He strode to the prosecution table and lifted a worn brown Bible. He opened it to a page he seemed to know by heart and began to read aloud.
“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
He snapped the Bible closed with a flourish and held it high in the air.
“Gentlemen, we have arrived. Our journey is done. Welcome to the Kingdom of Truth. The only possible verdict is guilty.”
Son of a bitch! Carter Ames had just destroyed my closing argument.
Chapter 4
THE DIMINUTIVE PROSECUTOR THREW a thin smile my way as he returned to his chair, his eyes dancing with the light of triumph. I felt a twinge in my stomach.
But now it was my turn to speak, and hopefully to save a woman’s life.
I began with a simple declaration of the fact that no one had witnessed the murder, and then I discussed the other suspects: the Irish gardener, Mrs. Davenport’s secretary, and her houseman-all of whom despised their employer and could have easily committed the murder. Of course, they were all white.
Then, since Carter Ames had stolen my thunder, I decided to finish up in another direction, a bold and risky one that brought tremors to my hands.
“Now, before you all go off to your jury room, I’m going to do something that’s not often done. Mr. Ames claimed to have taken you to the Kingdom of Truth, but the fact is, he never even got close to his stated destination. He omitted the most important truth of all. He never mentioned the real reason Gracie Johnson is facing the possibility of losing her life.
“You know the reason. I don’t even have to say it. But I’m going to say it anyway.
“Gracie Johnson is colored. That’s why she’s here. That’s the only reason she’s here. She was the only colored employee in attendance at the Davenport house that day.