68

Brady leaned toward the glass. “I want to be crucified. Hung on a cross, spikes through the wrists and feet, thorns piercing my skull, side riven with a spear after I’m dead.”

Frank LeRoy sat blinking. “You want your execution to be by crucifixion.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yeah, no. That’s pure megalomania. You’ve gone past identifying with Jesus to where you think you’re Him now. That’s insane.”

“No, not at all. I—”

“C’mon, this is nuts. Now, see, what you’ve got to do is choose between our four options.”

“Where does it say that, sir?” Ravinia said. “I’ve read and reread this, and not only does it not say that here, but this is also the first time you’ve said it.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Yeah, but nothing, Warden. All due respect, but is it not true that one of the first executions conducted at this facility was not carried out by any of these four methods?”

The warden pressed his lips together, leaned back, and looked at the ceiling. “We did have a guy who wanted the firing squad,” he said. “So we put him in the electric chair, set up bullet catchers behind him, and that was that.”

“So despite that precedent, you’re planning to discriminate against my client’s final wish, violating his last remaining civil right? What do you care how he dies?”

“Oh, man, ma’am! Can you imagine the media circus? And think of the logistics! Whoever does the actual killing would have to be a bonded and registered and licensed executioner.”

“I guess so,” Ravinia said.

“Yeah, no.”

“So this is not your call? You’re worried the federal government will step in and put a stop to it as soon as the plan leaks to the press?”

“I’d like to see ’em try.”

“Me too. Nobody tells you what to do.”

“This is crazy,” Yanno said. “You know that.”

“Of course we know that,” Ravinia said. “But I intend to vigorously defend my client’s rights, and I believe that your own words—and your own publication—grant him the opportunity to choose his method of death, provided it is guaranteed successful and carried out no later than the date of his execution as prescribed by the court. Further, I find nothing to preclude this in the laws of the state, no precedent that would countermand your judgment, should you choose to comply with my client’s legal wishes.”

Thomas had seen Ravinia get her back up, but never like this. She had gone from doing her father a favor by looking out for Brady Darby to now seeming to own this fight.

“Sir,” she said, “you don’t want to face a legal challenge that might come from Mr. Darby if his wish, far-fetched as it is, is denied.”

Frank LeRoy seemed to freeze. “You come to me with this craziness and now you’re threatening me?”

“No, sir. I’m trying to help you. All we’re asking for is permission, and to my eyes, you just have to decide whether you want to face a lawsuit on this.”

“From Darby, you mean.”

“Of course. I’m not worried about outside agitators, because you’ve already proven you know how to deal with them and are on record that this is not their decision.”

LeRoy heaved a huge sigh. “I got to ask you a question, Darby. Why do you want to do this—this way, I mean? What’s the point? You think you’re dying for your crime, makin’ some kinda atonement?”

“That’s a really good question,” Brady said.

“Thanks. I’ve been known to come up with one every once in a while.”

“No. I can’t atone for my own sin. That’s already been done. I have just one reason, and that’s so people can see what crucifixion really was. It was one of the worst ways a person could die, but I don’t think we understand that anymore. If just one person finally gets what it meant for Jesus to be humiliated like that, beaten and broken and bleeding for them, it will be worth it. I’m going to die anyway, sir. Let me do it this way.”

“And how are people supposed to see this? I’m not letting the press in here for that.”

“Just one camera,” Ravinia said.

LeRoy stood slowly and thrust his hands deep into his pockets. “Never a dull moment with you, is there, Darby? If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Well, no promises, because as much as your attorney wants to badger me into making this decision on my own by accusing me of kowtowing to the feds, truth is, I can’t do this without Andreason and the governor. So all I can say right now is, I’ll let you know. If someone with a camera wants to pursue this, given all the restrictions I’m gonna put on ’em, they’ll have to sell me on how it would work. Bringing equipment onto this property and keeping it from being a distraction or threatening our security? I can’t imagine.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ravinia said.

Thomas nodded his thanks.

“Humph. You’re all nuts. And believe it or not, I’m not big on watching people die, even if I am a proponent of capital punishment.”

“I would want you to watch, Warden,” Brady said. “I want everybody to see it, not because of me, but like I said, so they know what it was really like.”

“An awful lot of stuff is going to have to come together before this gets that far, son. I may need a pit bull like your attorney here in my corner before it’s all said and done.”

“You want my card?” Ravinia said.

Thomas and Ravinia went all the way back to the administrative wing with the warden without saying a word until they stopped before Yanno’s office.

“Got to tell you,” the warden said, “I’ve been through all kinds of stuff on this job, but this is a first. Has to be the craziest mixed-up deal I’ve ever heard. Ma’am, I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of each other for a while. You realize this thing is just insane enough to happen.”

It was all Thomas could do to keep from shaking his head until Ravinia had followed him into his office and the door was shut.

“I can’t believe what I just heard, Rav. You played him like a fiddle.”

Ravinia kicked off her heels and propped her feet on the edge of his desk. “I’ve never even considered writing a memoir,” she said. “But this would be chapter one.”

Thomas studied her. “This whole idea has captured you, hasn’t it?”

Ravinia lowered her feet to the floor and looked away.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Thomas said.

She shook her head. “I told Brady it would take a miracle to make this happen.”