Corporate lawyer Arthur Raven is the court-appointed attorney for a Death Row inmate. Convinced his client is innocent thanks to new evidence, Raven is a fervent crusader--and also a rookie in the vicious world of criminal law.
for business. Like so many others, he apparently did not want her to think he would be offering consolation or support. She was reconsidering her decision to come, not for the first time, when she saw Arthur, charging through the glass doors of the restaurant vestibule with a briefcase bundled under his arm. “Judge,” he said, and offered his hand. It struck a false note instantly. Even before her disgrace, it had been unlikely he’d call her ‘Judge’ in private. “‘Gillian’ will do, Arthur.” “I’m
tree. A decade ago, when Squirrel had been tried, Tommy was the kahuna and Muriel the underling taking lessons. He had never griped as the years passed, as she equaled him in office standing and finally was named Chief Deputy, a job Molto had always coveted. Tommy was Tommy—humorless, dogged, and utterly dedicated to victims, to the police, to the county, and to the fact that the world was better without the company of the people he pursued and convicted. Muriel wrapped him in a huge hug. “Never
been lost and was still regretted. To reverse the mistakes of a stupid and more ignorant self. Could he just let that opportunity go? He sat there dizzy with doubt, ready to cry out for no purpose at all. Then he tore the report into several pieces and dropped it in the trash. The squirrels rushed over, but for them, like others, there was only disappointment. 36 AUGUST 17, 2001 Lincoln Land IN JUDGE KENTON HARLOW’S COURTROOM, there was no longer any expectation of drama. The vast gallery of
me it was for court.” There was, of course, a signed Miranda warning in the file, acknowledging that any statement Rommy made could be used against him in just that way. “And I ain heard nothin ’bout gettin the needle,” he said. “Tha’s for damn sure. They was a cop tellin me a lot of stuff I wrote down. But I don’t recollect writin nothin like all of that. I ain kill’t nobody.” “And why did you write down what the cop was saying?” Arthur asked. “Cause I, like, dirtied myself.” One of the more
life.” Jest had still not entirely left him, but he frowned and briefly lowered his head, allowing the open spaces in his scalp to reflect the strong light. Then he summoned himself to grin again. “Forget it, Gillian. I was just kind of illustrating the point.” Some sisterly kiss on the cheek might have been in order, but that had never been her style. Instead she smiled in a way she hoped was a trifle less remote and promised to see him tomorrow. Raven smiled as well, but he went off at a
