For a nanosecond, it occurred to Peter that Gary Harmon could die if he screwed up the case, but he banished this pang of conscience from his thoughts. With Steve as his partner, Gary would have a great defense.
Peter imagined himself as the most famous attorney in eastern Oregon, rolling in money and picking and choosing from the supplicants who would beg him to take their cases. He conjured an image of his father staring, openmouthed, at a headline in The Oregonian that read:
PETER HALE WINS ACQUITTAL IN BIGGEST DEATH CASE IN EASTERN OREGON HISTORY Peter had no intention of spending his life trying traffic cases for peanuts. Steve Mancini had confidence in Peter's abilities and he was handing Peter the chance of a lifetime.
"Let's do it!" Peter said.
Mancini grinned at him. "That was the smartest decision you ever made. Let's meet your new clients."
Mancini led Peter down the hall to the conference room. Jesse Harmon was pacing the floor when Steve opened the door. Harmon's fifty-nine years showed in his thatch of white hair and the lines on his tanned, weather-beaten face. He was barrel-chested and broad shouldered from years of farrnwork. Donna was sitting next to Alice Harmon, a tall, rawboned woman with more gray than brown in her hair.
"I've got good news," Mancini said enthusiastically, as soon as the introductions were made. "Pete's going to take the case."
Jesse and Alice Harmon's faces showed none of Steve Mancini's excitement. They were drawn with worry.
"Steve tells us you've got lots of experience in these cases," Jesse Harmon said, getting down to business immediately.
Before Peter could think up an answer that would satisfy Harmon and not be a lie, Mancini said, "Pete's spent the last four years with the most prestigious firm in Portland working with its top litigator, who just happens to be his father. You might say that Pete's got highlevel litigation in his genes."
"Did that firm handle criminal cases?" Jesse asked, ignoring Steve's attempt to skirt the issue of Peter's experience.
"Jesse," Mancini interjected, his expression turning somber, "there is something that Peter and I know about Gary that we've kept from you, Alice and Donna. Something that bears very strongly on the suitability of Peter to represent Gary." Donna and Alice cast worried glances at each other and Jesse's features hardened. "A few weeks ago, Gary was arrested when he was caught peeping in a window at the girls' dormitory while a young woman was undressing."
Alice's hand flew to her mouth and Donna said, "Oh, my God."
"Pete just happened to be walking across campus when this happened. He calmed down campus security, accompanied Gary to the police station and convinced the police that Gary should not be charged. Then ' he came to me. I squared things with the college so Gary could keep his job.
"Jesse, not only is Pete a top-flight lawyer, but Gary trusts him. In a case like this, trust between a lawyer and his client is essential."
Peter was concerned that Jesse Harmon would become suspicious if Steve kept speaking up for him. He decided it was time for him to say something. Peter knew almost nothing about the state's case, so he had no idea whether Gary was guilty or innocent, but he had a very good idea of what Jesse and Alice wanted to hear.
"Mr. and Mrs. Harmon," he said with as much sincerity as he could muster, "I know how concerned you are about Gary, so I want you to know why I am willing to undertake Gary's defense. I am convinced that the I police knew about Gary's mental handicap and took advantage of it to trick him into confessing to something I is he never did. What the police have done to Gary i wrong and I intend to do something about it."
Jesse Harmon's features softened and -a tear trickled down Alice Harmon's cheek.
"We appreciate what you did for our boy," Jesse said, and we would be grateful if you would help him out now."
Chapter TWELVE.
Peter had not expected to see Becky O'Shay sitting next to Earl Ridgely's desk when the receptionist showed him and Steve Mancini into the district attorney's office. He started to smile, but caught himself. He remembered how reluctant Becky had been to go out with him because of their adversarial position and decided she might not appreciate an outward show of affection in front of her boss.
"How are Jesse and Alice holding up?" Ridgely asked Mancini when everyone was seated.
"As well as can be expected."
"They're awfully good people. I'm sorry they have to 90 through this ordeal."
"It would be a lot easier on them if you'd agree to let Gary out on bail."
"I can't do that."
"Earl, you've known Gary his whole life. Do you think he murdered that girl?"
"Look, I feel terrible about the arrest. You know how much I respect Jesse and Alice. But the evidence is very strong. We're still investigating, of course, but we have a taped confession .. ."
"He admitted killing her?"
"Not in so many words, but .. ." Ridgely paused.
"I'm sorry. I can't discuss this any further. We'll be going before a grand jury tomorrow. If an indictment is returned, I'll give you all the discovery the law allows, but I'm going to play this one by the book."
"Earl, we've known each other how long? I don't understand the problem in letting us know what you've got on Gary."
"The statutes say the defense isn't entitled to discovery until there's an indictment. I know that's not how this office usually does things. We've only got a handful of lawyers in the county and I know every one of them, so I usually bend the rules. But not this time. Not in this case."
Peter put his hand on Mancini's arm.
"I respect that, Mr. Ridgely. We can wait. I'd appreciate it if you'd let us know as soon as the grand jury votes and I'd also appreciate seeing the discovery as soon as possible."
Peter handed Ridgely his business card.
"Steve, why don't we let Mr. Ridgely get back to work?"
Mancini looked like he wanted to say something else, but he held it in. The two men shook hands with Ridgely and nodded at O'Shay. just before he left, Peter managed to flash a smile at Becky. She was standing so Ridgely could not see her and she returned the smile.
Peter's heart soared.
The door closed and Ridgely sat lost in thought. After a moment, he looked over at his deputy and said, "There's no way I can prosecute Gary Harmon. I know the family too well."
O'Shay had been hoping the district attorney would reach this decision. She had been very worried that he would want to prosecute Gary Harmon himself.
"You were at the wedding, weren't you?" he asked after a while.
O'Shay was ready for this. "Yes," she said, "but I don't know the Harmons and I only know Steve Mancini professionally."
Ridgely was a little put off by O'Shay's eagerness, but he understood it. Prosecuting a murder case was the ultimate challenge for a district attorney and the chance to do it in Whitaker was rare.
"I can ask the Attorney General for assistance. They provide help to. small counties in major cases."
Becky knew it was now or never. She pulled her chair up to the desk and leaned toward Ridgely.
"Earl, I can do this. You know I'm good. I'm running a ninety-five percent conviction rate."
"This is a murder case, Becky. What's the most complex case you've tried?"
"Peck, and I won. Three weeks, toe to toe with a hired un from Portland. I kicked his ass around the court room and you know it. Ask judge Kuffel."
"I don't have to. He went out of his way to tell me what a great job you did."
"Then you know I can try Harmon. Give me the chance."
Ridgely could not think of a reason to deny O'Shay the case.
"Harmon is yours," he said.
"Thank you. I'll never forget this."
"Before you prosecute Gary, I want you to be damn ertain he's the right man."