Sergio De La Pava - A Naked Singularity

“See what I mean,” Ralph said. “That’s how I’m sure it wasn’t him. Besides the guy was looking for you this time was bigger than the cop, much bigger. He was probably the biggest fella I’ve ever seen he was. No I take that back, he was definitely the biggest fella I’ve ever seen. He had arms like long fire hydrants pal. I once knew a guy named Harvey who we thought was pretty big but this fella today makes Harvey look like my friend Shirley, ha ha! Anyway I told him I didn’t know where you were but that you definitely lived here and should be back relatively soon. I don’t know, he didn’t seem to want to wait. He had strange skin too pal, in some areas.”

I thanked Ralph and left. From a payphone I tried Dane at The Plaza but they said he wasn’t there. I tried him at his old apartment but a new tenant answered and I wondered why you would keep the same phone number as the previous tenant. And I got similar results the days thereafter and checked myself into a miserable hotel, the kind that still advertises Color TV as an attraction, and went to work only sparingly and then only to answer Jalen’s letters, letters I saved up and until the day Toomberg came into my office to start preparing for my hearing in Cymbeline; only we never did prepare because I left shortly after he entered my office, went to get my stuff from that dump, and moved back into my apartment for good. That day, the last day I saw Toomberg, I had been told multiple times, in the usual locations, that someone was looking for me and usually the person telling me this would have a strangely troubled look on their face. I was in my office alone with all the Kingg letters and after I read the newest ones several times I wrote Jalen a final letter and made a phone call. Then I hung up the phone ripped it off the jack and flung it across the room. Some people looked in and left without saying anything then a minute later Toomberg appeared smilingly unaware.

“You’ll be glad to see I took your advice to heart,” he said. “I truly tried to contain my optimism in this letter even though every ensuing event since we first spoke has only served to increase it. Here’s the copy I promised you for your files. Oh I see you already have the Kingg letters out, perfect. Want to know why I’m even more optimistic now?”

“…”

“Okay, well I was thinking about what Conley said the other day regarding what I guess he would call the inherent unfairness of the mere existence of individuals who are mentally impaired. First, what are your views on the subject?”

“…”

“Because I know Conley has this reputation as a bit of a strange bird but… go ahead get that… well?… aren’t you going to answer that? Casi!”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“Answer what?”

“The phone, you’re being paged from reception.”

“Oh,” I clicked the red button. “Yeah Denise.”

“There’s someone here to see you,” she was whispering. “He was here this morning too but he won’t give his name.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Okay.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

“There’s someone here to see you.”

“Oh.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll come out.”

“Casi?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know how to say this but he’s really big and kind of scary looking and he seems really upset. Do you want me to call security?”

“We have security? Since when?”

“Well the building does.”

“Oh, security? No that’s okay.”

“He’s very big.”

“So?”

“He’s very angry, I don’t know.”

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well what’s his name?”

“He won’t give one. You want me to ask again? He’s upset.”

“Never mind, I know who it is.”

“You want me to say you’re gone for the day? He can’t hear me behind the glass.”

“Right.”

“Casi?”

“Coming.”

I stared straight ahead. Then I stood up and walked out on Toom, down the hall and out to the reception area. But the person waiting there for me was someone I had never seen before and after the slightest investigation it turned out he wasn’t even looking for me but rather some other attorney whose name was only slightly similar to mine. And he wasn’t scary looking at all, at least he didn’t scare me. Nor was he all that big either.

LEGAL CORRESPONDENCE: CONFIDENTIAL

#Z311

Jalen Kingg

Cell 9C-03

Holman Unit

3700 Holman

Atmore, Alabama 36503

Dear Mr. Kingg:

I am writing to introduce myself to you. Enclosed with this letter is one of my business cards with all of my contact information.

As you can see I am a New York City public defender and I, along with Melvyn Toomberg and Joseph Ledo, two other attorneys in this office, will be representing you pro bono during this stage of your appeal in the hopes of ultimately securing a vacatur of the death sentence you received.

I will, of course, keep you informed of all relevant proceedings in your case but feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

LEGAL CORRESPONDENCE: CONFIDENTIAL

#Z311

Jalen Kingg

Cell 9C-03

Holman Unit

3700 Holman

Atmore, Alabama 36503

Dear Mr. Kingg:

I hope that you are doing well. With respect to the status of your appeal we are currently still awaiting delivery of the entire file on your case.

Once we have received and fully reviewed these remaining documents I will contact you with information as to what legal issues we expect to raise and how we will proceed from a procedural standpoint. We expect that to occur relatively soon.

Until then, feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss your case.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

LEGAL CORRSPONDENCE: CONFIDENTIAL

#Z311

Jalen Kingg

Cell 9C-03

Holman Unit

3700 Holman

Atmore, Alabama 36503

Dear Mr. Kingg:

I hope you are doing well. I have made repeated attempts to contact you by phone but I have been unsuccessful so I will continue to write you these letters and hope you will respond to them.

We have completed our review of the file on your case and have identified three issues that we anticipate raising in the district court. Having not heard from you, I don’t know what level of detail regarding our representation you’re comfortable with so I’ve just included with this letter various cases and other legal materials relevant to those three issues so that you might familiarize yourself with our expected arguments.

Please call me, or if that’s not possible write me with any issues or facts you believe might be relevant to your appeal and that either relate to the events leading up to your arrest or to the circumstances of your trial and direct appeal. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

LEGAL CORRESPONDENCE: CONFIDENTIAL