"The old place," Marcus said, "how fast can you get there?"
"Twenty minutes, tops."
He could smell the place as he pulled into the parking spot. It always had the same smell, every one of them did. It didn't matter if he was in Sterling or Brighton, it was always consistent, that smell.
Marcus sat in the same spot. Even as kids, Andy would notice him from the altar. He'd be sitting on the edge of the row, next to the seventh station of the cross plaque. Marcus made Andy hate being an altar boy: Altar boys are suck ups and serving God is for pansies. But regardless of his mockery, every Sunday Marcus appeared in that same spot-even when his parents no longer persuaded him, even after Andy's faith was shattered and he hated churches-Marcus would be there. Sometimes, when Andy came early, he saw Marcus kneeling down, alone, when he believed no one was watching. He wanted so badly to tell him God was just a fantasy, that believers were naïve, but Marcus was intimidating, even in a church, he would easily break Andy.
The smell invaded Andy's brain. Pain teased his head. Was something moving in the shadows? He pressed his eyes shut and it was gone.
He approached Marcus who did not move. He slid across the pew until he was beside this man. Marcus was his only lead; his only hope of getting his daughter back. Andy looked at his face, it appeared older, maybe tired. How long has it been since they'd met up here? Heather's funeral? Marcus's face lit up when he realized Andy was beside him. He embraced him, squeezing blood into the sore muscles, still not recovered from earlier. Andy pulled his shirt down, to cover the red circles on his wrists. Something about the marks was humiliating, he wanted to hide them, as if covering them would cover what happened.
"I know we've been through a lot Andy. I owe you, I know that, but, there's not much I can do about this one. He's lost it since-"
"-I know Marcus, but we've all been down that road, and we made it out."
"He's not like us. He's not stable."
"But I didn't do anything wrong Marcus, you believe me right?"