Edward's Dilemma by Paul Adan Page A

While waiting for this meeting to take place, Josh had spoken with several other inmates about his charges, and the consequences he might expect if he were convicted.  He’d also used the “Law Library” on two occasions in order to do a little research on his own.  Based on the information that he’d gathered from these various sources, Josh was beginning to realize the seriousness of the charges against him.   More than ever, he hated the fact that he was stuck with a public attorney because he didn’t have the money to hire a private attorney.
    The room where the meeting was scheduled to take place wasn’t much larger than Josh’s cell.  In the middle of the room there was a small table, and on each of the longer sides was a chair.  Three of the walls were solid cement, but the front of the room – the part facing out into the corridor – was comprised of a steel door in the center with a large one inch thick wire-mesh security window on either side.  There was nothing on the walls, and the room was cold and sterile.
    When Josh entered the room, his attorney was already seated at the table.  He was looking for something in his briefcase, but he looked up at Josh as he came through the doorway.  With an extended hand, he re-introduced himself; his name was Mike, and though Josh had met him before on several occasions, it had been at least a week or two since they’d last met.  The two men exchanged greetings, and Josh took a seat.
    “Well, how you hold’n up, partner?” Mike asked.
    “Not bad.  I guess it could be worse.  Thanks, by the way, for taking my case.  I really appreciate it.”  Josh was lying, but he was still courteous.  For an instant his mind was distracted by a timely thought.  What good would it do me if I tick him off?  He’s my only chance of gett’n out of this hell-hole.
    “No problem.  Listen, I’m gonna get right down to the brass tacks with you.  You know what your charges are, and you’ve probably figured out by now that they’re pretty serious.  Still, the good news is that you and your friends have never really gotten into trouble before, and this little predicament you’re now in can probably be chalked up to the follies of youth.
    “And I’m also innocent.  That should count for something, too.” Josh interjected.
    “Yeah, yeah, you’re also innocent.  But, in a way, that’s beside the point.  Like I told you before, I’m gonna get you out of here – don’t you worry about that.  But I’m not gonna spend a lot of time trying to prove that you and your buddies were little angels.  If you want to do that, you might consider hiring a private investigator and a private attorney.”  Mike continued to ramble on about his strategy for getting Josh out of jail.
    Irritated, Josh was no longer paying attention to the words coming out of Mike’s mouth.  How can this guy sit there and say it doesn’t matter whether or not I’m innocent?   What a jerk! he thought.   No, let me rephrase that.  What an a**hole!!   In spite of his thoughts, however, he said nothing.  He merely nodded and smiled until the meeting came to a conclusion a few minutes later.
     
     
    Stuart Co. Jail, Medical Clinic
    31 August, 10:27 AM
     
    WHEN JERRY arrived at the clinic, he was surprised by the level of activity.  Some of the nurses were charting, while others were escorting inmates around to the various exam rooms.  In some of these rooms, a nurse could be seen drawing blood, changing wound dressings, or doing whatever else needed to done in order to provide an inmate with medical care.  Off to the side, against a wall, sat a lone inmate; he was soaking his swollen foot in a pink tub filled with iodine and water.  No one was paying much attention to him, and he appeared content to just sit there with his thoughts.
    T he clinic CO asked Jerry for his name, and within ten or fifteen seconds he was escorted into a cage-like holding cell.  Inside, a group of