Alvin Maleth

When Greg's father was suffering from Alzheimer's, David asked if he could pray for him.

Ham painted him a card that Greg put in his father's room.

Greg saw David through the death of his younger brother and has gotten close with David's sister, too.

I was surprised that these men, with their wildly different life experiences and temperaments, both referred to each other as brothers.

David's allowed to invite up to five people to witness his execution, and it's common to invite family.

Greg thinks there's a chance David will ask him.

David hasn't brought it up yet, and Greg is sort of hoping he doesn't.

He's never watched one of his clients be executed before.

He always worried that the trauma of it would make it harder for him to do his job.

But Greg says if David doesn't have anyone else, he'll be there.

He doesn't want David to face death alone.

In any case, this is probably the last time Greg will be in this position.

He turned 60 not long ago.

And though he isn't planning to retire anytime soon, he's also not planning to take on new death row clients.

Another capital case at this point, given how long they last, might outlive him.

So in all likelihood, David will be his last death row client.

These are the things weighing on Greg's mind as he prepares for all the work ahead of him, most likely firing off responses to whatever court decisions and prosecution briefs come out this week.

To that end, he's stocked his mini-fridge with yogurt and what I'd call an apocalyptic amount of blueberries, so he never has to leave the room for breakfast.

He's got his other meals covered, too.

So I like to have a turkey sandwich every day for lunch.