Overkill

Overkill
Joseph Teller

Harrison J. Walker–Jaywalker, to the world–is a frayed-at-the-edges defense attorney with a ninety-percent acquittal rate, thanks to an obsessive streak a mile wide. But winning this case will take more than just dedication.Seventeen-year-old Jeremy Estrada killed another boy after a fight over a girl: shot him point-blank between the eyes. No one disputes those facts. This kid is jammed up big-time, but almost unable to help himself. He's got the face of an angel but can hardly string together three words to explain what happened that day…yet he's determined to go to trial.All they've got is a "yesbut" defense, as in: "Did you kill him?" "Yes, but…" Jaywalker is accustomed to bending the rules–this case will stretch the law to the breaking point and beyond.

Praise for the novels of

JOSEPH TELLER

“Teller’s richly suspenseful story will leave the reader eagerly anticipating the denouement and Jaywalker’s next adventure.”

—Publishers Weekly starred review of The Tenth Case

“Joseph Teller’s stellar The Tenth Case sets the standard for defense attorney procedurals.”

—Mysterious Reviews

“A glimpse into a different era and a peek into the psyche of the already intriguing Jaywalker, Teller’s novel draws readers in at the very beginning and doesn’t let up.”

—RT Book Reviews on Bronx Justice

“Jaywalker’s second legal thriller is once again an insightful look at the dysfunctional American jurisprudence system from the perspective of an attorney whose outlook on defending his clients is much different than the typical lawyer.”

—The Merry Genre Go Round Reviews on Bronx Justice

“Depraved Indifference is an excellent legal drama whose strength lies in the meticulous plotting.”

—The Mystery Reader

Overkill

Joseph Teller

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

To Jason

CONTENTS

1: GUILTY WITH AN EXPLANATION

2: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN EXECUTION

3: DUMB-ASSED QUESTIONS

4: A REAL NICE KID

5: JUST GETTING STARTED

6: WELCOME TO TOMBSTONE

7: BRICKS AND BOOKS

8: DUTCH TREAT

9: FRANKIE THE BARBER

10: MIRANDA

11: GETTING ANGRY

12: JURORS ENTERING

13: I HAD A SON

14: STUBBORN AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE

15: A TWO-BIT PUNK

16: SLIM AND NONE

17: THE PROBLEM AND THE ACCIDENT

18: THE WITNESS IN THE HALLWAY

19: JEREMY’S STORY

20: THE LOST WEEKEND

21: BUTTERFLIES

22: THE LAST WORD

23: WATCHING THE CLOCK

24: NICE SHOES, YOUR HONOR

25: YES IT IS

26: PERFECT SCHMERFECT

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1

GUILTY WITH AN EXPLANATION

Jaywalker’s sitting in Part 30 when it happens. Part 30 is one of the Supreme Court arraignment courtrooms they have down at 100 Centre Street. It’s where you go before a judge for the first time after you’ve been formally charged with a felony. A felony being anything they can give you more than a year for. Like murder, say.

Jaywalker’s there for a sentencing. A client of his, a wiseguy-wannabe named Johnny Cantalupo, pleaded guilty to possession six weeks ago, in order to avoid going to prison for sale. It was cocaine, and not that awfully much of it, and Johnny’s white and had no record to speak of, so the assistant D.A. and the judge had agreed to probation and time served, specifically the two days Johnny had spent while he was in the system.