The Sun Does Shine: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

After Ray fires Alan, he feels alone once again and fears getting an execution date without representation. Ray decides to write a letter to Bryan Stevenson, thanking him for sending Alan but asking if Bryan could be his lawyer instead. He asks that Bryan read his transcript, and if Bryan can find one thing that points to Ray’s guilt, Bryan shouldn’t be his lawyer.

Ray decides to call Bryan’s foundation—the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). Bryan answers, and Ray informs Bryan that he fired Alan. Ray asks Bryan to read the letter he just sent, and Bryan agrees. A few months later, Bryan visits the prison. Bryan is Black, bald, and slightly younger than Ray; Ray observes that the man’s face is full of compassion and thinks that he has been sent by God.

Bryan apologizes that Alan asked Ray for money, and he asks Ray to tell him his story. Ray explains his whole story, saying that he’s innocent, that the state has been lying about his case for years, and that he’s been on death row for 12 years and it’s been hell. Ray can tell as he speaks that Bryan understands: Bryan has worked with many death row inmates and he’s been to executions. They talk for two hours, and Ray thinks how nice it is for someone simply to listen to him and believe him.

Bryan also tells Ray that they are a team, and he wants to hear any ideas Ray has about the case. Ray says that Bryan needs to get the best ballistics expert he can find—preferably an honest, white, Southern man who believes in the death penalty, and so would be trusted by the court. Bryan agrees that that’s a good idea—he’ll review Ray’s file and the reports from the previous experts, and they say goodbye. When Ray returns to his cell, he falls to his knees and thanks God for sending Bryan. He then spends the next two hours sobbing.