Annie's Song Read Online Free PDF Page B

behind his desk, his white court shirt rumpled, the collar open, his crimson tie loosened. A tendril of smoke drifted up from an ashtray near his elbow, the smell of it sharp. Alex settled his gaze on the cigar. Even after fourteen years, just the sight of one made him think of his father and filled him with sadness.
    “Alex,” Trimble said wearily. “I take it you’ve spoken with your brother?”
    It didn’t take clairvoyance to realize the judge expected him to launch into a tirade, denying Douglas’s involvement in the attack on his daughter. Alex only wished that were the case. “Yes.” Gazing at the books along one wall, he tried to make out the titles. The gold lettering blurred and danced in his vision, as jumbled as his thoughts. He didn’t know where to start, or what to say. “I, um...” He swallowed and scrubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. Then he slapped his pant leg with his hat. “Douglas did it,”
    he finally blurted. “I’ve come to offer my abject apologies for the injury he has done your daughter and make amends in any way I possibly can.”

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    In response to that, the judge said nothing.
    Alex rushed on. “If you intend to prosecute, I won’t stand in your way. But you’d better be quick about notifying the sheriff. I’ve kicked my brother out of the house, and he’s probably hightailing it for parts unknown about now.”
    Resting both elbows on his desk blotter, the judge rubbed at his temples. “Prosecute?” He gave a bitter laugh. “Ah, yes, one would think so. It seems the natural thing to do, doesn’t it? But in situations like this, matters of right and wrong become blurred.” At that admission, he laughed again, but there was no humor in the sound. “A judge for over half my life, and for the first time in my memory, there seems to be a very wide area of gray between the black and white.”
    The pain in the judge’s voice made Alex fix his gaze on the floor. Safe territory, that. No accusing eyes stared back at him. He could think of nothing he might say, so he took refuge in silence.
    Finally, the judge resumed speaking. “I appreciate your offer not to interfere. He is your brother, after all. But I’m not sure restraint on your part will prove necessary.”
    Forcing himself to look up, Alex said, “I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”
    Trimble lowered his hands and met Alex’s gaze. “I know it may sound heartless, but there is far more to be considered here than the injury done to Annie.” The judge shoved back his chair and came to his feet.
    For a man of small stature, he had a large presence, his eyes a piercing sapphire-blue, his features a striking blend of character and strength. Alex had always admired him and applauded the fairness of his decisions on the bench. He was a hard man, but just, a person people instinctively trusted.
    “Scandal, Alex, a politician’s nightmare,” he said softly. “If what happened today gets out, the backlash could be extreme.” Looking a little shamefaced, he shoved his hands deep into his trouser pockets and studied the toes of his highly polished black shoes. “Not just to Annie, but to me and the rest of my family.”
    Alex was still confused but refrained from saying so.
    With a sigh, the older man took a turn before the crackling fire, his gaze fixed on the stone hearth, his manner dejected. “Douglas should be hanged for what he did to my little girl today. There’s no question in my mind about that. But to what gain? Annie has been violated, and I can’t undo that. For that reason, I’m inclined to do nothing. As I’m sure you know, I’ve retired from the bench to try my luck at local politics and possibly go on from there to serve in some capacity at a state level. A scandal of any sort could ruin me.”
    It seemed to Alex that the scandal would besmirch the Montgomery name, not Trimble’s. “Your daughter has been