John Grisham - Theodore Boone - The Accomplice

“Nice job, Theo,” Judge Pendergrast said. “But from now on let’s wait until you pass the bar exam and get a license to practice law, okay?”

“Yes, sir. And thanks, Judge.”

“You’re excused and I suggest you find your way back to school real soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

Theo and Daisy quickly left the courtroom and found a seat on a bench in the hallway. Theo glanced around to make sure no one was listening and asked, “Do you know where the jail is?”

“Are you kidding? I just spent the night there. I wish I’d never seen the place.”

“Okay. Let’s get over there and try to meet with them.”

“Thanks, Theo.”

Along with the judges and lawyers, Theo knew most of the policemen in Strattenburg. He arrived at the station first and went straight to the desk of a captain named Rick Pruitt. Theo’s mother had handled an adoption for Captain Pruitt and Theo knew him well.

The captain was plowing through a stack of paperwork and was surprised to see his young friend. “Well, hello, Theo. Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“I’m excused until noon. Important business. My friend got arrested last night and he’s back there in the jail. His mother has not been allowed to see him or his brother, and I need your help.”

“What’s his name?” Pruitt asked as he picked up the daily arrest sheet.

“Lambert. Woody and Tony Lambert.”

“Armed robbery?”

“Yes, sir, but it’s a big misunderstanding, at least I think so. We just need to see him, me and his mother.”

“And underage drinking?”

“Not so sure about that, but Judge Pendergrast wouldn’t set a bail this morning, so they’re still locked up. We just want to visit them and see what’s going on.”

Pruitt frowned at Theo for a few seconds, then stood and said, “Follow me.”

They went down a hallway, then down the stairs to the jail. The waiting room was filling up with relatives checking on other inmates. Pruitt pointed to some chairs and said, “Have a seat.”

Theo sat down and within minutes Daisy arrived. In a whisper, Theo explained what was going on. A few minutes later, Pruitt returned and said, “Wait here. It’ll take a few minutes.”

“Thanks, Captain,” Theo said, and Pruitt disappeared.

They waited half an hour before a jailer called Daisy’s name. She and Theo followed him to a holding room where he unlocked the door and waved them in. Woody and Tony were seated at a table, without handcuffs, and when they saw their mother both jumped to their feet. The jailer closed the door and waited outside.

After a round of hugs and tears, all four pulled chairs around a table.

Woody and Tony told their story.

When Theo had heard enough, he decided to leave the family alone and run a quick mission. On his bike, he raced back to the courthouse and went to the Office of the Public Defender on the third floor.

The head PD was a lawyer named Don Montgomery, but everybody called him Monk. To the other lawyers, judges, policemen, and courthouse clerks he was simply Monk. Theo had seen him in the courtroom on several occasions and no one used his real name. It was “Yes, Monk” and “No, Monk” and “Your turn, Monk.” Of course when juries were present and things were more formal, he became Mr. Montgomery, but that was rare. On one occasion the Boone family had bumped into him and his wife in a restaurant, and both of Theo’s parents addressed him as Monk.

He had a difficult job, one that few lawyers envied. His office represented men and women charged with serious crimes but not enough money to hire lawyers. And since the Supreme Court had ruled that every defendant is entitled to a lawyer, Stratten County had created, long before Theo was born, the Office of the Public Defender.

Monk’s operation was always swamped with too many clients and not enough staff to serve them. Every year Monk asked the county for more money, and it seemed, at least to Theo, that he was never satisfied with the support he received. According to Woods Boone, Theo’s father, most PD offices in the country were run on thin budgets. Politicians gave them a low priority because they didn’t like to spend money on criminal defendants.

Theo hesitated before going inside. He paused and sent a text to Mr. Mount. Found Woody. He’s still in jail. Charges seem silly but still serious. Be back soon.

A secretary sat behind an old desk that was covered with stacks of files. Metal cabinets lined the walls. She was typing and paused long enough to frown at him, and without a smile she said, “Yes?”

“Hello, I’m Theodore Boone and I’m looking for Mr. Montgomery.”

“Why aren’t you in school?”

“I’m excused for a few hours. You see, my friend got arrested last night and his case will be assigned to this office. It’s a Youth Court matter and I would like to see Mr. Montgomery.”

“He’s in a big trial in the main courtroom, Judge Gantry. Youth Court matters are handled by Rodney Wall.”

Theo did not know that lawyer. “Okay, could I please see Mr. Wall?”

“He hasn’t come in yet.”

“When might he come in?”

“I don’t know. I’m not in charge of his schedule. Look, son, I’m very busy. You can check back later.” She returned to her keyboard and resumed typing. Theo backed away and left the office. He walked down to the second floor and went to the office of Judge Henry Gantry, the senior Circuit Court judge and a pal of Theo’s.

When he was dreaming, which seemed like several hours each day, Theo wanted to be a respected courtroom judge like Henry Gantry, a man of great fairness and wisdom.

Judge Gantry’s secretary was Mrs. Hardy, a sweet lady who was always happy to see him, unlike that woman upstairs in Monk’s office.

“Well, hello, Theo,” Mrs. Hardy said as he interrupted her work. “To what do we owe this honor?”

“I need to see the judge.”

“Of course. And shouldn’t you be in school?”

“Everyone seems to think so. I’m excused by the principal. You see, one of my friends got arrested last night and I’m trying to help him.”

“How old is he?”

“Only thirteen. I know, it’s a Youth Court matter, but I still need to see the judge.”

“Well, he’s tied up right now. We’re in the middle of a big trial and he’s meeting with the lawyers.”

“What kind of trial?”

Mrs. Hardy glanced around as if someone else might be listening, as if the trial were a big secret. “It’s a drug case. Some men from out in the county were caught manufacturing drugs.”

“Is Mr. Monk defending the guys?”

“How’d you know?”

“I just left his office. I don’t suppose I could watch the trial, could I? I’m excused from school until noon.”

“That’s up to you, Theo. The courtroom is open to the public, but if Judge Gantry sees you he might not like it.”

“Good point. Thanks, Mrs. Hardy.” Theo walked to the door but stopped when he thought of something else. “Say, Mrs. Hardy, when does Judge Gantry set bail for new defendants, for guys who’ve just been arrested?”

“Usually, it’s the first thing he does in the morning. Doesn’t take long.”

“A guy got arrested last night for armed robbery, name’s Garth Tucker, eighteen years old. Have you seen his paperwork?”

Without looking for a file, she said, “Sure. Judge Gantry set his bail at fifty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty thousand dollars?”

“Yes. It’s a serious crime.”

“Of course it is, but bail wouldn’t be that high for a juvenile, would it?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Theo. Bail is usually lower for juveniles, but that’s another court.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thanks. See you later.”