(1969) The Seven Minutes

by Irving Wallace

  ‘I had to see you, to apologize for being so rude on the phone,’ she was saying, ‘and to thank you, which I neglected to do on the phone, to thank you for what you did for Jerry and… and for me. I don’t know how we can ever repay you.’

  ‘Miss Russell, I did what any other person in my place would have done.’

  ‘Not any other person, and certainly not every lawyer,’ she insisted. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of shyster lawyers who would look in another direction and let an opposition witness die in a similar situation, just because it would strength their position in court. There are plenty of those, I’d wager.’

  ‘Miss Russell, you’re speaking of subhumans. I was speaking of people.’

  ‘Yes,’ she said. She waited for the waitress to pour the coffee, then she went on. ‘Anyway, forgive my behavior on the telephone. I took a cab to Dr Quigley’s, and on the way I realized how cold I’d been to you, but then I expected you to be there so I could ask your forgiveness and tell you of my gratefulness in person. Dr Quigley told me you’d gone to your office. So, once I’d sneaked Jerry up to bed, I got up the courage, and it took some, to phone you.’

  ‘I’m glad you did. I’ve already told you what I saw at The Underground Railroad. I still don’t know what sent him rushing out of there the way he did. I wonder if he spoke of that ?’

  ‘No. He was too ill and exhausted to speak of anything much. I doubt if he’ll tell me about that. I know I won’t ask him.’

  ‘I didn’t mean that you should. But this is a very serious matter. When a boy tries to kill himself, I think it’s a good thing to know why. I suppose he said nothing about that either?’

  ‘Nothing. Nor would he explain why he had those pills on him.’

  ‘It could have been that his troubles and problems had come to a boil and were ready to explode. I just wondered what set it off. The way George Perkins treated him ? Something Darlene Nelson said to him ? Or something that happened during the day, this morning, this afternoon ?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said. Her eyes met his briefly, and then she looked down at the table. ‘Or maybe I know one thing, something that happened today. Perhaps I should tell you. You’ve involved yourself enough with Jerry to - to save him, so I suppose you’ve earned the right to know something. But before I do tell you, I have one question, one thing I wanted to ask you.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘I wondered what you were doing at that club, of all places, while Jerry was there. Were you following - shadowing him, as they say ? I suppose that’s one of the things lawyers have to do to get evidence.’

  ‘Don’t believe everything you see on television, Miss Russell.’

  ‘I don’t, but -‘

  ‘No, as a matter of fact, I was not following Jerry. I didn’t think there was one chance in a million that Jerry would dare leave his home while out on bail. I was following someone else. Or, rather, trying to find someone else. I knew Jerry had a friend named George Perkins. I’ve even met Perkins. I hoped to see him with some of his friends, who I hoped would also be some of Jerry’s friends. I learned that The Underground Railroad was the favorite hangout for many of the kids. Tonight was a big opening. I thought it might attract George Perkins. It did. I didn’t for one moment imagine it would also attract Jerry Griffith. When he appeared, I - I never went near Jerry - decided not to bother him - until that crazy little scene with Darlene, when he seemed to come apart, before he ran out. Then I decided I’d better find him and find out what was going on. Well, I certainly found him.’

  “Thank the Lord,’ she whispered.

  ‘Satisfactory explanation, Miss Russell ?’

  ‘I’m sorry. J didn’t mean to put you on like that. You must think I suspect every move you make. I did last night. Believe me, Mr Barrett, I don’t tonight, not any more.’

  ‘I appreciate that.’

  The sandwiches were served, and once the waitress had left, Barrett began to eat. Looking up, he realized that Maggie Russell had not touched anything in front of her.

  She stared at him worriedly. ‘I promised to tell you something that happened today that might have - well, might have unduly agitated Jerry.’

  ‘It’s not necessary that you tell me anything, Miss Russell.’

  ‘I don’t feel disloyal telling you this. It will all come out, anyway, and it may offer some explanation of what led to Jerry’s behavior

  this evening. Mr Yerkes, Luther Yerkes -I don’t know how he became involved in our affairs, except he is one of my uncle’s major accounts, and I suspect he has some political interest in backing the District Attorney for a higher office, so he wants Mr Duncan to make a great showing against you, and he feels that Jerry can be an important witness against The Seven Minutes - well, he’s been over several times, and early this afternoon he came over and brought with him the psychoanalyst that my uncle’s lawyer, Mr Pol, had suggested. He brought with him Dr Roger Trimble.’

  ‘Luther Yerkes at the Griffiths’.’ Barrett clucked his tongue. ‘Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. It fits. Until now I’d heard only unconfirmed rumors about Yerkes’ backing Duncan for the Senate. This would seem to confirm it. It also explains the rash of trial publicity Duncan has been getting. Sorry to interrupt. Please go on.’

  ‘Jerry was to go into therapy with Dr Trimble, against his will. The first session was today, upstairs in Jerry’s bedroom, Dr Trimble and Jerry alone. After about an hour, Dr Trimble came down and gave a kind of assessment of Jerry’s condition. Without going into detail, I don’t mind repeating this much. He told us that Jerry was extremely disturbed. He said Jerry was completely ambivalent about the rape. On the one hand, he hated to discuss it. On the other, when he did discuss it, he revealed a certain amount of pride in the act. He said Jerry had a wish for self-destruction, possibly real, more likely fantasy. He felt that Jerry should be subjected to as few pressures as possible. Then Mr.Yerkes wanted to know how Jerry might stand up if he were called as a prosecution witness against the book. Dr Trimble hedged his answer. He said it was too early to tell. It was true that Jerry felt he had been a victim of the book, and if he maintained this attitude he might be a forceful and articulate witness. At the same time, Jerry was frightened and apprehensive about speaking out publicly, and if he withdrew more deeply into himself he might be useless as a witness. Then Dr Trimble promised Mr Yerkes and Uncle Frank that he would try to visit Jerry an hour daily up to and during the trial. None of them seemed to understand, as I do, how upset Jerry is about being made to talk to an analyst. Jerry wants only to be left alone - despite his crazy foray into public tonight - and he resents any doctor’s poking into the privacy of his psyche. I’m objective enough to recognize that he does need therapy. This just seems to be the wrong time for it.’

  ‘I’m sure Dr Trimble realizes that,’ said Barrett. ‘I think his help will be mainly supportive, to prop Jerry up and see him through the trial.’

  Maggie Russell nibbled at her sandwich, then put it down and shoved the plate aside. ‘Yes, I suppose that’s it. If it were Dr Trimble alone, I wouldn’t be worried. What bothers me is all the pressure Mr Yerkes and Uncle Frank are exerting on Jerry. You should have seen what happened after Dr Trimble left. No sooner

  was he gone than Mr Yerkes announced that we were fortunate enough to have the press and television people so interested in Jerry. Mr Yerkes felt they should be accommodated, because it would give the public a chance to see and hear first hand and read about how a pornographic book had damaged an adolescent, and this would create sympathy for Jerry. Mr Yerkes said he’d taken the liberty of inviting Merle Reid to interview Jerry. In fact, Merle Reid was waiting outside.’

  ‘Reid?’ said Barrett. He had been drinking his coffee. Now he set down his cup. ‘You mean that television commentator?’

  “The one who goes on every night coast to coast.’

  ‘He’s sickening. A one-man soap opera. I saw him interview a prisoner in Death Row one night. You’d have thought h
e was chatting with someone at a college prom.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear that from you. Because that insensitive idiot sickened me. Mr Yerkes brought him in, along with two technicians, one carrying a hand camera and the other carrying lights. Uncle Frank asked me to bring Jerry down. I refused. And Aunt Ethel was on my side. But Uncle Frank insisted it was all for Jerry’s sake, and he went and brought him down. Do I have to tell you more ? Jerry was like some poor scared cornered puppy. And when Merle Reid, with that television camera whirring, asked Jerry exactly what section of The Seven Minutes drove him to run out and violate a girl - God, it was horrible. Jerry just broke down, began sobbing, and I didn’t care what anyone would say to me afterward, I just took him out of that room. No one tried to stop me. But Luther Yerkes was celebrating what had happened as if it were a triumph. He kept saying to Reid, “You see? You see what a dirty book can do to a youngster?” And that stupid Reid was saying, “That footage on his cracking up was great, simply marvelous.” Going on like that as if they were dealing with an automaton. Anyway, Mr Barrett, that gives you an idea of Jerry’s emotional condition before he slipped out of the house.’

  She seemed relieved to have unburdened herself of this, and now she finished her coffee with more composure.

  Barrett eyed her thoughtfully for several seconds. Finally he spoke. ‘You know, Miss Russell, I do get the impression that everyone in that household is afraid of Frank Griffith. Am I correct ?’

  She knitted her brow, and contemplated her coffee cup. ‘I really can’t say. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Perhaps I’ve told you more than I should have already. But anything less would have been unfair.’

  ‘Very well. It just surprises me that Mr Griffith, knowing his son’s precarious condition, makes so many demands upon him.’

  ‘He means no harm, I’m sure of that. I think he’s really trying to help Jerry - but strictly in his own way.’

  Barrett nodded. ‘Perhaps you’re right. And I promise you, no more questions about the Griffiths. However, I do have one more

  question, a personal one, about you yourself, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘It all depends.’

  ‘You’re attractive, young, intelligent, the kind of person who could accomplish anything she might wish to attempt. Yet you’ve confined yourself to the Griffith household, and to a job that can’t be very demanding. It seems rather self-limiting for a girl of your endowments. I’ve asked myself why. Now I’ve gotten up the nerve to ask you. Why, Miss Russell ?’

  ‘No mysteries, It’s very simple. I’m doing what I want to do.’

  ‘I can’t believe it’s that simple.’

  She offered him a tentative smile. ‘Now you’re the one who is being suspicious.’ Then she was serious again. ‘Yes, I suppose it is more complicated than that. Let me see. To begin with, I’ve always needed family, someone close. My parents died when I was quite young. There were plenty of relatives, and I was passed around among them, but I was always rather a stranger. When I was old enough, I escaped and tried to make a life of my own. First I went to the University of North Carolina for a year. Then three years at Boston University. I graduated from there.’

  ‘What was your major?’

  ‘My major was psychology, my minor English literature. That’s inconsequential. All girls have the same major - they major in getting married.’

  ‘Have you been married?’

  ‘No. I’ve been too busy finding myself to worry about finding someone else.’

  ‘Does that still hold true?’

  ‘More or less. You are getting personal, Mr Barrett. Anyway, to get back to the odyssey that landed me in Los Angeles. My mother had always been closest to her older sister, Ethel - Ethel Griffith-and Aunt Ethel loved my mother and consequently felt a certain responsibility toward me. She used to lend me money, to help me through school. Without her I’d probably never have made it.’

  Barrett’s mind went back to his own relationship with Phil Sanford, and his theorem that had evolved from it: Everyone owes somebody something. Everyone is indebted. Everyone must pay back his debt sooner or later. No free men exist anywhere. The line of everyone’s life was not infinite, but a circle, a full caging circle.

  He looked at Maggie Russell. ‘So you felt you had to repay her ?’

  ‘It wasn’t that alone. It was still my need to experience a sense of family. I wanted to know Aunt Ethel and find out what it would be like to be part of her family. So when she offered me a job as her social secretary and companion, I took her up on it eagerly. Also, I was excited about seeing Los Angeles. Actually, I never meant to stay with my uncle and aunt more than a year. That was understood. But I did become part of the family, and when I saw how much Aunt Ethel needed me and how much Jerry depended upon me, well, I just stayed on. Which brings me to the second and main

  reason why I’m with the Griffiths. It’s Jerry, as I told you yesterday. I’m fond of him. He’s devoted to me. He admires my shaky independence. And in his transitional growing-up period I think I’ve meant a lot to him. And now, of course, now he trusts me more than anyone. Does this make sense to you?’

  ‘Yes, I can understand why you’re there. And let me reiterate one thing. Yerkes. Duncan, Frank Griffith, they’ve all cast me in the role of Jerry’s enemy for defending the book they suppose ruined him. But I want to tell you again, I’ve been miscast. I’m sorry for Jerry. I can’t tell you how deeply I felt for him a few hours ago. It was as if he were my own son or younger brother. I wouldn’t do a thing in the world to harm him. You can believe me when I say I wouldn’t be defending The Seven Minutes if I felt it had been responsible for Jerry’s disintegration. I don’t believe that for a minute. I believe it’s a good and beautiful book.’

  She met his eyes, and then she said quietly, ‘I believe it’s a good and beautiful book, too.’

  ‘You mean you’ve read it ?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And you like it?’

  ‘I loved it. Every word moved me. Don’t look so bewildered. There’s no inconsistency. Individuals have different neurotic structures. We can be faced by a specific object, and some of us will find it beautiful and others will find it ugly. I found the novel beautiful. Jerry found it ugly, and, because he is what he is, it moved him in a terrible way. But that doesn’t influence my literary judgment of the book. It just tells me people are different and react to the same thing in different ways. I want to believe that what you’ve been saying is true, that The Seven Minutes was not responsible for Jerry’s crime. Because I feel as you do about the book and about censorship in general. At the same time, what you say has not been proved. And the only evidence I have is Jerry’s word that the book upset him. If that’s true, then what I feel about the book becomes unimportant. If it hurt Jerry, and, through him, Sheri Moore, if it can hurt others, someone, anyone else, then it should be condemned and suppressed. I know this is confusing, Mr Barrett, but how else can I explain my feelings? Let me put it another way. I’m for the book, but I’m against anything or anyone who can harm Jerry. If the book harmed him, then I must suspend my aesthetic belief in it. Then I want it suppressed, at once.’

  Leaning forward, Barrett said earnestly, ‘Miss Russell, if a book can lead an individual to violence, I want it suppressed, too. This was the one criterion for censorship that Judge Curtis Bok set forth in the Roth case. “A book might constitutionally be condemned as obscene only when there is a reasonable and demonstrable cause to believe that a crime… has been committed… as the perceptible result of the publication and distribution of the writing in question.’ The American Civil Liberties Union set the same standard.

  ‘Any governmental restriction or punishment of any form of expression on the ground of obscenity must require proof beyond a reasonable doubt that such an expression would directly cause in a normal adult behavior which has validly been made criminal by statute.” We both agree to that. The question is, can a pornographic book drive a person to commit a sex crime
? Most psychiatrists say no. They say sex offenders are sick from other causes before they ever pick up a pornographic book. Dr Wardell Pomeroy, Kinsey’s heir at the Institute for Sex Research, made a study of sex offenders, and he concluded, “There is not any evidence that pornography instigates antisocial activities.”

  ‘Forgive me for sounding like a lawyer, but I am one. And I must point out that Mrs St Clair, of the STDL, read The Seven Minutes. It didn’t corrupt her. Elmo Duncan read the book. It didn’t deprave him. You read it, Miss Russell, and I don’t see you committing any antisocial acts. So why must it be true that Jerry alone was affected ? No, Miss Russell .nothing can persuade me, not even Jerry himself, that this book incited him to commit a criminal act. And understand this - I’m not after Jerry or his credibility as a witness. I’m after the truth about Jerry, after the true causes of his behavior. I want to know the other factors in his life that contributed to sending this quiet, decent boy raging into the streets to violate the first girl he could find. I want the truth about the deeper motivations that drive young people to violence. We know there are countless causes. One of them is family, the family relationship, or lack of relationship. Those are the facts I’m after. If I can find them, I’ll not only prove the book innocent of this crime, but I’ll perform a service to Jerry and every kid like him by exposing the real culprits responsible for their outbursts of violence.’

  She was silent a moment. Then she said, ‘Have you found anything yet?’

  ‘In Jerry’s background ? Maybe a few clues. No evidence. Nothing that would be useful in a court of law.’

  ‘But if you did find something -I mean, other than the book -that would explain Jerry’s behavior, wouldn’t that hurt Jerry’s own case?’