Zane climbed into the cruiser and swore as he looked at the courthouse. He had always had a good working relationship with Judge Borth but their discussion left him feeling uneasy.

Judge Borth had seemed to be less than his usual self this morning. Maybe he had gotten out of the wrong side of the bed.

Whatever the reason, Judge Borth had not been himself. He had been distant and cold. Zane pondered what to do. There was no point going back to the station. He picked up the files of the kids he had tossed on the front passenger seat and went through them.

James O’Reilly, sixteen, Lamar Pendleton,...