Page 103 of Dirty Judge

She was sobbing uncontrollably in her husband’s arms, and her husband was looking at me with teary eyes.

I knew what that look meant, but I refused to believe it.

Not until someone told me.

Not until I saw my parents for myself.

Suddenly, my door swung open, and a police officer reached for my hand.

I couldn’t take it, though.

I was now holding Little Ryan, and he cried every time I tried to place him into his car seat.

“Well, son…” The officer ran a hand through his hair. “There’s no easy way for me to say this, but your parents were killed tonight in an accident.”

I blinked.

“That little guy’s parents were airlifted to a hospital, but…” He looked down. “They’re not expected to survive either.”

“My mother is the safest driver I know…” I refused to believe it. “She doesn’t get in accidents.”

“From what we’re seeing, this wasn’t her fault, son.”

“So, who the fuck did this?”

He didn’t answer that.

“Do you have some other family members in Ithaca that we can call?” he asked. “It’s policy that we have to make sure you’re with your next of kin. Aunts and uncles, perhaps?”

“Both my parents were only children…” I felt something rising up my throat and handed Little Ryan to him.

“What about grandparents?”

“No,” I said. “It’s just been the three of us my whole life.” I vomited on the road and fell to my knees.

The next thing I knew everything went black.

NOT GUILTY (N.):

PLEA OF A PERSON WHO CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME OF WHICH HE/SHE IS ACCUSED, MADE IN COURT WHEN ARRAIGNED (FIRST BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE) OR AT A LATER TIME SET BY THE COURT.

LIAM

Ithaca, New York

Thirteen Years Old

The next time I opened my eyes, I was lying on a hospital bed in a bright white room.

There was a man in a suit sitting next to me.

“What’s going on?” My throat hurt.

“Well, you’ve been out for quite some time, little fella.” The man smiled. “That’s typical for trauma at your age.”

“Can you call my dad, please?” I asked. “Actually, make it my mom. She’ll yell less.”

“Liam…” He grabbed my hand. “Liam, your parents are deceased.”