Keeping a cautious eye on the woman’s husband, Wil nodded. “Yes.”
Nora’s eyes drifted to the other table, the other dead boy. Her chin trembled. “Is that… his little brother?”
“Yeah,” Wil said thickly.
Both hands covered her mouth as tears spilled over her fingers, and she looked at the mother and son sobbing on the floor.
Connor raised his head as if sensing their presence. His eyes widened at the sight of the Browns, and he struggled to his feet. His hands shook as he wiped his face, backing away. His mother stood up, reached for him, then noticed Dan and Nora Brown.
Rita Healy looked at them pleadingly, crying. “Please… it was an accident… I’m so sorry…” She clung to her son. “Please…”
The young man recoiled, his head swinging side to side in denial while his gaze fixed on the floor. His shoulders heaved with each ragged breath until something inside him snapped, sending him lurching toward the exit in a desperate, uncoordinated escape. Wil flinched when Dan Brown caught hold of him.
“Don’t hurt him!” Rita Healy cried out. “Please don’t—”
Dan Brown pulled the frightened, traumatized boy into his arms andheldhim, cryingwithhim.
“I’m sorry,”Connor cried his heart out, and clung to the man.“I didn’t… I didn’t see him… I didn’t… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
Dan held him deep in his strong arms, amountainwrapped around the young man. “I know, son,” he whispered, his deep voice breaking on each syllable. “I know. It’s not your fault. Itwas an accident. I’m sorry… for what I did to you. I’m so sorry. It wasn’t your fault… it wasn’t…”
When Rita Healy came closer, Nore Brown hugged her, and the two mothers sobbed into each other’s arms.
Wil retreated to the front part of the morgue when his cell phone rang. Axel was calling. “Hello? Axel?”
“Hi.”The anguish from yesterday lingered in his voice.“I just… I was wondering if you could give a message to the Healy family.”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Clint talked to some friends last night. If the Healy boy needs legal representation, we have a criminal attorney ready to take his case—pro bono. He’s a really good attorney. Never lost a case, I don’t think.”
“I’ll definitely let them know, thank you,” Wil said. “That’s very kind and thoughtful of you.” He glanced toward the back section. “I’m not sure he will be needing it, but it’s good to know he’s covered, just in case.”
A short pause on Axel’s end.“How… How are they doing? All of them.”His voice trembled slightly.“I know that’s probably a stupid question…”
“They’re having a hard time, naturally. But…” He looked toward the back again, and his voice softened. “I think, in time, they’ll find their way through this.”
“Do you really believe that?”Axel whispered, emotion thick in his voice.“I don’t know if I could find my way through.”
“I do believe it,” Wil murmured. “I believe God is working even as we speak.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll explain later,” Wil said. “I’ll call you this evening, and we’ll talk, okay.”
“Okay,”Axel whispered.
Wil smiled small as affection warmed his voice. “Keep the faith, my friend.”
Axel crossed the backyard to the neighboring house, where Clint and Cochise sat on the back porch. When Clint and Axel first moved in next door to Cochise and Kane, the first thing they did was take down the tall slat fence separating the two properties, opening the backyards into a shared space. The kids loved it, especially the younger ones. Jules would bring his pup, Cowboy, out to play with Jonah, and the spacious area worked well for games of chase or tag. It also hosted barbecues and birthday parties.
“What did Jordan say?” Clint asked as Axel approached the porch steps. Apprehension tightened his features.
Axel climbed the steps and took a seat near the two men. “He said he would let the Healys know about the attorney.” Axel leaned forward, rubbing his eyes.
“What else?” Clint stared at him uncertainly. Axel was not doing well with all of this, and he didn’t try to hide it from Clint.
Breathing deeply, Axel straightened. “I asked how the families were doing. He said they were having a hard time but seemed hopeful they would come through it.”
