Chapter 14

“The arraignment is tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, and the hearing and sentencing will likely be the next day. He’ll be pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The judge will likely give him seven years, if not more. You can come to the hearing. It might be good for him to see family there. He’s really shook up. Been asking for you.”

That definitely did not sound like my dad. “My brother and I will be there.”

“Okay. Again, I’m sorry for the news.”

“I…thank you, Sergeant Anders.” I hung up. In a daze, I went back downstairs and flung myself into the sunken part of the old couch where dad always sat while he drank. Rhys had finished tying up all the bags and was sweeping the floor. He stopped to look at me.

“What’s up?”

“Dad’s in jail.”

Rhys went so white his freckles stood out like a beacon. “Jail? How long? Why?” He threw down the broom and sat beside me. When I didn’t answer right away, he shook me a little. “Come on, Ross. What’s going on?”