The Fallen Angels Book Club (33 page)

“I love the law,” I went on. “I want to finish law school. I want to be an attorney. I need this certificate, not for myself, but to prove to society I've learned my lesson. I'm not perfect, but I'm not stupid. I'm so sorry there are people out there who I've hurt. I'll never again do anything that would be considered a crime against another person, or against our society. I can't help those whom I've hurt, but I can and will continue to help others. I'm definitely rehabilitated.”

Judge Mathis just looked at me. After a long minute of silence, the judge glanced over at the clock on the wall.

“Mr. Boone, you could take a few summation lessons from your client.” Mathis began putting papers back into a file. Then he held up the last one. “I received a communication from the police department yesterday indicating you were recently considered a suspect in two murders.”

My bouncing heart sank and my throat began to tighten.

Clay Boone jumped up from his seat. “Your Honor, my client was cleared of—”

The judge held up his hand. “Yes, I know, Mr. Boone. That's here, too. Please sit down.” He looked over at me. “Ms. Morgan, along with the communication was a memo from Detective Michael Faber. He expressed some very strong opinions about your request for a Certificate of Rehabilitation.”

“Oh.” A tear edged out from under my lashes.

“I have heard many cases in my court that were worked on by Detective Faber. He's rarely wrong in his assessment. He's an excellent detective and a good man. He highly recommends your petition be awarded, and I'm inclined to do so.” Judge Mathis picked up his gavel and struck it on the small wood block. “Certificate of Rehabilitation is approved and awarded to the petitioner.”

He took off his reading glasses.

“Good luck, Hollis Morgan.”

R. Franklin James
grew up in the San Francisco East Bay Area and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She and her husband currently live in northern California.

The Fallen Angels Book Club
is her first novel and the first book in the Hollis Morgan Mystery series.

You can find R. Franklin on the Web at

www.rfranklinjames.com.