LITMIR.BIZ

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      “I’m sorry, Mom,” Nick said quietly as he touched her shoulder.

      She didn’t hug him, because she knew a display of affection would only embarrass him.

      “No matter what the judge does to you, you are still grounded until you’re a hundred and five,” she told him as they went inside.

      “You told me I was grounded until I was fifty,” he reminded her.

      “I changed my mind.”

      Lucy’s sense that things would turn out all right disappeared the moment the judge entered the courtroom and settled into a high-backed black leather chair. Her blood turned to ice as she saw the man’s stern expression.

      We have Opie for an attorney and Boris Karloff for a judge. My son is going to Devil’s Island!

      The five adults sat in the front row with Lucy in the middle.

      The judge leveled a piercing gaze at Nick.

      “Come up here, young man, and let’s talk,” he ordered in a rumbling deep voice that rivaled Orson Welles’s.

      Lucy again silently vowed to stop watching late-night television. Her imagination was running away with her. She could see her baby being led off in chains to a dark and dank hole where he would spend the remainder of his life unless he managed to escape by digging through dirt and stone with a small spoon.

      She was vaguely aware of Cathy taking her hand between her two.

      “Frank’s a fair man,” Cathy whispered.

      Lou refuted her assessment. “He’s an idiot.”

      The judge’s head snapped up and he scowled in their direction.

      “If people can’t respect the court and be quiet, they’ll be thrown out,” he threatened.

      Lucy heard a small sound of distress travel up her throat. The last thing she needed was anyone putting Judge Kincaid in a bad mood.

      As the judge questioned Nick, she vaguely heard his attorney interject a few times, but each time the judge ignored him.

      Again he addressed Nick. “Young man, what you did was more than malicious mischief. You knowingly destroyed Fairfield Academy’s computer files.”

      Lucy felt her heart sink down to her toes. This was it. Her baby was going to prison for the rest of his life. She was so lost in her misery she barely heard the judge’s pronouncement.

      “The dean and I had a long talk about this, young man,” the judge said sternly. “Expulsion would be too good for you, namely because I don’t believe that expulsion from school is a punishment. I'd rather see that student punished in school, loaded down with extra work. And that is what you will be doing for the rest of the school year. Be prepared to write a lot of book reports, young man.”

      Lucy’s spirits started to rise. Lots of homework for Nick? Not a bad thing, in her eyes. She’d never believed in expelling students either. But she realized the judge wasn’t finished.

      “Along with your extra school work, you will have six months community service to be spent working at the Valley Animal Clinic and Shelter,” the judge ordered.

      “What?” She felt her neck crack as she whipped her head from side to side to look at Cathy and Ginna.

      Lou shot to his feet. “Your Honor, may I speak?”

      The judge scowled. “Why?”

      “Young Nicholas has been working at my garage for the past four months. Is there any reason why he can’t serve his time there?”

      “There is an excellent reason why he cannot. I didn’t order him to work there,” Judge Kincaid snapped. “From what I can see, it didn’t do him any good to work under your supervision if he felt he needed to find an outlet by committing this act. I can assure you he will be working very hard at the shelter, and he won’t have the time or energy to think up ways to create mischief.”

      “An animal clinic? He refuses to clean the cat’s litter box!” Lucy blurted out without thinking. “I’m sorry, Your Honor,” she whispered, wilting under his condemning glower.

      The judge focused on her. “Madam, it seems your son needs more supervision than you can give him. If he knows what’s good for him, he will use this time to reconsider his actions. He will also tender a letter of apology to the Dean of Students at Fairfield Academy and will not be participating in any computer labs for the next semester.” He turned back to Nick who looked about as solemn as Lucy had ever seen him. “Report to Dr. Kincaid at three-thirty tomorrow afternoon, young man. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t end up in my courtroom again. I can assure you the next time I won’t be so lenient.”

      Nick didn’t flinch under the older man’s harsh regard. “I understand, sir.”

      After tendering his judgment, the judge dismissed the court.

      Lucy was smart enough to keep her mouth closed. At the moment, she wouldn’t have put it past the judge to sentence her to hard labor.

      “There was no reason why he couldn’t work under my supervision,” Lou grumbled, as they filed out of the courtroom. “The old bastard just didn’t want to appear human.”

      “Please, don’t make him angry,” Lucy pleaded.

      “Don’t worry, dear, they’re two old fools who have been carrying on an old feud much too long,” Cathy reassured her. “Come, let’s stop somewhere for lunch. You need something more substantial in your stomach than antacids.”

      “She’s right, Mom,” Nick chimed in.

      Lucy looked up at her son and saw his concern for her. Now that he’d passed his thirteenth birthday and sprouted several inches almost overnight, she had to look up at him. She must look bad if he was that worried.

      Lou took charge. “Nick, you ride with me and Cathy will ride with your mother. We’ll meet you at Stewie’s.” He called over his shoulder, “Ginna, Zach, are you going to join us?”

      “We’ll follow you over,” Ginna said.

      “Eating at Stewie’s means he won’t be watching his cholesterol.” Cathy heaved a sigh. “I wouldn’t worry about Nick, Lucy. Logan Kincaid’s not the grump his father is. I’m sure you’ve met him at some of our parties.”

      “Logan’s a sweetheart,” Ginna added. “He went to school with my brother Brian.”

      “Logan Kincaid?” Lucy flashed back to the various Walker parties where she’d met the family veterinarian. He’d let it be known he was interested in her. In turn, she’d let him know she wasn’t interested in him. “He’s who Nick will be working for?” She closed her eyes. “I think I need more antacids.”

      “IS THERE A REASON I have to get all of your hard cases?”

      Judge Frank Kincaid calmly ignored his son’s outburst. He dipped a tortilla chip in the spicy salsa and brought it to his lips.

      “The best reason there is. You need additional help at the shelter. I provided you with a living body. Now you don’t have to worry about finding someone.” He perused the menu. “My stomach won’t like anything I order, but I’m still ordering the shredded-beef enchiladas.” He looked up at the waitress, gave his order and waited as his son gave his.

      Logan picked up his beer and sipped the cold brew.

      “The last person I need caring for my animals is some juvenile delinquent you’ve foisted on me.”

      “Chad Matthews worked out nicely.”

      “No, Chad Matthews broke into my drug cabinet and relieved me of all my Ketamine.” The animal tranquilizer had apparently turned into a popular drug of choice. “Kristi and Jeremy worked out, but that’s because they both love animals.”

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