Lou looked at her brother and suddenly realized that this was true. And a tear clutched at
her eye, for she suddenly had an image of her brother grown tall and strong and no longer
in need of his big sister.
Down below, Cotton and Goode were having a heated sidebar with Judge Atkins at the
bench.
"Now look here, Cotton," said Atkins. "I'm not unmindful of what you're saying about
George Davis, and your objection is duly noted for the record, but Louisa delivered two
of those jurors into this world, and the Commonwealth didn't object to that." He looked
over at Goode. "Mr. Goode, will you excuse us for a minute here?"
The lawyer looked shocked. "Your Honor, an ex parte contact with counsel? We don't do
those sorts of things in Richmond."
"Well, damn good thing this ain't Richmond then. Now, just take yourself on over there
for a bit." Atkins waved his hand like he was flicking at flies, and Goode reluctantly
moved back to his counsel table.
"Cotton," said Atkins, "we both know there's a lot of interest in this case, and we both
know why: money. Now, we got Louisa laying over to hospital and most folks thinking
she's not going to make it anyway. And then we got us Southern Valley cash staring folks
in the face."
Cotton nodded. "So you're thinking the jury is going to go against us despite the merits of
the case?"
"Well, I can't really say, but if you do lose here—"
"Then having George Davis on the jury gives me real good grounds for appeal," finished
Cotton.
Atkins looked very pleased that Cotton had seized upon this strategy so readily. "Why, I
never thought of that. Real glad you did. Now let's get this show on the road."
Cotton moved back to his counsel table while Atkins smacked his gavel and announced,
"Jury is hereby impaneled. Be seated."
The jury collectively sat itself down.
Atkins looked them over slowly before his gaze came to rest on Davis. "One more thing
now before we start. I've had my backside on this here bench for thirty-four years, and
there's never been anything close to jury tampering or messing around along those lines
in my courtroom-And there's never going to be such, for if there ever was, the folks that
did it will think spending their whole lives in the coal mines a birthday party compared to
what I'll do to them." He gave Davis one more good stare, fired similar broadsides at both
Goode and Miller, and then said, "Now the parties have waived their opening statements.
So Commonwealth, call your first witness."
"Commonwealth calls Dr. Luther Ross," said Goode.
The ponderous Dr. Ross rose and went to the witness stand. He had the gravity lawyers
liked, when he was on their side; otherwise he was just a well-paid liar.
Fred swore him in. "Raise your right hand, put your left one on the Bible. Do you
solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you
God?"
Ross said he most certainly would tell the truth and nothing but, and wedged himself into
the witness chair.
Fred retreated and Goode approached.
"Dr. Ross, sir, would you state your mighty fine credentials for the jury please?"
"I'm chief of the asylum down over to Roanoke. I've taught courses in mental evaluation
at the Medical College in Richmond, and at the University of Virginia. And I've
personally handled over two thousand cases like this one."
"Well now, I am sure Mr. Longfellow and this court would agree that you are truly an
expert in your field. In fact, you may be the number-one expert in your field, and I would
say this jury deserves to hear nothing less."
"Objection, Your Honor!" said Cotton. "I don't believe there's any proof mat Mr. Goode
is an expert in ranking experts."
"Sustained, Cotton," said Atkins. "Get on with it, Mr. Goode."
Goode smiled benignly, as though this tiny skirmish had been a way for him to evaluate
Cotton's mettle. "Now, Mr. Ross," said Goode, "have you had occasion to examine
Louisa Mae Cardinal?"
"I have."
"And what is your expert opinion on her mental competence?"
Ross smacked the frame of the witness box with one of his flabby hands. "She is not
mentally competent. In fact, my considered opinion is she should be institutionalized."
There came a loud buzz from the crowd, and Atkins impatiently pounded his gavel.
"Quiet down," said he.
Goode continued. "Institutionahzed? My, my. That's some serious business. So you're
saying she's in no shape to handle her own affairs? Say, for the sale of her property?"
"Absolutely not. She could be easily taken advantage of. Why, that poor woman can't