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for a while。 Back off； and go to work。〃
Lucien walked to the edge of the porch and spat in the shrubs。 〃Always keep in mind that Mr。 Hailey is guilty； guilty as hell。 Most criminal defendants are； but especially this one。 He took the law into his own hands； and he murdered two people。 Planned it all； very carefully。 Our legal system does not permit vigilante justice。 Now； you can win the case； and if you do； justice will prevail。 But if you lose it； justice will
also prevail。 Kind of a strange case； I guess。 I just wish I had it。〃
〃You serious？〃
〃Sure I'm serious。 It's a trial lawyer's dream。 Win it and you're famous。 The biggest gun in these parts。 It could make you rich。〃
〃I'll need your help。〃
〃You've got it。 I need something to do。〃
After dinner； and after Hanna was asleep； Jake told Carla about the calls at the office。 They had received a strange call before during one of the other murder trials； but no threats were made； just some groaning and breathing。 But these were different。 They mentioned Jake's name and his family； and promised revenge if Carl Lee was acquitted。
〃Are you worried？〃 she asked。
〃Not really。 It's probably just some kids； or some of Cobb's friends。 Does it scare you？〃
〃I would prefer they didn't call。〃
〃Everybody's getting calls。 Ozzie's had hundreds。 Bul…lard； Childers； everybody。 I'm not worried about it。〃
〃What if it bees more serious？〃
〃Carla； I would never endanger my family。 It's not worth it。 I'll withdraw from the case if I think the threats are legitimate。 I promise。〃
She was not impressed。
Lester peeled off nine one…hundred…dollar bills and laid them majestically on Jake's desk。
〃That's only nine hundred；〃 Jake said。 〃Our agreement was a thousand。〃
〃Gwen needed groceries。〃
〃You sure Lester didn't need some whiskey？〃
〃e on； Jake； you know I wouldn't steal from my own brother。〃
〃Okay； okay。 When's Gwen going to the bank to borrow the rest？〃
〃I'm goin' right now to see the banker。 Atcavage？〃
〃Yeah； Stan Atcavage； next door at Security Bank。
Good friend of mine。 He loaned it before on your trial。 You got the deed？〃
〃In my pocket。 How much you reckon he'll give us？〃
〃No idea。 Why don't you go find out。〃
Lester left； and ten minutes later Atcavage was on the phone。
〃Jake； I can't loan the money to these people。 What if he's convicted…no offense； I know you're a good lawyer… my divorce； remember…but how's he gonna pay me sitting on death row？〃
〃Thanks。 Look Stan； if he defaults you own ten acres； right？〃
〃Right； with a shack on it。 Ten acres of trees and kudzu plus an old house。 Just what my new wife wants。 e on； Jake。〃 。
〃It's a nice house； and it's almost paid for。〃
〃It's a shack； a clean shack。 But it's not worth anything； Jake。〃
〃It's gotta be worth something。〃
〃Jake； I don't want it。 The bank does not want it。〃
〃You loaned it before。〃
〃And he wasn't in jail before； his brother was； remember。 He was working at the paper mill。 Good job； too。 Now he's headed for Parchman。〃
〃Thanks； Stan； for the vote of confidence。〃
〃e on； Jake； I've got confidence in your ability； but I can't loan money on it。 If anybody can get him off； you can。 And I hope you do。 But I can't make this loan。 The auditors would scream。〃
Lester tried the Peoples Bank and Ford National； with the same results。 They hoped his brother was acquitted； but what if he wasn't。
Wonderful； thought Jake。 Nine hundred dollars for a capital murder case。
Claude had never seen the need for printed menus in his cafe。 Years before when he first opened he couldn't afford menus； and now that he could he didn't need them because most folks knew what he served。 For breakfast he cooked everything but rice and toast； and the prices varied。 For Friday lunch he barbecued pork shoulder and spare ribs； and everybody knew it。 He had few white customers during the week； but at noon Friday； every Friday； his small cafe was half white。 Claude had known for some time that whites enjoyed barbecue as much as blacks； they just didn't know how to prepare it。
Jake and Atcavage found a small table near the kitchen。 Claude himself delivered two plates of ribs and slaw。 He leaned toward Jake and said softly； 〃Good luck to you。 Hope you get him off。〃
〃Thanks； Claude。 I hope you're on the jury。〃
Claude laughed and said louder； 〃Can I volunteer？〃
Jake attacked the ribs and chewed on Atcavage for not making the loan。 The banker was steadfast； but did offer to lend five thousand if Jake would cosign。 That would be unethical； Jake explained。
On the sidewalk a line formed and faces squinted through the painted letters on the front windows。 Claude was everywhere； taking orders； giving orders； cooking； counting money； shouting； swearing； greeting customers； and asking them to leave。 On Friday； the customers were allotted twenty minutes after the food was served； then Claude asked and sometimes demanded that they pay and leave so he could sell more barbecue。
〃Quit talkin' and eat！〃 he would yell。
〃I've got ten more minutes； Claude。〃
〃You got seven。〃
On Wednesday he fried catfish； and allowed thirty minutes because of the bones。 The white folks avoided Claude's on Wednesday； and he knew why。 It was the grease； a secret recipe grease handed down by his grandmother； he said。 It
was heavy and sticky and wreaked havoc with the lower intestines of white people。 It didn't faze the blacks； who piled in by the carloads every Wednesday。
Two foreigners sat near the cash register and watched Claude fearfully as he directed lunch。 Probably reporters； thought Jake。 Each time Claude drew nigh and glared； they obediently picked up and gnawed a rib。 They had not experienced ribs before； and it was obvious to everyone they were from the North。 They had wanted chef salads； but Claude cursed them； and told them to eat barbecue or leave。 Then he announced to the crowd these silly fools wanted chef salads。
〃Here's your food。 Hurry up and eat it；〃 he had demanded when he served them。
〃No steak knives？〃 one had asked crisply。
Claude rolled his eyes and staggered away mumbling。
One noticed Jake； and； after staring for a few minutes； finally walked over and knelt by the table。 〃Aren't you Jake Brigarice； Mr。 Hailey's attorney？〃
〃Yes； I am。 Who are you？〃
〃I'm Roger McKittrick； with The New York Times。〃
〃Nice to meet you；〃 Jake said with a ^mile and a new attitude。
〃I'm covering the Hailey case； and I'd like to talk with you sometime。 As soon as possible； really。〃
〃Sure。 I'm not too busy this afternoon。 It's Friday。〃
〃I could do it late。〃
〃How about four？〃
〃Fine；〃 said McKittrick； who noticed Claude approaching from the kitchen。 〃I'll see you then。〃
〃Okay； buddy；〃 Claude yelled at McKittrick。 〃Time's up。 Get your check and leave。〃
Jake and Atcavage finished in fifteen minutes； and waited for the verbal assault from Claude。 They licked their fingers and mopped their faces and mented on the tenderness of the ribs。
〃This case'll make you famous； won't it？〃 asked Atcavage。
〃I hope。 Evidently it won't make any money。〃
〃Seriously； Jake； won't it help your practice？〃
〃If I win； I'll have more clients than I can hand