Chapter 66

An officer yanked Brian to his feet and patted him for weapons.

A uniformed sergeant with receding gray hair asked Jim’s mom, “Is that what happened, Ma’am?”

She cried but offered no comfort to Jim, plopping into a chair instead. “Yes. George argued with my son. Brian shot George as he was killing Jim.”

The sergeant ordered the young officer, “Uncuff him. Book the gun into evidence.” He went to the kitchen wall phone and dialed. “This is Sergeant Michaelson, send a Code 3 ambulance to the address on 4thStreet. I’ve got a stabbing victim and the suspect’s been shot. Notify the homicide unit that we have an attempted murder here.” He pointed at George. “Cuff him, he’s the suspect. This bleeding kid’s the victim, and the other young man and the mother are witnesses.”

“Okay, Sarge.”

After uncuffing Brian, the supervisor shook his hand. “It takes some pretty big balls to do what you did. You’ve got courage, son.”