Sergio De La Pava - A Naked Singularity

if i cant get out i don’t care what happens in here or anywhere else AND YoU Cannot TELL ME WHY i SHOULD

i’m not sorry anymoar neether and i think noone else is sorry neither probly

LEGAL CORRESPONDENCE: CONFIDENTIAL

Jalen Kingg

#Z311

Punitive Isolation Cell #17

Holman Unit

3700 Holman

Atmore, Alabama 36503

Dear Jalen:

Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the brief we will soon file on your behalf. Also I just received your last three letters and you are wrong. At the end of this month you will be transferred to your old cell and your pictures will be there just as they were before you left.

I cannot just come and get you out, that’s true. But we can, and will, make it so you cannot be executed. You will get a life sentence instead. You have by now probably received a letter from Melvyn explaining why we are so optimistic that this is what will ultimately happen.

This would be a major legal victory and something very good that would have happened to you, there’s no denying that. It will be proof that good things can happen to you too, that someone or something is protecting you. That Melvyn and I are truly your friends. Do you understand?

I guess you have to care what happens, even in there, just because no one is allowed to quit, no matter where they are or what happens to them.

When I finish this letter I am going to make a phone call to your facility. Do not be offended but as a result of that phone call you will probably be receiving psychiatric attention and will be watched even more closely. Good news is coming you just have to wait a little longer for it and then it will be hard to remember the bad or if you do remember it the memory will almost make you feel good if that makes any sense. I’m going to arrange for Melvyn and I to come out for another legal visit so be on the lookout for that Jalen. Be good kid.

Your very good friend,

P.S. Why no postscript (P.S.) on your last letter? I look forward to them.

Central Administrative Unit Department Section

Death Row: Holman Unit

3700 Holman

Atmore, Alabama 36503

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This letter should serve to inform you as the:

mother / father / next of kin / friend / domestic partner / significant other / of:

/ Ms. / Mrs. Jalen Kingg

that the aforementioned individual: Has been duly executed according to the bylaws and strictures of the great State of Alabama and of the United States of America of which it is a part / Has had his death sentence altered to one of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole / Has absconded from the facility and is currently at large;

Other: (explain) Inmate has taken his own life thereby avoiding the judicial justice previously meted out by the People of the State of Alabama.

Consequently, said inmate’s residency at Holman Prison is considered terminated effective immediately. You have the right to appeal this decision but to do so you must notify the above office within fifteen business days of your intention to do so.

Yours, etc.

William T. Grennan

President and Principal Stockholder

Making me feel like even more of a client was the fact I kept swiveling my head back to eye the faded-black doors to Cymbeline’s courtroom whenever they would part to permit an intruder. I was hoping for Toomberg but every time I looked it was someone else, someone not there to help me. And this was the same day Raul Soldera’s case was on for sentencing so they brought him out crying from behind a walker and he would periodically wipe his tears with his bare palms but then his skeletal wet hands would keep slipping off the handles so that he almost fell several times before finally reaching the defense table. Where he sat down next to me and in front of Cymbeline and I told him to take it easy because it’ll be all right . Which it sort of was for a change because Cymbeline was soon saying that no updated probation report had been completed meaning Soldera could not yet be sentenced. The case would have to be adjourned.

“To the first of next month,” said Cymbeline. “By which date I assume your office will have assigned Mr. Soldera a different attorney.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well let me place on the record the following. This same attorney who currently represents Mr. Soldera will, immediately following the calendar call in this case, be the subject of an extensive hearing regarding multiple charges of contempt of court. Moreover, this court will not only preside over said hearing but is one of the principal complainants, so to speak, against this attorney. I should add as well, by the way, that Mr. Soldera himself is expected to be a witness in this hearing and it is anticipated that he will provide rather damaging testimony to the effect that this attorney improperly counseled him to attempt the crime of bail jumping.”

As Cymbeline said this Soldera was vigorously shaking his head no right next to me as Cymbeline’s law secretary went up to the bench and whispered in her ear.

“Well I’m now informed,” she continued, “that Mr. Soldera has recanted that testimony and therefore will not be called as a witness against this attorney. And I will not now place on the record my personal views about the legitimacy of that recantation but suffice it to say that Mr. Soldera will be dealt with in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time. Notwithstanding this latest development, however, the fact remains that a substantial conflict of interest exists in this situation that can only be remedied by the assignment of a different attorney to Mr. Soldera’s case.”

“Or by this court recusing itself.”

“Excuse me counselor?”

“This court should recuse itself thereby eliminating any potential conflict of interest. And since it’s obvious that you have some type of personal animosity towards me that could unfairly prejudice my client I am making that request at this time.”

“Application denied. I believe the more appropriate remedy is for your office to assign a different attorney.”

“How is interfering with my client’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel preferable to a different judge sentencing my client, which happens all the time in this building?”

“Because I took the plea and I will do the sentencing.”

“You did not take the plea,” I said, and Cymbeline’s law secretary did some more whispering into his boss’s ear.

“Application for this court to recuse itself is denied. Case is adjourned to the first of next month for an updated probation report and sentencing. Put him back in. Now, counsel, are you ready to proceed with the hearing?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m still waiting for my attorney to appear.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Yes.”

“Good, because he just walked in. I’ll give you a minute and forty-five seconds to consult with him then we’ll get started.”

I turned around, this crazy-looking character with a green bow tie and a silver briefcase was coming into the well and extending his hand toward me. “Devin Quackmire,” he said. “But you can call me Mr. Quackmire, I’m not a big believer in formality.” Now Quackmire looked about fifteen so the chances of me calling him mister were not great. But more importantly who the fuck was this fuck?