Chapter 11
Jarrod suggested the family go home, because it was probably going to be quite a while before the jury returned with a verdict. They declined. "We want to be here," Nick said.
"Audra and I have some things we can be doing over at the church," Victoria said. "Nick and Heath can always find a poker game."
Jarrod nodded. "I'll go see to Linda and then go to my office. I'm not counting on anything. I want to start drafting an appeal."
"I hope you don't need it," Victoria said.
"Me too," Jarrod said.
They went their separate ways, and Jarrod headed for the jail. Sheriff Madden was looking even more weary than when he had just finished his testimony. "She's not talking," he said to Jarrod right away. "She's flat out too scared to talk."
"She's not the only one who's scared," Jarrod said.
"For the record, Jarrod, you made a believer out of me," the Sheriff said. "And I'm the one who heard that confession Strickler is banking on."
Jarrod said, "Thanks, Fred. May I see her?"
The sheriff opened the cell block door and let Jarrod into Linda's cell. She was standing at the window again, looking out. She turned when Jarrod came in and the sheriff left.
"I know, in a lot of ways, this is the worst part of a trial, waiting for the jury to come back," Jarrod said.
Linda came away from the window and sat down on the bunk. She didn't speak for a while, but then she said, "Jarrod, my will is on file at the courthouse in Los Angeles. We didn't sell our property there – we just didn't want to deal with it when we left. I'd appreciate it if you'd go down there and tend to everything – "
Jarrod sat down beside her and took her hand. "I will take care of whatever needs to be taken care of, but don't think it's your will just yet. This isn't over."
"But it could be at any moment," she said. "It's funny. As a lawyer I always found this waiting for the verdict to be about as frightening as it could get for someone, but I really had no idea how terrifying it is for a defendant. If they find me guilty of murder – "
"We'll appeal," Jarrod said.
She wiped her eyes. "Well, if I don't hang, I'm glad I don't have any clients in San Quentin."
"Listen to me," Jarrod said. "You're a strong woman and a courageous one. You did what you thought was right for the man you loved. That's a fact that all the Stricklers and all the juries in the world can't change. Would you have been able to live with yourself any better if you hadn't done it?"
"No," Linda said quickly. "The last thing I ever wanted out of this is for Adam to go on suffering. That's the peace I can carry with me – that he's out of pain. That I was able to help give him what he wanted at the end of his life."
"Then hold onto that, no matter what," Jarrod said. "And know one other thing. I'll be with you for the rest of your life now. I won't leave you, and I don't believe your life is going to end next week."
She looked up into his blue eyes. She had noticed them before – how could you not notice them? But now she saw even more compassion and commitment than she had seen before. She cried even more, but only partly from relief, only partly from affection. "I know you mean that, but don't make commitments you can't keep. The future is a fog as deep and dark as any in San Francisco. If they don't hang me next week but just send me to prison, it will be even deeper and darker than either of us can imagine. And I won't be holding you to anything other than my legal problems."
"You can hold me to being your friend," Jarrod said. "And even if you don't hold me to it, I will hold myself to it."
Linda took a deep breath and patted his hand. "Why don't you go be with your family for a while? You're very lucky man to have them, you know."
"I know," Jarrod said, and ached that Linda didn't have any family at all now.
She patted his hand again. "Then go be with them. I'll be all right."
Jarrod could tell she really wanted to be alone now. He understood. "I'll be back at dinner time, if the jury is still out. You just get some rest if you can."
Linda nodded. Jarrod got up and called for the sheriff.
XXXXX
Jarrod checked his watch. It was nearing six o'clock now, and the jury was still out. They'd be bringing dinner to Linda at the jail and he promised he'd be there.
He turned in his chair and looked out his office window. People had been gathering in the street in small groups since he came up here, but they had disappeared as the time wore on. Jarrod decided he would go by the courthouse before he went to see Linda, just to see what was happening, if anything.
He didn't get the chance. As he stood up, there was a knock at his door. "Come in," he said quickly.
A court clerk opened the door and stuck his head in. "The jury's back. They have a verdict."
Jarrod grabbed his jacket, put it on, and raced out of his office and down to the street. As soon as he was there, he could see people beginning to gather but not yet at the courthouse. They were watching. Jarrod could see Sheriff Madden bringing Linda from the jail.
Jarrod caught up with them. He fell in right behind them. Linda noticed over her shoulder.
He saw his mother and sister near the courthouse door, and Nick and Heath were arriving there too. He caught his mother's eyes – she was willing him strength, understanding. He was very grateful, and he wished someone was there to will that to Linda, but he knew he was the only one who could.
Once the sheriff and Jarrod took Linda into the courthouse, the Barkley family filed in and so did as many people as could fit. No one noticed Heath looking around, but Heath noticed Polly Pierce was in the crowd. She was not looking his way. She was just staring straight ahead at the bench.
Judge Farnum entered quickly and called court to order. He had the jury brought in and they all took their seats.
"I understand the jury has reached a verdict," the judge said.
The foreman stood up. "We have, Your Honor."
The judge said, "Will the defendant please rise?"
Linda and Jarrod stood up.
The judge asked the jury, "How do you find on the charge of murder?"
The foreman said, "We find the defendant not guilty."
Jarrod felt Linda exhale.
The judge asked, "How do you find on the charge of accessory to murder?"
The foreman said, "We find the defendant not guilty."
Gasps and murmurs went all over the room. Jarrod felt Linda start to slump but catch herself and stand up straight again.
The judge pounded his gavel to quiet the room, but it did not quiet completely. Nonetheless, he said, "The verdict on both charges being not guilty, the defendant is hereby released from custody. The court thanks the jury for its service."
Judge Farnum dismissed the jury then, and the men quickly filed out the way they had come in. None of the gallery left even though they had become more quiet, and Jarrod and Linda remained standing. Judge Farnum looked down at them. "This has been a difficult case and encompassed facts and law that courts really haven't had to deal with before. The case has been well-tried, and I compliment both counsel." The judge pounded the gavel one more time. "Court is adjourned," he said and left the bench.
It wasn't pandemonium that broke out in the gallery, but people did leave in a hurry, talking excitedly, some Jarrod knew were racing to talk to George Allison and get their reactions in his newspaper. Linda did not sit down, and neither did Jarrod. Sheriff Madden came over to them and said, with a smile, "Mrs. Cain, I guess I'm not gonna be feeding you supper."
Linda broke out laughing – laughter more of relief than anything. Jarrod realized he had never heard her laugh before, or even seen this beautiful smile.
Jarrod's family appeared behind them. Victoria said, "Mrs. Cain, I'm Jarrod's mother. Perhaps you'll have dinner and spend the night with us. You'll have plenty to do in the morning, and my daughter and I might be able to help you with that."
"Thank you, Mrs. Barkley, I'd be very grateful," Linda said.
Jarrod quickly gathered up his papers, but when he turned to bid Strickler good-bye he noticed the district attorney was already gone. "Well," Jarrod said, "I suppose we'll need to get transportation home. The buggy won't hold all you ladies."
"We brought the surrey," Audra said with a smile. "We had hopes."
"Let's be off then, and leave this all behind us," Jarrod said.
He offered his arm to Linda. She took it, and Nick led the way out, holding the door for the ladies.