School Days Read Online Free Page B

which she took a small bite.
    When she had chewed it and swallowed, she said, “He believes in good and evil.”
    â€œOne of those,” I said.
    â€œOne of those.”
    â€œHe says there’s no insanity defense.”
    â€œHe got a shrink?”
    â€œSchool psychologist.”
    â€œYou talk to him?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, even if the shrink is good, and sometimes they’re not,” Rita said, “oversimplified, an insanity defense is going to go something like this:
    â€œ Expert: Because of a flopp to the fanottim, the defendant suffers from irresistible compulsion.
    â€œ Cleary: How do you know he has a compulsion?
    â€œ Expert: I’ve interviewed him.
    â€œ Cleary: And he told you he had a compulsion.
    â€œ Expert: Yes.
    â€œ Cleary: How do you know it’s irresistible?
    â€œ Expert: He acted on it. He couldn’t help himself.
    â€œ Cleary: So if somebody commits a crime, and claims compulsion, the commission is proof that the compulsion was irresistible?
    â€œ Expert: Well . . .”
    I held up my hand.
    â€œGot it,” I said.
    â€œA good defense lawyer and a good expert, or maybe several, can shape this, make it work better than I’ve described,” Rita said. “But there’s no reason to think this guy is a good defense lawyer. If the kid is a credible witness on his own behalf, it would help.”
    â€œI haven’t seen him yet, either.”
    â€œYou sound like you’re getting stonewalled,” Rita said.
    â€œLocal police chief doesn’t want me around. I figure that’s because he botched the thing badly and doesn’t want attention called.”
    â€œSo why doesn’t the kid’s lawyer want you around?”
    â€œDoesn’t want me screwing up the kid’s plea, if I had to guess.”
    â€œWhich you do,” Rita said. “Not having anything in the way of facts.”
    â€œHe doesn’t want me talking to the kid,” I said.
    â€œBethel County Jail?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œI know people out there, you need any help.”
    â€œHealy can get me in there,” I said.
    â€œI’m sure he can,” Rita said.
    â€œYou talked to the parents yet?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œThat might be interesting.”
    I nodded.
    â€œKnow a lawyer named Alex Taglio,” I said, “works for Batson and Doyle?”
    â€œAlex Taglio, yes. Used to be a prosecutor in Suffolk County before he decided to make money.”
    â€œNot unlike others,” I said.
    â€œI was a prosecutor in Norfolk County before I decided to make money. There’s a huge difference.”
    â€œI can see that,” I said. “He any good?”
    â€œYes. Alex is a good lawyer. Works hard. Who’s he represent?”
    â€œThe other kid,” I said, “Wendell Grant.”
    â€œHe and Leeland get along?” Rita said.
    â€œLeeland indicated no,” I said.
    â€œPerfect,” Rita said. “They being tried separately?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said.
    â€œProbably not. Same crime. What’s Grant’s defense?”
    â€œDon’t know yet,” I said.
    â€œWhat do you think of Grandma?”
    â€œSmart,” I said. “Tough.”
    â€œNot old and losing her grip?”
    â€œNo. Leeland sort of implied that, but I don’t believe him. She seemed right there when I talked with her.”
    â€œWhy would the parents want to discourage an attempt to find their son innocent of multiple murder charges?”
    â€œDon’t know,” I said.
    â€œYou don’t know shit,” Rita said, “do you?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “But it’s okay, I’m used to it.”

8
    I T HAD BEEN a rainy summer, and it was raining again. It was a good late-summer rain, warm, no wind, but not so hard that it overcame your defenses. I wished I was walking in it, holding Susan’s hand. Susan