Free The First Stone by Don Aker Page A

leaned forward. “When Mr. Colville feels you are ready, you will conduct a series of presentations to high school classes and youth groups telling about your experiences and the insight you’ve gained as a result of them. And believe me, young man, you will gain insight. You will feel remorse. I’m going to make certain of that.”
    Reef blinked at her. Extracurricular activities? Volunteering at rehabs? Youth groups? Was the woman crazy?
    â€œI can see from your reaction, Mr. Kennedy, that you’re not thrilled with my ruling.” She glanced around the room. “Many others will no doubt share that reaction, but for very different reasons. There’s nothing I can do about that. However, what I can do is try my best to ensure that you become a productive citizen. I’ll be watching you, Chad, and it’s my hope that, when you complete your sentence, you will have a new appreciation for the people with whom you share this planet.”
    â€œShe’s outta her goddamn mind!” Reef muttered as the courtroom emptied.
    â€œShut up,” Elliott hissed. He’d told Reef to remain seated, and the two were now alone except for the handful of people the court security officer was still ushering out. That, however, wouldn’t last long. They still had to run the gauntlet of reporters on the steps outside. “You don’t know how lucky you are.”
    That line again. “Fuck off,” Reef snarled as he got to his feet.
    Elliott glanced around as he stood up, saw no one within earshot, and spoke through clenched teeth. “Now you listen to me, asshole. I have clients who give a shit, so the last thing I need is to waste more time with the likes of you. But I want you to understand one thing. Judge Thomas could have crucified you. Instead, she gave you a second chance. Don’t screw it up.”
    â€œChance to do what? Improve my public speaking? Give me a break!” Reef turned away savagely, kicked a nearby chair so it flipped over backwards and crashed to the floor.
    Elliott’s voice was low, but that didn’t mask the venom in his response. “You don’t get it, do you? You’ve just been given a break. You get to walk out of here and make a difference in your life. That is, if you have the guts to do it.”
    Reef whirled to face him. “What do you know about guts? I could kick your ass from here to Sunday.” It was out of Reef’s mouth before he realized where that line had come from. His grandfather.
    The lawyer shook his head. “That’s the problem with you, Reef,” he said as he reached down and pulled the chair upright. “Courage and kicking ass aren’t the same thing. Maybe that’s something you’ll learn in the next twelve months. If not,” he sighed, “I expect I’ll see you here again.” He opened hisbriefcase, slid his files inside, and took a deep breath. “Now comes the hard part.”
    â€œMr. Elliott! What’s your response to the judge’s ruling?” The throng of people around Reef and his lawyer was overwhelming and questions came quickly.
    â€œOf course we’re pleased,” replied Elliott as he and Reef made their way down the courthouse steps. As instructed, Reef said nothing. He kept his hands inside his jacket pockets so the reporters wouldn’t see his fists. Clenching, loosening, clenching again. He scanned the area for Scar and Bigger and spied them waiting across the street. Scar waved to him.
    â€œSurprised?” called the reporter whom Bigger had confronted.
    â€œWe think the judge was fair,” Elliott replied.
    An angry sob rose from another knot of people on the steps below them and a woman’s voice shouted. “Fair? It was anything but fair!”
    Reef’s glance slid across several faces and he saw, surrounded by television cameras, the man and woman he’d seen in the newspaper and in the courtroom every