The Client by John Grisham Read Free Book Online Page A

around Mark’s shoulders and led him through the weeds. “What’s your name?”
    “Mark.”
    “Last name?”
    “Sway. What’s yours?”
    “Hardy. Mark Sway, huh?” the cop repeated thoughtfully. “You live in Tucker Wheel Estates, don’t you?”
    He couldn’t deny this, but he hesitated for some reason. “Yes sir.”
    They joined the circle of policemen, who were now quiet and waiting to see the kid.
    “Hey, fellas, this is Mark Sway, the kid who made the call,” Hardy announced. “You did make the call, didn’t you, Mark?”
    He wanted to lie, but at the moment he doubted a lie would work. “Uh, yes sir.”
    “How’d you find the body?”
    “My brother and I were playing.”
    “Playing where?”
    “Around here. We live over there,” he said, pointing beyond the trees.
    “Were you guys smoking dope?”
    “No sir.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Stay away from drugs, kid.” There were at least six policemen in the circle, and the questions were coming from all directions.
    “How’d you find the car?”
    “Well, we just sort of walked up on it.”
    “What time was it?”
    “I don’t remember, really. We were just walking through the woods. We do it all the time.”
    “What’s your brother’s name?”
    “Ricky.”
    “Same last name?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Where were you and Ricky when you first saw the car?”
    Mark pointed to the tree behind him. “Under that tree.”
    A paramedic approached the group and announced they were leaving and taking the body to the morgue. The wrecker was tugging at the Lincoln.
    “Where is Ricky now?”
    “At home.”
    “What happened to your face?” Hardy asked.
    Mark instinctively reached for his eye. “Oh, nothing. Just got in a fight at school.”
    “Why were you hiding in the bushes over there?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Come on, Mark, you were hiding for a reason.”
    “I don’t know. It’s sort of scary, you know. Seeing a dead man and all.”
    “You’ve never seen a dead man before?”
    “On television.”
    One cop actually smiled at this.
    “Did you see this man before he killed himself?”
    “No sir.”
    “So you just found him like this?”
    “Yes sir. We walked up under that tree and saw the car, then, we, uh, we saw the man.”
    “Where were you when you heard the gunshot?”
    He started to point to the tree again, but caught himself. “I’m not sure I understand.”
    “We know you heard the gunshot. Where were you when you heard it?”
    “I didn’t hear the gunshot.”
    “You sure?”
    “I’m sure. We walked up and found him right here, and we took off home and I called 911.”
    “Why didn’t you give your name to 911?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Come on, Mark, there must be a reason.”
    “I don’t know. Scared, I guess.”
    The cops exchanged looks as if this were a game. Mark tried to breathe normally and act pitiful. He was just a kid.
    “I really need to go home. My mom’s probably looking for me.”
    “Okay. One last question,” Hardy said. “Was the engine running when you first saw the car?”
    Mark thought hard, but couldn’t remember if Romey had turned it off before he shot himself. He answered very slowly. “I’m not sure, but I think it was running.”
    Hardy pointed to a police car. “Get in. I’ll drive you home.”
    “That’s okay. I’ll just walk.”
    “No, it’s too dark. I’ll give you a ride. Come on.” He took his arm, and walked him to the car.

     4     
    DIANNE SWAY HAD CALLED THE CHILDREN’S CLINIC AND was sitting on the edge of Ricky’s bed, biting her nails and waiting for a doctor to call. The nurse said it would be less than ten minutes. The nurse also said there was a very contagious virus in the schools and they had treated dozens of children that week. He had the symptoms, so don’t worry. Dianne checked his forehead for a fever. She shook him gently again, but there was no response. He was still curled tightly, breathing normally and