Deborah Fletcher Mello - A Stallion Dream

“Really? Who is he?”

“Jerome James. He’s been incarcerated for the murder of his wife. He’s been granted a new trial and I’m going to be sitting second chair.”

Matthew’s eyes dropped as he fell into thought. When he looked back up Collin was eyeing him curiously. He gave his son a slight smile. “Jerome and his wife, Mary, went to school with us. Jerome graduated with your uncle John and Mary graduated with me. Back in the day we were big supporters of the causes Jerome took up. Even marched the streets with him a time or two. He was a good man. Everything about that case was tragic.”

“The case file reads like a witch hunt.”

“The racial climate back then was rough, and Jerome loved to make waves. He was not popular with the local police or the politicians. He wanted change and he fought hard to make that happen. Remind me, who was the original prosecutor?”

“Victor Wells.”

“Newly appointed Texas Supreme Court Justice Victor Wells?”

Collin nodded. “The one and only. Do you know him?”

Matthew nodded. A look of foreboding washed over his expression. The same look that Collin had seen on London’s face when they had first discussed the case and Wells’s name had been mentioned. It had given Collin pause and when he’d asked about it she’d dismissed him, insisting that there wasn’t anything amiss that he needed to be concerned with. “Yes, I do,” Matthew finally answered.

“Is there something about Justice Wells that I should know?” Collin questioned.

Matthew hesitated for a quick second as if there was more that he wanted to say, but he didn’t elaborate. He just shook his head no.

“Any advice?”

“Just be smart and make sure you do your due diligence. And no matter what happens, do not be intimidated.”

Collin nodded as his father continued.

“Who’s your first chair?” Matthew asked.

“Attorney London Jacobs. She’s been with the initiative for a few years and litigating their big cases for the last two years.” Collin’s eyes were bright, his entire face lifting with the smile that spread from ear to ear. He thought back to his day and the shift in her attitude toward him between breakfast and lunch. She’d been exceptionally open and forthcoming as they’d discussed the case. She’d asked his opinion and had seemed genuinely interested in his answers. An encounter that had started out tensely had transitioned nicely to a pleasant exchange.

Matthew smiled back. “I know Ms. Jacobs. She’s quite impressive. Jerome will be well served.”

“I think we’re going to be a great team,” Collin said, a hint of excitement in his tone.

His father nodded, his head bobbing up and down slowly. He stared at his oldest child but said nothing, bemusement painting his expression.

“What?” Collin asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Matthew shook his head. “Nothing, son. Nothing at all.”

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