A Single Thread (Cobbled Court) by Marie Bostwick Read Free Book Online

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    “It seems you’ve gotten yourself into quite a predicament, Miss Burgess. The arrest report says that yesterday evening you strolled into the Kaplan’s Clothes Closet on Commerce Street and, after browsing around in a manner that made a store employee suspicious, stuffed this green sweater, valued at two hundred and seventy-nine dollars…”
    Cashmere. Very nice. She might be a thief, but at least she was a thief with good taste.
    “…under your coat and then left the store without paying. Is that what happened?” The judge looked at her pointedly, and Liza blushed. At least she had the good sense to be embarrassed by her behavior. Heaven knew I was.
    “I…I guess I forgot to pay for it,” she mumbled, her soft, almost childish voice strangely at odds with her torn, tough-girl clothing and rock-and-roll hairstyle.
    “Hmmm,” the judge replied, clearly unconvinced. “I suppose that’s why you started running down the street when the store clerk called for you to come back and pay, not stopping until you were apprehended by a police officer who was writing out a parking ticket. So, are you still saying it was all a big mistake?” Liza blushed even deeper, but she didn’t respond.
    “I thought so.” Judge Gulden sighed and removed his glasses completely. “How do you plead?”
    “Guilty,” she whispered.
    “Miss Burgess, you have no prior record, and, in spite of yesterday’s events, you don’t seem like someone who is looking to lead a life of crime. I don’t wish to start you off on that road, nor do I wish to add to our already overcrowded prison population. However, this is a serious matter. I cannot simply let you leave here with a slap on the wrist.
    “Because of your clean record and,” he said glancing at me, “because I know you come from a fine family with deep roots and a sterling reputation in the community, I am inclined to be lenient in this case. I’m sure the district attorney agrees with me.”
    Behind me, Mr. Corey cleared his throat and shifted his feet, but didn’t say anything, which made me wonder how strong his agreement was. But I didn’t wonder much. I didn’t care how this might look to some junior lawyer in the D.A.’s office. I just wanted this whole sordid affair to be done with so Liza could go back to Rhode Island and I could get back to living my life. If that meant I needed to pay off whatever fine Harry was about to pronounce upon this black sheep of the family, so be it. No matter how much it cost me, it would be worth it ten times over to see the back of her.
    Franklin cleared his throat. “Your Honor, given the circumstances, I’d like to suggest Accelerated Rehabilitation for Miss Burgess.”
    “I agree,” said the judge.
    “What’s Accelerated Rehabilitation?” Liza asked.
    “It means that we can drop the charges,” Harry said. I felt my shoulders relax and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liza’s do the same. “However,” he raised a warning finger, “we will only do so under the following conditions.
    “First of all, you must pay a five hundred dollar fine. Also, you will be put on probation and must check in with your assigned probation officer according to the schedule he or she suggests. Finally, you must appear before me again in thirteen months. If, in that time, you have gotten into any trouble at all, even so much as having an overdue book at the library, then the charges against you will be reinstated. If that happens, then I assure you, you will be charged with fifth degree larceny, and you will go to jail. However, if you have stayed out of trouble, then the charges will be dropped and you will leave my courtroom with a completely clean record. Do you understand?”
    “Yes,” Liza said quietly. “Thanks.”
    “Thank you, Harry.” I said at almost the same time. What a relief!
    “Wait a minute!” Judge Gulden interrupted. “I’m not finished. Miss Burgess, I understand you are a student, is that right?”
    I could