Cliff Zane

This is a story approximately seventy thousand words of a retired state worker who is arrested and convicted of first-degree murder. He receives a sixty-five-year sentence in prison. The main characters are Cliff Zane and a talking cat named Marvin that is addicted to Land O'Lakes cheese, has an IQ of 162, and is also a male chauvinist feline. The story reveals how Marvin, who has omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and clairvoyant powers, guides and directs Cliff through his two trials, his conviction, and his imprisonment. Marvin finally does get Cliff released after three years in the state penitentiary by forcing witnesses to recant their false testimonies and by revealing the real murderer. Now, Cliff can cater to Marvin's physical needs like food, water, shelter, and vet care. Now, Cliff and Marvin can get back on track and enjoy the time that they have left with each other. The writing deals with the heartache and depression of a man who has been institutionalized in the state penitentiary because of free-will choices made by him and others. It demonstrates the injustice of the judicial system. The reader will see how circumstantial evidence convicts innocent people. It reveals the incompetence, ineptness, and mismanagement of the legal system. After Cliff's conviction, Marvin points out relevant truths that should have set Cliff free in the first place. However, Marvin is not allowed to interfere with free will. One by one, Marvin points out the wrongs and hypocrisy of the system. The real murderer must be convicted before Cliff can be set free. The story has a shocking ending, which leaves the reader to form his or her own conclusions about free-will choices made by all of us every day. This is a sequel to Sixty-Two Days to Eternity.