Free Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman Page A

schizophrenia. He's been ill for quite some time. He hears voices, sees visions, is overtly delusional, and has been deteriorating steadily. Dr. Mainwaring hasn't been encouraging about the prognosis. The boy's out of control. Do you think it fair that he be
    called to answer for acts that are rooted in that kind of madness? That he be viewed as a bad guy? He needs care, not punishment. The insanity defence is his only hope.'
    'You're assuming, then, that he committed eight murders.'
    He pushed a wing chair opposite me and sat down, so close that our knees almost touched.
    'Doctor, I've managed to obtain an early look at everything the police have put down on paper. The time frame is incriminating, and the physical evidence is overwhelming. Following a violent escape from Canyon Oaks, he was found at the scene of the crime with the murder weapons in hand. His fingerprints were all over the Chancellor house. And there'll be more evidence to follow, I guarantee you. They won't slip up on this one. We won't be able to fight the facts. In order to keep him off Death Row, our strategy must be to show that his mental state had deteriorated to the point where free will was impossible.'
    I remained silent. Souza leaned close enough for me to smell his breath.
    'It won't be a fishing expedition, I assure you. There are robust medical and social histories, a verified pattern of prior deterioration. In addition, genetics are on our side. His grandmother and his father - '
    Cadmus shot out of his chair.
    'Stay away from that angle, Horace! We'll be dragged through the muck enough without getting into that!'
    Souza straightened his thick legs, stood, and faced the younger man. His eyes glinted with anger, but he spoke softly.
    'Forget about privacy for the foreseeable future, Dwight. You're a public figure now.'
    'I don't see why - '
    Souza cut him off with the wave of a hand.
    'Go home and rest, son. You've been under tremendous strain.'
    Cadmus protested, but feebly.
    'I want to know what's going on. He's my - '
    'And you will. The doctor and I need to talk about technical matters. When we've reached a meeting of the minds, you'll be the first to know. Now, go and get some sleep. I'll have Tully drive you home.'
    End of discussion.
    The attorney went behind his desk and pushed a button. Moments later the chauffeur appeared. Souza gave the order, and Cadmus followed Antrim out the door.
    When we were alone, Souza shook his head pityingly. 'You should have known his father,' he said, 'a great, snorting bull of a man. Chewed up life and swallowed it whole.' He paused. 'Sometimes I wonder if blood isn't like wealth, growing progressively more dilute with each new generation.'
    He pressed another button and summoned a smart-looking young woman in a feminised version of a business suit.
    'Some tea, please, Veronica. Coffee for you, Doctor?'
    'Tea would be fine.'
    To the secretary:
    'A full pot, dear.'
    'Certainly, sir.' She removed the pitcher from the china tea set, handling it as if it were spun sugar, and walked out. Souza walked her departure before returning his attention to me.
    'As I was saying, there's no lack of data to back up a dim cap. I'm not asking you to go out on a limb.'
    'You've got Mainwaring,' I said. 'Why do you need me?"
    'I'll use Dr. Mainwaring's testimony if I have to, but there are problems with him as a witness.'
    'What kinds of problems?'
    He chose his words.
    'First and foremost, the boy escaped while under his care, which will leave him open to a good barbecuing by the prosecution.'
    He stood, hooked his fingers in his suspenders and began orating in a deep, theatrical voice:
    ' "Dr. Mainwaring, you've just stated that Mr. Cadmus is incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. If that's so,
    how in the world did you allow him to get loose? To run amuck and commit two ghastly murders?" Pause for dramatic emphasis, during which I'll object vociferously but the damage will have been done. The jury will view him as