The doors of New York City Courtroom number 12 burst open. A swarm of reporters poured out and surged down the wide hall towards the bank of telephone booths. Moments later snatches of a dozen conversations could be heard amid the general hum of chatter that filled the hallway.
“It looks like something’s gonna break soon. That little Eddy McIntyre is startin’ to sweat something fierce…”
“…The DA is giving Eddy a real going over, and the little guy is gettin’ rattled…”
“…And he started coughin’ fit to bust, so Judge Lockhart called a 10-minute recess…”
“…He’s got that lung problem, see, they had to call him back from New Mexico to testify…”
“…if you ask me, Eddy’s not going to last much longer once the DA starts on him again…”
“…yeah, he’s gonna start naming names real soon now. We’ll have something for the afternoon edition, count on it!”
“Commissioner Duval was looking pretty unhappy, too. Eddy’s supposed to be his big defense, ya know…”
“It’ll be awfully interestin’ to see which of the Commissioner’s pals decide not to show after this recess…“
“…rats leaving a sinking ship, if ya get my meaning…”
“…you’ll get your headline, I promise!”
***************
“Daddy, you promised!”
The honorable Judge Alden Lockhart shrugged unhappily up at his beautiful, golden-haired daughter. “I know dear, but you’ll just have to give the Burnetts my apologies.”
“But tonight’s dinner party is in our honor! If my future mother- and father-in-law have gone to the trouble of arranging this evening for us, the least you can do is show up!”
“If you remember, Alison, I warned you and Todd this was a bad time to announce your engagement. Until this Duval trial is over social affairs are not my first priority!” He snapped, his fist coming down on his desk as though he still held his gavel. Then he sighed and removed his glasses to rub tired eyes. “Forgive me, dear. It’s this blasted case. It consumes all my time and energy. Political corruption like this is so vile, so unforgivable--sometimes I think this trial is going to swallow me up entirely.”
Instantly contrite, Alison dropped her gloves and muff and flew around his chair to slip her arms around her father’s shoulders. “Oh, darling, you really are exhausted, aren’t you?! Please don’t give it another thought; I’ll explain everything to Todd’s parents.” She dropped a kiss on the top of his head and pressed her cheek into his hair. “I’m sure they’ll understand. After all, the only thing any of the newspapers will talk about is this case. They certainly have to know how important it is.”
This last was said with only the slightest tinge of doubt, but the judge knew his daughter too well. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her around to face him. “You can’t fool me, young lady. You want me there for moral support, am I right?”
Alison suddenly couldn’t meet her father’s eyes. “Maybe…just a little.”
“Are you having any doubts about marrying Todd, Alison?” his voice was grave with concern.
“Of course not, Daddy. Todd is a darling, really he is! But his parents can be so…and that enormous house is so…”she trailed off, at a loss for words. Abruptly her tone became bright and teasing. “Oh, let’s not talk about this now. You have to be back in the courtroom in just a moment, and you haven’t said a word about my new outfit!”
“It’s a splendid outfit, and you look charming as I’m sure you know very well. But Alison…” The judge refused to be put off. “I want very much to see you settled and happy. I won’t be around forever, you know.”
“What a ridiculous thing to say! You’re eternal, darling.” She was still joking, refusing to acknowledge his seriousness. She tugged on his hands, drawing him up out of the chair. “Now give me a kiss goodbye. I still have a dozen things to do before tonight.”
She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then abruptly the judge pulled her close and for a moment held her tight.
“Goodbye, Alison. Be careful.”
She looked up at her father, faintly puzzled. “Of course, Daddy.” She hesitated. “I still have a few minutes, though. How about you pull rank with the bailiff and get me a seat in the courtroom. I can watch you be brilliant for a little while before I have to rush off.”
“No!” They were both startled by his vehemence. He continued, calmer. “I mean, I don’t want you exposed to what’s going on out there, Alison. It’s just too sordid.”
“Really, Daddy! As if I couldn’t read every word of what happens in the newspapers!”
“Indulge your old father, sweetheart.”
“All right, if it would make you happier. Shall I tell Elsa not to bother with supper, then?”
“That would probably be best. Enjoy your party. I’ll be with you in spirit.”
“That will have to do, I guess.” On her way out the door she turned and blew him a last kiss. “Later, darling!”
For a moment Judge Lockhart gazed silently at the door, then around the room, empty now except for himself. Sighing, he turned heavily back to his desk.
“It looks like something’s gonna break soon. That little Eddy McIntyre is startin’ to sweat something fierce…”
“…The DA is giving Eddy a real going over, and the little guy is gettin’ rattled…”
“…And he started coughin’ fit to bust, so Judge Lockhart called a 10-minute recess…”
“…He’s got that lung problem, see, they had to call him back from New Mexico to testify…”
“…if you ask me, Eddy’s not going to last much longer once the DA starts on him again…”
“…yeah, he’s gonna start naming names real soon now. We’ll have something for the afternoon edition, count on it!”
“Commissioner Duval was looking pretty unhappy, too. Eddy’s supposed to be his big defense, ya know…”
“It’ll be awfully interestin’ to see which of the Commissioner’s pals decide not to show after this recess…“
“…rats leaving a sinking ship, if ya get my meaning…”
“…you’ll get your headline, I promise!”
***************
“Daddy, you promised!”
The honorable Judge Alden Lockhart shrugged unhappily up at his beautiful, golden-haired daughter. “I know dear, but you’ll just have to give the Burnetts my apologies.”
“But tonight’s dinner party is in our honor! If my future mother- and father-in-law have gone to the trouble of arranging this evening for us, the least you can do is show up!”
“If you remember, Alison, I warned you and Todd this was a bad time to announce your engagement. Until this Duval trial is over social affairs are not my first priority!” He snapped, his fist coming down on his desk as though he still held his gavel. Then he sighed and removed his glasses to rub tired eyes. “Forgive me, dear. It’s this blasted case. It consumes all my time and energy. Political corruption like this is so vile, so unforgivable--sometimes I think this trial is going to swallow me up entirely.”
Instantly contrite, Alison dropped her gloves and muff and flew around his chair to slip her arms around her father’s shoulders. “Oh, darling, you really are exhausted, aren’t you?! Please don’t give it another thought; I’ll explain everything to Todd’s parents.” She dropped a kiss on the top of his head and pressed her cheek into his hair. “I’m sure they’ll understand. After all, the only thing any of the newspapers will talk about is this case. They certainly have to know how important it is.”
This last was said with only the slightest tinge of doubt, but the judge knew his daughter too well. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her around to face him. “You can’t fool me, young lady. You want me there for moral support, am I right?”
Alison suddenly couldn’t meet her father’s eyes. “Maybe…just a little.”
“Are you having any doubts about marrying Todd, Alison?” his voice was grave with concern.
“Of course not, Daddy. Todd is a darling, really he is! But his parents can be so…and that enormous house is so…”she trailed off, at a loss for words. Abruptly her tone became bright and teasing. “Oh, let’s not talk about this now. You have to be back in the courtroom in just a moment, and you haven’t said a word about my new outfit!”
“It’s a splendid outfit, and you look charming as I’m sure you know very well. But Alison…” The judge refused to be put off. “I want very much to see you settled and happy. I won’t be around forever, you know.”
“What a ridiculous thing to say! You’re eternal, darling.” She was still joking, refusing to acknowledge his seriousness. She tugged on his hands, drawing him up out of the chair. “Now give me a kiss goodbye. I still have a dozen things to do before tonight.”
She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then abruptly the judge pulled her close and for a moment held her tight.
“Goodbye, Alison. Be careful.”
She looked up at her father, faintly puzzled. “Of course, Daddy.” She hesitated. “I still have a few minutes, though. How about you pull rank with the bailiff and get me a seat in the courtroom. I can watch you be brilliant for a little while before I have to rush off.”
“No!” They were both startled by his vehemence. He continued, calmer. “I mean, I don’t want you exposed to what’s going on out there, Alison. It’s just too sordid.”
“Really, Daddy! As if I couldn’t read every word of what happens in the newspapers!”
“Indulge your old father, sweetheart.”
“All right, if it would make you happier. Shall I tell Elsa not to bother with supper, then?”
“That would probably be best. Enjoy your party. I’ll be with you in spirit.”
“That will have to do, I guess.” On her way out the door she turned and blew him a last kiss. “Later, darling!”
For a moment Judge Lockhart gazed silently at the door, then around the room, empty now except for himself. Sighing, he turned heavily back to his desk.
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