shielded and dim, but it penetrated the darkness and pierced his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and tried to clean them with his smelly fingers. He drank the warm-water slowly and allowed it to run from his mouth and drip on the floor. He didn’t care. Sallie would clean it. The clock on the counter said it was two-thirty.

Gaining momentum, he walked awkwardly yet quietly through the living room, past the couch with no pillow, and out the door. The porch was littered with empty cans and bottles. Why?