He Threw Dirty Water at the SUV to Stop His Father

CHAPTER 1 - THE BOY IN THE PARKING LOT

The black luxury SUV rolled slowly into the church parking lot.

Before it could reach the curb, a boy ran forward and hurled a full bucket of dirty water across the windshield.

Mud and gray suds exploded over the glass.

"Are you crazy?! You could get us both killed."

The boy dropped the empty bucket.

He didn't run.

He walked straight toward the man, his face wet with tears, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles had gone white.

"You promised Mom you'd come back!"

The man's anger faltered for half a second, then hardened into confusion.

"Who the hell is your mother?"

With shaking fingers, the boy pulled a worn photograph from inside his shirt. The edges were bent and soft from being handled too many times. In it, a younger version of the same man stood with his arms around a smiling woman with dark hair and bright eyes.

The man took the photo.

Everything in his face changed.

Color drained from his cheeks. His hand trembled around the paper.

"Laura..." he whispered.

Then pain turned sharp again.

"She... she left me for someone else." His jaw tightened. "She chose money over me."

The boy shook his head so hard tears flew from his lashes.

"She never loved anyone else."

Then he reached beneath his collar and pulled out an old gold wedding ring hanging on a chain.

"She still wears your ring."

The man stared at it as if it might burn him.

His voice cracked.

"Where is she now?"

The boy swallowed, breathing hard.

"At St. Agnes Hospital," he said. "And if you don't come right now, you'll be too late."

The man looked past him then, toward the church doors.

Then he whispered, "Laura is dead?"

The boy answered, "Not yet."