“Dead? Mom? What are you talking about?” Lopez lost the remnant of sleep in her eyes immediately.

“I don't know how it happened, Lopez. He found us.” Lucy cried over the phone.

“Who found you?” Lopez questioned, confused.

“They beat him. They beat him to death,” Lucy continued, still crying.

“Oh, Mom, please. Stop speaking in parables. Just calm down and get it together, alright?”

Lucy didn't respond to what she said. She just continued crying. Lopez had to call out to her to be sure she heard what she'd said.

“Now, please tell me, who found you? They beat who?”

“James!”

“Dad?” Lopez repeated to be sure she'd gotten...