“You got out,” Jana said, crossing her arms tight across her chest. “You weren’t trapped in this town trying to please him. You had your own life.”
“Which you ridiculed at every turn.”
She hung her head. “I was jealous and bitter, J. J. I think Dad was too.”
“Dad? Of me?”
“He came home to practice law with his father,” Jana said. “He never had a choice. You were supposed to be the third generation, and you turned him down.”
“He gave me no choice. He wouldn’t make me a full partner. I was going to be his minion and make half as much money as I could make in Birmingham. And it wasn’t like he was going to automatically stop treating me like a stepchild. It wasn’t a fair deal. I was better off going out on my own, finding my way.”
“His deal with Grandpa hadn’t been fair either. I think when you said no, it made him question his own choices. Especially when you started making money. It damn sure made me question mine.”
Jason was dumbfounded. “I can’t believe this. Dad never said a kind word about my law practice. The man never even told me he loved me. Never! I mean, what kind of father does that?” Tears streamed down Jason’s cheeks. A dam had been broken, and he didn’t care. “And you weren’t any better. You could never stand it when I got even the slightest bit of attention.”
“You’re right, and I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. You’re just saying that because I’m your best bet at avoiding a life on death row. You ain’t stupid, Jana, and you ain’t ever sorry.”
“I am. I was wrong. Dad was wrong.”
For almost a full minute, the only sounds in the cell were their breathing and sniffles. Jason wiped his eyes and knocked on the door three times.
“Thank you, J. J.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I do. You came back. You’ve gone the distance for me, and I had no right to expect that from you. Regardless of whether you believe Dad would be proud . . . I’m proud of you.”
Jason left the jail and walked up to Gunter Avenue. He hung a left and picked up his pace. Three blocks south of the courthouse, he stopped in front of a restaurant that advertised pulled pork sandwiches and slabs of ribs.
For five decades, a Rich had practiced law in this brick building.
It was evening, and the restaurant, which only had lunch hours, was closed. Jason sat on a wheel stop in front of the sidewalk and gazed out at the highway. One of his billboards was approximately fifty yards away. He’d wanted his father to see his advertisement every single time he walked into his office. He was that petty.
But, according to Jana, Lucas Rich had been jealous of his only son.
And would be proud of me now . . .
She could be lying, he knew, but he didn’t think she was. He’d seen the pain in her eyes. He’d felt it.
As a drizzle began to fall, Jason’s tears mixed with the rain.
61
“ALL RISE!”
Jason and Jana stood as Judge Powell Conrad strode to the bench. It was Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Jason had barely slept a wink and been unable to eat more than a piece of toast with coffee. If he’d been more nervous at any point in his life, he couldn’t remember it. He glanced behind their table and saw Nola and Niecy seated side by side, Nola in a maroon dress and Niecy in navy. On either side of them were Harry and Chase. Izzy was at the satellite office on Blount Avenue, keeping their other cases afloat, and would arrive by evening to brainstorm. Jason looked to the back of the gallery, where Satchel Tonidandel sat in an aisle seat wearing a sports coat and slacks. He also had security outside the courthouse, in front of his office, and, of course, at Mill Creek.
He’d be taking no chances this week.
“State of Alabama v. Jana Rich Waters,” Judge Conrad bellowed. “Are we ready to roll, Ms. Lankford?”
“Ready, Your Honor.”
“Mr. Rich?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“OK. Let’s bring in the panel.”
Seven hours later, they had their jury. Nine men ranging in ages from twenty-five to seventy-eight, seven of them white and one Black. And three women, all white, ages twenty-eight, fifty-two, and sixty.
Based on the research he’d done prior to trial, Jason had hoped for more youth and diversity in the jury, as that demographic tended to be more liberal and receptive to criminal defendants, but those traits were few and far between in Marshall County.
“The women are all giving me the stink eye,” Jana whispered.