The Professor by Robert Bailey Page B

and—”
    “He’s the one that clocked you, ain’t he, Tom?” Judge Hancock interrupted, laughing. “You know, I saw that on YouTube.”
    “Oh, Christ,” Tom said, turning to look at the judge. “ You get on YouTube?”
    “Hell yes, I do,” Hancock answered. “My grandson’s junior high football highlights are put on there. Plus I like watching the old Alabama football games.” He smiled. “Drake has a pretty good overhand right.”
    Tom felt his face getting hot but he knew he shouldn’t be mad. He again looked at Jameson, remembering something he had wanted to ask him.
    “Jamo, do you know what happened to Drake? Didn’t he clerk for you guys one summer?”
    Jameson’s eyes narrowed. “Actually, he clerked both summers for us, and we made him an offer after the second. Even threw in a nice signing bonus when he accepted. But we terminated his contract after the incident with you, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t get one from anywhere else.” He laughed. “We let the little shit keep his bonus, though, because his contract didn’t specify whether he had to return it. Ten thousand dollars. Not a bad start to a career as a solo practitioner, if that’s where he ended up.” Jameson paused, eyeing Tom. “Why the interest in Drake?”
    Tom’s stomach tightened and he looked down at the floor. A sense of guilt crept over him. He hadn’t realized how devastating the altercation had been to Rick. Jesus Christ, his whole career . . . I should’ve done something.
    Tom shook his head, looking back at Jameson. “Just curious. Drake’s from Henshaw, and I have an old friend whose family was killed in a trucking accident in Henshaw. I’d like to refer her to someone with Henshaw ties.”
    Jameson smiled. “Can’t say I know of any Henshaw attorneys, but that sounds like a case for Jerry. His firm takes them from Huntsville to Mobile now. No one could blame you for referring her to Jer.”
    “I know, and maybe I’ll end up doing that,” Tom said, looking down. “But I’d really like a Henshaw connection, and I think Jerry would be the first one to recommend that approach. He may live in Montgomery, but he’s made his fortune in Greene County, where he was born and raised and where his momma still teaches Sunday school.”
    Jameson nodded. “I can’t argue with that. In fact, I only know of one lawyer who’s beaten Jerry in Greene County.” Jameson smiled, and Tom smirked back at him.
    “How do you fit that ego in the room, Jamo?”
    “It gets harder and harder, Professor. But I can’t help it.” He sighed and drained the rest of his whiskey. “I just keep winning.” He set the cup down on Tom’s desk and extended his hand. “Good luck with finding her someone. I’ll pray that whoever it is doesn’t have to face me.”
    Tom laughed and shook Jameson’s hand, holding it for a second. “Thanks for coming down, Jamo. It means a lot that you keep doing this.”
    “No problem. Actually, now that I’m representing the university, I had to be here anyway for meetings today and tomorrow.”
    “You must be joking,” Tom said, smirking. “ You are the attorney for this fine institution?”
    Jameson held out his arms in mock protest. “What did Coach Bryant always say about coming here to coach? Momma called.”
    “Momma, my ass,” Tom said, shaking his head. “So this is a billable trip?”
    Jameson shrugged. “A man’s got to make a living,” he said, winking at Tom and shaking Judge Hancock’s hand. “Judge, always a pleasure.”
    The Cock raised a toast with his plastic glass and Jameson walked out the door.

    “So how are things really going?” Judge Hancock asked once Jameson had shut the door behind him.
    Tom squinted at him. “What do you mean?”
    “What the hell is this?” the judge asked, picking up the apology from the desk and shaking it.
    Tom shrugged, wishing he’d put the damn thing in a drawer. “I don’t know. Apparently, the YouTube video you saw has