Mountain Top(290)

“Your municipal corporations background shows in your analysis. I wish you could have had Professor Sentell. He was the best.”

“He gave a few guest lectures.”

I spent the rest of the trip listening to Kettleson tell me about his experiences in law school where he’d been selected for the law review. I was tempted to ask him to list all his second-year classes and the grades he’d received, but I kept my mouth shut and tried to organize my thoughts about the Jones case. Kettleson’s nasally voice didn’t help me concentrate.

The meeting with the client included an architectural presentation of the plans for the disputed property and legal analysis by Kettleson in which he read my memo without giving me credit for the research.

“Joe Carpenter, our top litigator, will be the lead lawyer if a lawsuit has to be filed,” Kettleson said in conclusion. “But I hope litigation won’t be necessary after our senior partner, Mr. Braddock, makes his calls to the politicians. No one is better connected in Chatham County, and he has well-placed friends in Atlanta and Washington.”

The client catered lunch. I anxiously looked at my watch.

“Mr. Kettleson, don’t forget I have to be back for my hearing,” I said.

“Don’t worry. We won’t stay long.”

He was wrong. We stayed until the company’s managers began to drift back to work. On the ride back to Savannah, I kept looking at my watch and taking a peek at the speedometer. Kettleson stayed quiet, and I didn’t try to interrupt his thoughts. We pulled into the law firm parking lot at 1:50 p.m. If I’d brought the Jones file with me, Kettleson could have dropped me off at the courthouse.

“It’s only a couple of minutes to the courthouse,” the senior associate said as he turned off the car.

“Except I don’t know how I’m going to get there.” I rushed into the building. Vince was sitting in the reception area.

“Here’s your file,” he said. “I’ll drive you to the courthouse.”

We passed Kettleson on the way out of the building.

“That worked out great,” the senior associate said. “Look for another project from me when you get back.”

We reached Vince’s car.

“How did you know about the hearing?” I asked.

“Julie told me.”

“For once, I’m glad she has a big mouth.”

It was only a few blocks to the courthouse.

“Did you see Zach or Mr. Carpenter leave?” I asked.

“No. Why is Mr. Carpenter going to be there?”

“You know he’s probably been shadowing everything I’ve done. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knows I’ve been snooping around the microfilm records.”

“Are you going to tell me more?”

“No.”

We stopped and waited for a light to turn green.

“I want to help,” Vince said, moving forward.

“You’re helping right now. Trust me, this is for the best.”

“I’ll let you out and find a place to park.”

Opening the car door, I climbed the steps two at a time. Fortunately, there wasn’t a line at the security check, and an elevator was waiting with the door open. It was 1:58 p.m. when I opened the back door to the courtroom. It was much smaller than the one used by Judge Cannon. Zach and Mr. Carpenter were sitting in the area reserved for the lawyers. Moses and a single deputy were in the prisoner dock. There was no sign of Maggie Smith or the judge. I walked breathlessly down the aisle. The two lawyers turned toward me as I approached.

And I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that Zach and Mr. Carpenter had been working together all along.

“Glad you could make it,” Mr. Carpenter said.

“Bob Kettleson—” I began.

“We know,” Zach said. “I checked on you a couple of hours ago.”

I couldn’t bear to look Zach in the face. “I need to talk to Mr. Jones,” I said.

Zach stood up.

“No!” I said so loudly that it filled the courtroom. “Alone.”

Zach looked at Mr. Carpenter, who shrugged.

“Okay,” Zach said.

I went to Moses. The deputy moved several feet away. I positioned my body so Zach and Mr. Carpenter couldn’t see. Up close, the old man’s face was as wrinkled as a crumpled-up newspaper. His eyes were slightly yellow around the edges.

“That’s Floyd Carpenter’s son,” I whispered.

“I see that, missy. They favor each other.”

“I don’t know exactly why he’s here, but it can’t be anything good. Until I can figure out a way to protect you, I think you should stay in jail. It’s the safest place you can be.”