Summary

In Chapter 1, a week before he was to be executed, convicted murderer George Hallas offered to tell his lawyer, Leonard Bradley, why he killed the child. Hallas had refused to consider any appeals even though Bradley believed he could have argued Hallas was mentally ill. Hallas told Bradley he admired his attempts to fight for his life and could repay him only by telling him the truth. Hallas said he knew that Bradley probably would not believe him, but he sensed that Bradley had questions about the story. Bradley admitted he did.

In Chapter 2, when Hallas was eight, he moved with his father to Talbot, Alabama. One of his friends was a mentally challenged girl named Marlee Jacobs. Marlee liked to hold Hallas’ hand when they walked to school together. Hallas did not remember anyone saying anything cruel about their friendship until...