2009م - 1444هـ
Alex Cross's Trial



LET HER HANG until shes dead!

Take her out and hang her now! Ill do it myself!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Judge Otis L. Warren wielded his gavel with such fury I thought he might smash a hole in the top of his bench.

Quiet in the court! the judge shouted. Settle down, or byGod Iwill hold every last one of you sons of bitches in contempt.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

It was no use. Warrens courtroom was overflowing with disgruntled white citizens who wanted nothing more than to see my client hang. Two of them

on the left side began a chant that was soon taken up by others:

We dont care where. We dont care how.

We just wanna hang Gracie Johnson now!

The shouts from some among the white majority sent such a shiver of fear through the colored balcony that one woman fainted and had to be

carried out.

Another bang of the gavel. Judge Warren stood and shouted, Mr. Loomis, escort all those in the colored section out of my courtroom and out of the

building.

I couldnt hold my tongue another second.

Your Honor, I object! I dont see any of the colored folks being rowdy or disrespectful. The ones making the fuss are the white men in front.

Judge Warren glared over his glasses at me. His expression intimidated the room into silence.

Mr. Corbett, it is my job to decide how to keep order in my court. It is your job to counsel your clientand let me tell you, from where I sit, she needs all

the help she can get.

I couldnt disagree.