Keep Quiet(33)

“Boys.” Pam made a drumroll sound, her blue eyes shining with happiness. “Tonight at the dinner, I found out that there’s about to be a new vacancy on the federal district court!”

“Really.” Jake could see in his peripheral vision that the TV screen had returned to the anchorwoman in the studio, but the enlarged photo behind her grabbed him by the throat. It showed Pike Road as a crime scene, with yellow plastic tape, red flares, and a black body bag being lifted on a gurney. The voiceover said, “If you have any information on the crash or the location of the alleged hit-and-run vehicle please call Concord Chase police at…”

“Guys, what?” Pam scowled, hurt. “Why are you being so rude? What’s so damn interesting?”

“Nothing, honey,” Jake answered, and Ryan swallowed visibly, but Pam whirled around to face the television, then watched the end of the news report, shaking her head.

“Oh. That is sad. Everybody was talking about it tonight. What’s the matter with people?”

“God knows.” Jake put an arm around Ryan, while Pam turned back to face them.

“Ryan, are you okay? You don’t look good. Do you have a fever?” She reached across the table and put her hand on his forehead sideways. She always had an uncanny ability to tell if he had a fever, so they called her The Ther-MOM-eter.

“No, Mom, I’m fine.” Ryan pressed her hand away. “Tell us your news. Please.”

Pam brightened again, nodding energetically. “Okay, anyway. Judge Medova is going to step down and become managing partner at Ringman Tesher.”

“Oh, interesting.” Jake didn’t know where her story was going, but he was finally able to listen, since the TV news had moved on to a dorm arsonist at Temple.

“And guess who’s the front runner to fill the vacancy?” Pam’s eyes lit up. “Me!”

“Wow,” Jake said, astounded.

“Can you believe it?” Pam squealed in delight.

“What’s this mean?” Ryan blinked dully, and Pam reached across the island and took his face in both of her hands.

“It means your mother is going to be a federal judge!”

“Great!” Ryan said, mustering up the requisite enthusiasm.

“Oh my God, honey.” Jake felt happy for her, went around the island, and hugged her hard. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you, babe.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Pam hugged him back. “Can you believe it? Can you even believe it?”

“Sure, I can. You deserve it.”

Pam giggled delightedly. “The state court judges are always overlooked for the federal bench, except for Judge Spaeth, who was even considered for the Supremes. But since him, I don’t think there’s been anybody. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Absolutely amazing,” Jake said, meaning it. He leaned over and turned off the TV.

Ryan rose, placing a hand on the counter. “Can somebody explain to me what this is all about?”

“Sure.” Jake’s heart went out to his son, trying to rise above the circumstances for his mother. “Pam, tell your son what a big deal you’re about to become.”

Pam smiled, pleased. “There are two systems of justice in the country. There’s a state system, which I’m a part of, and it rules on questions of state law. State judges are appointed for a term of years, and they’re elected, which you’ve heard me say is totally ridiculous. Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the country that still elects judges, instead of having them appointed based on their qualifications and merits. It’s like a judicial popularity contest, and a corruption of the law—”

“Mom.” Ryan rolled his eyes. “Please don’t start with that again.”

Pam burst into laughter. “Okay, but as I was saying, the other system of the judiciary is federal, which decides questions of federal law.”

“Is one better than the other?” Ryan asked, sitting back down.

“Well, more important matters come before the federal bench. Questions of antitrust law, banking law, constitutional law, and First Amendment law, all sorts of big, complex questions.” Pam grinned. “Really cool stuff.”

“So it’s a big deal,” Ryan said, with a shaky smile.

“Yes,” Pam answered, beaming. “And another cool thing about it is that federal judges are appointed under the Constitution, for life. I never have to run for election again. That means no more county fairs, no more funnel cakes and hot dogs, no dairy and goat shows, no more sucking up to every petty potentate so I can do some good in this Commonwealth.”

Jake felt happy for her, but it was still hard to smile. He kept thinking of that news photo, with the body bag. Inside was Kathleen, whom they had killed. He tried to get his act together.

“But guess what, there’s no pay raise. On the contrary, I have to take a pay cut.” Pam snorted. “You know how you’ve heard me say Pennsylvania judges are among the top paid in the country? Believe it or not, a federal district judge makes fifteen grand less than I make now.”

“Really?” Jake was surprised. Pam made good money as a Superior Court Judge, but they didn’t talk salary in front of Ryan, so he didn’t ask her for an exact number. He didn’t care anyway, not really, not anymore. He was a financial planner who was learning that money wasn’t as important as he’d always thought. “So what happens now?”