"WILHELM, KATE - JUSTICE FOR SOME" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilhelm Kate)

"You can't do that!" Mr. Wickham cried. He turned to . his lawyer. "She
can't do that!" "Yes, Mr. Wickham, I can," Sarah said, and stood up.

"You both asked for custody of the children, and this court will grant
joint custody on those conditions. Now, what I suggest is that all of
you discuss this, either here, or perhaps across the street in the
coffee shop. Let us meet again this afternoon at four. Thank you."

She walked to the door, and glanced back at them.

Johnny Weber had moved to stand behind Mr. Wickham's chair, and had his
hands firmly on the larger man's shoulders, holding him down.

Johnny Weber met her glance and winked.

Carol Betts was the prosecutor for the state against Steven Mancero that
afternoon. It was a simple matter: the restaurant where Mancero worked
had come up two hundred dollars short and the manager had accused him of
stealing from the cash drawer. Sarah listened, but without a lot of
attention. She was more interested in watching Howard Bartles, the
defense attorney, who seemed to be in an endless whispered conference
with a man seated behind him. He appeared unaware when Carol Betts
concluded and sat down.

"Mr. Bartles," Sarah said, and he hurriedly faced her and half rose.

"Sorry, Your Honor. Mr. Mason wishes to plead guilty."

She glanced at the sheet before her. Steven Mancero.

She was well aware that in large cities, New York, Philadelphia, and
sometimes in not-such-big cities where the attorneys were overworked,
they often spelled out their clients' names in big block letters for
easy reference during a hurried trial, but here in Pendleton, Oregon9 No
one had rushed in Pendleton since the Oregon Trail was first blazed.

Now she looked more closely at the young man, too thin, very dark,
dressed in jeans and a sport shirt. He looked young enough for juvenile
court.

Bartles nudged the young man. "Stand up, Mason."

He stood up and clasped his hands before him, watching her with big
frightened eyes.

"Mr. Mancero, are you ready to plead?" she asked.

He looked quickly toward Bartles, who nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."