The Color of Law_ A Novel - Mark Gimenez [61]
“Two years? You’re reducing the charge to simple possession? No intent to distribute?”
A shrug between friends. “Sure, why not?”
“Why?”
The two lawyers stared at each other across the wide wood desk; a thin smile crossed Ray’s face. And Bobby knew his instincts were on the mark.
“What do you want, Ray?”
No pretense now. “I want the bitch’s guilty plea. You get Shawanda to plead to second-degree murder, we’ll agree to forty years.”
“Forty years? She’ll be eligible for Medicare by the time she gets out.”
“Thirty. And that’s as low as we’re going.”
Bobby studied Ray Burns. “Why the change of heart, Ray? You were gung-ho for the death penalty.”
“I still am—a death sentence would round out my résumé nicely. But we’re political appointees, at least the U.S. Attorney is, and he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his career in this hellhole, a hundred and ten in the goddamn shade. He’s thinking maybe California. This case might be his ticket west.”
Bobby Herrin was not a lawyer whose clients were beneficiaries of political power. So it took a moment for the motive behind Ray’s generosity to dawn on him.
“You know about Clark’s past?” he said.
“Yep.”
“And Senator McCall wants to keep it quiet?”
“Yep again.”
“So he calls up the United States Attorney General and asks for a small favor. And the Attorney General calls up the U.S. Attorney in Dallas and asks for a small favor. Which the U.S. Attorney will grant, for a small favor in return. And, just like that, a person’s life is suddenly changed.”
Ray smiled and turned his palms up.
“What, you complaining? Two of your clients are getting good deals because of McCall’s power.”
“Ten years, Ray. Ten years for Shawanda, or you can tell the good senator to forget the White House and your boss to forget California. And I want Carlos’s charges dismissed.”
Ray grinned. He was such an asshole that he actually liked the game, two lawyers negotiating over other people’s lives. Liking the game is an annoying character trait in a lawyer; liking the power is a dangerous one.
“Twenty, and that’s a great deal, Bobby, and you know it. But if she rejects this deal, I won’t back off the death penalty, understand? And if that information about Clark becomes public, the offer is withdrawn. So get the bitch to agree, fast.”
Bobby stood and walked to the door, but he turned back.
“Ray, one more thing: if you call my client a bitch again, I swear to God I’m gonna punch you in your fucking mouth.”
Scott, I need an answer for McCall. Soon.
“You called, Scott?”
Karen Douglas was standing in front of his desk.
“What? Oh, yeah, sit down, Karen.”
Scott pushed Dan’s voice out of his mind. Karen sat in one of the chairs on the other side of his desk and tucked her legs under so as not to reveal any thigh. She was twenty-six, pretty enough to be noticed on the street, and the youngest of the four associates working under Scott. She had graduated first in her class at Rice with a degree in literature and first in her law class at Texas. Book smart, but she was having a difficult time adjusting to the practice of law. As a supervising partner, Scott felt a responsibility to teach his new associates the necessary practice skills they weren’t taught in law school. If Dan Ford hadn’t taught Scott those same practice skills, he wouldn’t be the lawyer he was today.
“Karen, I know you’ve been with us only a few months, but it seems like you’re having some problems. Am I right?”
She nodded and Scott worried she might cry.
“Okay, let’s see if I can get you back on track. First thing, your billable hours. You