He also has a younger brother, Forrest, the black sheep of the family. Ray Atlee is a professor of law, is forty-three, and newly divorced. With the end in sight, Judge Atlee issues a summons for both sons to return home to discuss the details of his estate. And his sick father is Judge Atlee - a powerful official who has towered over local politics for forty years. But the Judge dies too soon, and in doing so leaves behind a shocking secret known only to Ray. 2002.