South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber

Author:Heather Webber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Chapter

13

Former town council member Ezra Atherton sidled up to Judge Quimby at the country club bar and pinned him with a glassy-eyed stare. “This is a fool’s game you’re playing, Quimby. Reelection is in five months. Your constituents, including me and my bank account, don’t want you to make the wrong decision when it comes to that baby Blue Bishop found. You’d do best to terminate her guardianship.”

Judge Quimby could only assume Ezra meant to intimidate with the pointed look, but he succeeded only in making the judge want to go fishing. No question Ezra’s slightly bulging eyes, big loose lips, and slightly green cast to his flaky skin reminded the judge of a largemouth bass.

He ordered a whiskey neat. “I appreciate your concern, Ezra, but my decision will be based on what’s best for the child.”

“I know we ain’t always seen eye to eye, Quimby, but I can’t believe you’re even considering letting Blue adopt that girl. Don’t you remember the fire Blue set in high school? How she got out of that mess I still don’t understand. The Bishops don’t have a decent bone in their bodies. Bad to the bone. There’s other good families to consider.”

Of course he remembered the fire Blue set. It was the only time she’d been inside his courtroom. But he also knew that Ezra, who was well-known for taking kickbacks and accepting bribes, should be the last one, in the judge’s opinion, to cast stones.

In this town, your last name could make sins vanish.

Everywhere except in his courtroom.

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