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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Boy Scout Troop 1440 was dis promptly at five pm on Tuesday afternoon, and the boys hustled outside to their bikes As always, Theodore Boone lingered for a ood-bye to the Major, then he stepped into the cool evening with plans to head don to his parents’ law firm

At the bike rack he saw Woody Laain that he wasn’t s Woody never smiled these days, and that in itself would not have been noticeable except that in place of a sn that life was nor about his business with a sad, sour expression, as if life was beating him up As if he carried burdens and problems too heavy for a thirteen-year-old boy

Theo had known hirade when the La Their home was unstable His mother was on her second or third husband, and the current one was often away on the job His real father had disappeared years ago His older brother Tony had been arrested once and was gaining a bad reputation Theo suspected that the La serious problems and that hy Woody seemed so unhappy

Theo said, “Let’s go to Guff’s and get a frozen yogurt My treat”

Woody immediately shook his head no, even frowned “No thanks”

He never had spare change, and he was too proud to allow Theo or anyone else to treat Theo had known this for a long ti to pay

“You okay?” Theo asked

“I’m fine,” Woody said as he climbed on his bike “See ya later”

“Call me if you need me,” Theo said, and watched him ride away Woody did not respond

Hoh he suspected the house would be e two part-time jobs and on Tuesdays she waited tables at a diner near the college Her husband, Woody’s stepfather, worked in construction and ood money at times, but the jobs were sporadic Currently he was out of too hours away, and Woody hadn’t seen hih but was in the process of dropping out, or flunking out, or getting kicked out for bad grades and low attendance Tony’s attitude was so lousy he didn’t care how he left the school

Woody parked his bike under the carport, walked through the unlocked door to the kitchen, yelled for Tony, heard nothing, and was pleased no one was there He was spending a lot of time alone, and it wasn’t all that bad He had choices, options He could play video ga in his electric guitar and practice for an hour or so Of the four, ho and his teachers were asking questions, but no one at home seemed to care

There was rarely anyone at home

Theo parked his bike outside the rear door of Boone & Boone, the converted old house his parents had owned since long before he was born He entered through the door, stepped into his own little office, and was i for hours Judge spent his days at the office doing nothing of any i for food Hepallet for an hour or so before easing along to another He had at least four beds, three downstairs and one up, but his favorite was the soft one located under Theo’s desk Each afternoon, in anticipation of his best friend returning froe went to Theo’s office and waited

Theo rubbed his head, chatted with him for a moment, then the two of theal, had left for the day and his door was closed Dorothy, the real estate secretary, was hard at work but stopped for a second to inquire as to how Theo’s day had gone The door to his e office was closed, a clear indication that she waswith a client She was a divorce lawyer, most of her clients os were usually tense Theo did not even think about knocking

He had no plans to be a divorce lawyer At the age of thirteen, he had already decided that he would becoreat courtroo, ie who presided over those trials and was known for his wisdom and fairness Most of his friends wer

e dreaeniuses, or brain surgeons, or perhaps even a rock star or two, but not Theo He loved the law and longed for the day when he was a fully grown man with dark suits and a fine leather briefcase However, according to his parents, he h school, college, and law school At least twelveforward to the ordeal At times he was already tired

The front roo-tial/adviser/referee, and, occasionally in the past, Theo’s babysitter Elsa did it all, and she did it with an enthusiasm that Theo often found tiresome

At the sight of hied hione It was the daily routine and it rarely changed

“Just another boring day in school,” Theo said as he tried to wiggle out of her embrace

“You always say that Hoas Scouts?”

Elsa knew his schedule better than he did If he had an appointment with the doctor or dentist, Elsa had it marked on her calendar A science project due? Elsa re trip to the lake? Elsa was on it

She looked him up and down to make sure his shirt matched his pants, another irksome habit, and said, “Your ht now”

His father was always free, and alone Woods Boone was a real estate laho smoked a pipe, and because of the smoke no one else in the firm ventured upstairs near his office