The Accomplice (Theodore Boone 7)

They turned onto a narrow side street and arrived at Pappy’s minutes before two p.m. They found a table in the corner, placed their orders, sipped colas and iced tea as they waited and talked.

“How serious is my little probation thing?” Tony asked the Major.

“Serious. You heard the judge all but promise more jail time, but it might be something we can work around.”

“I don’t understand,” Daisy said.

“Well, jail would mean absence from school. Right now Tony’s in class and his grades are improving. We should delay the hearing and give both of you time to show perfect attendance in school and a big improvement in grades. Both of you. Get the grades up. Get a couple of letters from your teachers, and I can go to the judge and lean on him.”

“You’ve done this before?” Daisy asked.

“Yes, it’s my role as a Youth Court volunteer. Judge Pendergrast is rather old-fashioned and places great emphasis on education. Show him you’re serious about school and he’ll cut you some slack. He’ll also want random drug tests for the next year.”

“For both of us?” Woody asked.

“Sure. Why not? You’re not messing with anything, right?”

“Right, but I just don’t want to get embarrassed by some random drug test.”

“You won’t be embarrassed. It’s routine and you’ll have no choice.”

“They can do it,” Daisy said firmly.

Their lunch arrived and the small table was quickly covered with large platters of thick subs and piles of hot onion rings, enough food for ten. Daisy worried too much to eat. Major Ludwig was an old soldier with iron discipline and refused to gain an ounce. Woody and Tony, though, were teenage boys, and they attacked the food like starving refugees.

After a few silent moments of serious eating, Daisy asked the Major, “So what happens next with Garth?”

“Oh, I have no idea. That’s another matter in another court.”

“Will Woody and Tony be forced to testify in his trial?” she asked.

The Major wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, shrugged, and said, “I would think so, if his case goes all the way to a jury trial.”

“Do you think it will?” Tony asked.

“I have no inside knowledge, but I doubt that Garth will ever face a jury. He’s dead guilty and he can’t lie his way out of it. There are three eyewitnesses—the two of you, and the guy in the store. Plus the surveillance cameras. I suspect Clifford Nance will figure out a way to keep him away from a jury and out of jail.”

“How can he possibly avoid jail?” Daisy asked.

The Major shrugged again. “His family has money. He has the best lawyer. It’s his first offense. Nobody got hurt. I hate to say it, Daisy, but there are different rules for different people. It’s not fair, but it’s the way the system goes.”

And, thought Woody and Tony, he has a pocket full of cash to bribe someone else.

“Let’s worry about Garth later,” the Major said. “Today is a great day for the Lambert family, so let’s savor the win.”

“Great idea,” Tony said.

Theo called an emergency session for four p.m. at Guff’s Frozen Yogurt on Main Street. He arrived early, talked to the owner, and got two long tables in the rear. They filled quickly as almost all of Mr. Mount’s homeroom arrived. Mr. Mount himself walked in at four on the dot and ordered a double caramel fudge.

When Woody strolled in, alone, he set off a small roar as his friends welcomed him and gave him the seat of honor. After a round of high fives and fist pumps and even a hug or two, Woody attacked a coconut cream as Theo called for order.

He held his hands out dramatically and said, “Once again, my fellow Americans, justice has prevailed. The innocent have been set free. The wheels of justice have produced the right verdict.”

“Blah, blah, blah,” Chase added and got a laugh.

Theo pretended to ignore him. “Woody, congratulations. Now, all of us are dying to hear what happened in court. And start at the beginning.”

Woody took a big bite of frozen yogurt, savored the attention, and said, “Well, I was never that worried.”