Free The Fugitive by John Grisham Page A

and that, and when the time was right Theo asked, “Say, Julio, how’s Bobby doing? Is he still living with you guys?”
    Julio frowned and glanced at the soccer game not far away. “He stays with us some, and then he’ll go back to his old place. He’s still pretty scared, you know? Plus, Bobby and my mother don’t always get along.”
    â€œThat’s too bad.”
    â€œYeah, they fight a lot. Bobby likes to drink beer and he brings it home, and this upsets my mother. She doesn’t want that stuff in the house, says it’s her house, and he has to live by the rules. And I think he might be doing some other bad stuff, you know?”
    â€œI know,” Theo said, though he really didn’t. “Doesn’t sound too good. Is he still working at the golf course?”
    Julio nodded.
    â€œLook, Julio, there’s something Bobby needs to know. They just found Pete Duffy and arrested him. He’s coming back to town for another trial.”
    â€œThe guy who killed his wife?”
    â€œYep, and Bobby is about to be a very important person. Has he talked to the police lately?”
    â€œI don’t know. I don’t see him every day.”
    â€œWell, I think you need to talk to Bobby just so he’ll know. I’m sure the police will be around shortly to have a chat.” Theo wanted to say something about Omar Cheepe and Paco and the other tough guys who were still around, and probably still worked for Pete Duffy, but he didn’t want to frighten anyone. If Bobby got scared, he would vanish into the night.
    Julio said, “He’s thinking about going home. His mother is dying and he’s very homesick.”
    â€œYour mother’s sister?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’m so sorry. But my parents are trying to help him get a work permit. He really shouldn’t leave anytime soon, Julio. Can you tell him this?”
    â€œIt’s his mother, Theo. If your mother were dying wouldn’t you want to go home?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œPlus, he’s still pretty nervous about getting involved. Just last week some of his friends who worked in an apple orchard not far from here got arrested because they didn’t have the papers, you know, and now they’re in jail somewhere, waiting to be sent back to El Salvador. It’s not easy living like this, Theo. It may be hard for you to understand, but Bobby doesn’t want to be involved. He doesn’t trust everyone like you do.”
    â€œOkay. I get it.”
    Hector and Rita were back with Judge, bored with him now and ready to hand over the leash. Judge was tired of the attention and wanted to leave. Theo said good-bye to the Penas and pedaled away.

Chapter 11
    T heo’s favorite teacher was Mr. Mount, his homeroom teacher and faculty adviser for the Debate Team. He was in his mid-thirties, still single, and prone to flirting with the young female teachers, and he had a happy, laid-back attitude about life that the boys adored. His family was full of lawyers and he himself had finished law school and worked for one less than pleasant year with a big firm in Chicago. He loved teaching, enjoyed being around kids, and had decided that he belonged in a classroom and not a courtroom. He taught Government at third period, and was often inclined to let the boys discuss whatever they wanted as long as it was remotely related to politics, history, or the law. Also, he gave easy tests.
    With Duffy all over the news, there was little doubt about what the class would dwell on Monday morning.
    â€œI have a question,” Darren said not long after Mr. Mount called the class to order.
    â€œWhat is it, Darren?”
    â€œThe newspaper said that Pete Duffy might fight extradition back to Strattenburg. What does that mean?”
    Mr. Mount glanced at Theo, but chose to handle it himself. Theo knew more about the law than anyone in the room, except Mr. Mount, but Theo was often