"So are you, Mr. Rosen. Show me a trial lawyer who's not a smart ass."
"Real cute. Enjoy the Cayhall case, Mr. Hall, because it'll be your last bit of work for this firm."
"You want me to enjoy an execution?"
"Relax, Daniel," Goodman said softly. "Just relax. No one's getting fired around here."
Rosen pointed an angry finger at Goodman. "I swear I'll recommend his termination."
"Fine. All you can do is recommend, Daniel. I'll take it to the committee, and we'll just have a huge brawl. Okay?"
"I can't wait," Rosen snarled as he jumped to his feet. "I'll start lobbying now. I'll have my votes by the end of the week. Good day!" He stormed from the room and slammed the door.
They sat in silence next to each other, just staring across the table over the backs of the empty chairs to the rows of thick law books lined neatly on the wall, listening to the echo of the slamming door.
"Thanks," Adam finally said.
"He's not a bad guy, really," Goodman said.
"Charming. A real prince."
"I've known him a long time. He's suffering now, really frustrated and depressed. We're not sure what to do with him."
"What about retirement?"
"It's been considered, but no partner has ever been forced into retirement. For obvious reasons, it's a precedent we'd like to avoid."
"Is he serious about firing me?"
"Don't worry, Adam. It won't happen. I promise. You were wrong in not disclosing it, but it's a minor sin. And a perfectly understandable one. You're young, scared, naive, and you want to help. Don't worry about Rosen. I doubt if he'll be in this position three months from now."
"Deep down, I think he adores me."
"It's quite obvious."
Adam took a deep breath and walked around the table. Goodman uncapped his pen and began making notes. "There's not much time, Adam," he said.
"I know."
"When can you leave?"
"Tomorrow. I'll pack tonight. It's a ten-hour drive."
"The file weighs a hundred pounds. It's down in printing right now. I'll ship it tomorrow."
"Tell me about our office in Memphis."
"I talked to them about an hour ago. Managing partner is Baker Cooley, and he's expecting you. They'll have a small office and a secretary for you, and they'll help if they can.
They're not much when it comes to litigation."
"How many lawyers?"
"Twelve. It's a little boutique firm we swallowed ten years ago, and no one remembers exactly why. Good boys, though. Good lawyers. It's the remnants of an old firm that prospered with the cotton and grain traders down there, and I think that's the connection to Chicago. Anyway, it looks nice on the letterhead. Have you been to Memphis?"
"I was born there, remember?"
"Oh yes."
"I've been once. I visited my aunt there a few years ago."
"It's an old river town, pretty laid back. You'll enjoy it."
Adam sat across the table from Goodman. "How can I possibly enjoy the next few months?"
"Good point. You should go to the Row as quickly as possible."
"I'll be there the day after tomorrow."
"Good. I'll call the warden. His name is Phillip Naifeh, Lebanese oddly enough. There are quite a few of them in the Mississippi Delta. Anyway, he's an old friend, and I'll tell him you're coming."
"The warden is your friend?"
"Yes. We go back several years, to Maynard Tole, a nasty little boy who was my first casualty in this war. He was executed in 1986, I believe, and the warden and I became friends. He's opposed to the death penalty, if you can believe it."
"I don't believe it."
"He hates executions. You're about to learn something, Adam - the death penalty may be very popular in our country, but the people who are forced to impose it are not supporters. You're about to meet these people: the guards who get close to the inmates; the administrators who must plan for an efficient killing; the prison employees who rehearse for a month beforehand. It's a strange little corner of the world, and a very depressing one."
"I can't wait."
"I'll talk to the warden, and get permission for the visit. They'll usually give you a couple of hours. Of course, it may take five minutes if Sam doesn't want a lawyer."
"He'll talk to me, don't you think?"
"I believe so. I cannot imagine how the man will react, but he'll talk. It may take a couple of visits to sign him up, but you can do it."
"When did you last see him?"
"Couple of years ago. Wallace Tyner and I went down. You'll need to touch base with Tyner. He was the point man on this case for the past six years."
Adam nodded and moved to the next thought. He'd been picking Tyner's brain for the past nine months.
"What do we file first?"
"We'll talk about it later. Tyner and I are meeting early in the morning to review the case. Everything's on hold, though, until we hear from you. We can't move if we don't represent him."