Wrongful Death: The AIDS Trial

  * * *

  “...just an excellent job...I can't believe how well the first three days have gone....”

  Messick is the only one in the room, his private office, seated at his desk. The voice is coming from a speakerphone.

  “What I can't believe is that the defense would paint itself into such a corner. Crawley now risks destroying all credibility with the jury if he cross-examines any witness.”

  This one is a different voice, but comes from the same speaker.

  “...and then when he does stand up, he kills himself with Hanover. I don’t know what he was thinking…”

  A third, distinctly different voice. Messick is obviously on a conference call. He finally speaks himself.

  “Let's not get too smug too soon. There's a lot of territory to cover, and Crawley can change his mind any time and probably get away with it. The Judge, for example, is not necessarily on our side. I wouldn't say she's favoring Crawley any more, either. She's just a hard-ass in general.”

  “Has anything happened at sidebar that we should know about?” one of the disembodied voices wants to know. “Obviously, we see the rest on TV.”

  “Not that I can think of. Nothing that wasn't specific to that moment or would be pertinent to you, if you had to step in.” Messick opens a bottle of Sam Adams while he listens to his three callers.

  “I think I speak for all of us when I say that you've got our complete support with the way you're proceeding, but none of us would want to be in your shoes right now.”

  “Right on.”

  “You know it, dude.”

  Messick puts his beer down and gets serious. “I appreciate that. What I would appreciate more is any little thing that you see or hear that I should change, no matter how small. And I want to keep talking with everyone every night so I can correct a mistake right away. I want to know that we're all on the same page at all times. Understood?”

  “I'm with you.”

  “You got it, pal.”

  “We’re here for you, whatever you need.”

  “So, let's talk about next week's plan, and then let's get ready for the big game.” Messick picks out a pen from the container on the desk.

  “Are you ready for some football?” It was Voice #1’s lame attempt to mimic the late, great Monday Night Football.

  “All right, settle down. ­Let's talk about next week. What I want to start off with on Monday is Gallo's press conference....”