Jefferson Walsh sat at the foot of his living room couch, slouching and cupping his face in his palms. His body shook with grief. He had finally lost it, finally taken that leap and snapped. Lars Taylor and his officers arrived as soon as Nolan called. His heart ached for the older man whose family had crumbled to dust.
"Where's the other kid?" Lars asked as the ambulance rolled Abigail's bagged corpse into its trunk. They stood at the front door, across the wide threshold.
"He's not back yet." Nolan answered. I will get him from school and break the news before the media can."
Lars nodded. They both stared at Walsh with faces pinched in worry. Nolan's hands were crossed, and he said, "The Sheriff wouldn't be okay for a long time."
"I know. This is just too cruel."
"At least we know it wasn't a murder. The woman killed herself because she couldn't handle what happened to her son. I damn her for being selfish."
