The prosecutor gestured for Jason to follow the deputy.
He started to walk toward the double doors but then looked over his shoulder at Shay and added, “You said if I entered an appearance, you’d give me a copy of Waylon Pike’s confession. I’d like it before I leave today.”
Shay pursed her lips. “Certainly.”
“Good,” Jason said. “Looking forward to working with you.”
36
Once they were alone in the room, Jana spoke through clenched teeth. “Well, you’ve got a lot of nerve. Coming back here after making such an ass of yourself yesterday. I’m not in much of a forgiving mood.”
“Shut up,” Jason said.
Jana recoiled. “What . . . what did you say to me?”
“I said shut up,” Jason said. “I’m in no mood for your lunacy, Jana. Tyson Cade almost killed me last night. He held me at gunpoint and said that if you testified in this case and implicated him in any way in any kind of drug deal, that he would kill me, and that he would rape and kill Niecy and Nola.”
Jana’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head back and forth, as if she didn’t want to believe it. “He’s bluffing.”
“He thinks you have something on him. Do you?”
She averted her eyes, looking up at the ceiling.
“Do you?” Jason pressed.
“Maybe.”
“What in the hell does that mean? If I’m going to represent you, we can’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Whoa, now. Who’s saying that you’re doing any such thing. I don’t want that anymore.”
“Too late,” Jason said. “I’m not going to let you endanger your children and my nieces. I’ve already entered my appearance as your attorney. I’m taking the case, and you need to start talking.”
She crossed her arms. “That’s not legal. You can’t represent me without my consent.”
“We’re in Marshall County, Jana. It’s the Wild, Wild West, and I’m not in the mood for your bullshit. You need a lawyer, and there aren’t any other takers. I’m all you’ve got, and I’d say that makes you pretty damn lucky.”
“Oh, really. Why’s that?”
“Because every member of that jury will have driven by four of my billboards coming and going to trial. I’m a household name, and what I lack in experience in criminal law, I make up for in recognition.” He rubbed his hands together. “Your case needs smoke, bluster, and bullshit, and I’ve made a career out of all three.”
She looked at him, and tears suddenly appeared in her eyes. She grabbed his hand. “Thank you, J. J.”
Was it true affection? Or an act? With Jana, he could never tell. “You’re welcome,” Jason said. “Now, I need you to tell me something.”
“Anything,” she said, squeezing his hand.
“You took out $15,000 from the bank the day before Braxton was killed. What did you do with it? I’m not buying your story that you left it in your car.”
Jana peered down at the table. “I gave it to one of Tyson’s deputies. The money was a down payment on what I owed him.”
Jason took in a deep breath and exhaled. “How much did you owe?”
“Fifty grand.”
“Jesus,” Jason said, running a hand through his hair. “How do you know that the man was with Cade?”
“I just did. With Tyson, I’d get calls from strange numbers. I’d be told where to be. And then I’d go. On the night of the Fourth, I went to a strip mall, and I gave the money to one of his men. Then I drove to the Hampton Inn, where I met Tyson. What I did with him was also . . . a payment.”
“Oh, Jana,” Jason muttered.
“Don’t you dare judge me. You have no idea what I’ve been through these past three years. My husband abandoned our marriage. My kids were brainwashed. So I got into drugs.”
“The bottom line is that there’s no way you can defend yourself on the stand without implicating Tyson Cade?”
She held out her palms, exasperated.
Jason stood and began to pace the room. “Then you can’t take the stand.”
“The hell I can’t. I’ve got to tell the jury I didn’t do it. That I didn’t pay Waylon Pike to kill Braxton. Don’t I have to say that?”
Yes, Jason thought. “I’m not sure I’d recommend you taking the stand even without this Cade business,” he said, not looking at her.