Dale Carter failed to save his son. Now another boy is facing death row for killing his father, and Dale is chasing the case like it might undo the past. He tells himself he’s after the truth. But really, he’s the one who needs saving.
Patrol Officer Dale Carter has been sleepwalking through his grief: avoiding his wife, numbing the pain with vodka, and replaying the moments that led to his son’s death. So, when eighteen-year-old Andy Dillard stabs his domineering father over a hundred times, Dale latches on—convinced that the truth behind the killing might help him make sense of his own loss.
Andy’s relatives are desperate. The DA wants the death penalty. The lead detective has closed the case and warned Dale to stay away. But when Andy’s family begs him to look deeper, he can’t turn his back—not when he sees flashes of his own son in the boy behind bars.
What Dale uncovers defies everything he assumed. Years of abuse, forced conversion therapy, and a suicide attempt all paint a picture of unbearable pressure. But the truth behind Andy’s violent outburst runs deeper. As Dale pieces together the clues, he realizes this isn’t just a murder case. It’s a reminder of how easily a life can be written off when no one wants to look closer.
"Every father should remember
one day his son will follow his example,
not his advice.”
― Charles F. Kettering
The murder in this story is based on a terrible event from my own life, the colorful characters are inspired by my family, and the setting replicates the small, midwestern town where I was raised.