Leaving Epitaph: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

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Matthew saw the man in the first pew sitting with his head bowed. His footsteps echoed as he approached the receptacle with the holy water. Out of reflex, he was going to dip his fingers and make the sign of the cross.

At the sound of the footsteps, Ethan Langer’s head jerked up. He stood and turned quickly. He saw a large man standing just inside the front doors. The sunlight coming through the stained-glass windows high above them reflected off the badge on the big man’s chest.

Ethan did not hesitate. He drew and fired.

Matthew had his fingertips in the holy water when the bullet hit him in the chest, just next to the badge he wore. He grunted and took a step back. He wasn’t sure what had happened. Confused, he looked down and saw the blood on his shirt. Still, it never occurred to him to reach for his gun.

He looked up and saw a man—Ethan Langer—walking up the center aisle toward him, gun in hand.

“Wait—” he said, but the man fired again. The bullet struck him in the shoulder and knocked him off balance. He staggered back, lost his footing and fell.

The man who shot him loomed over him with his gun pointed down at him.

“E-Ethan Langer?” Matthew asked, his vision dimming.

“That’s right, Deputy. Why are you trailing me to hell and back over a goddamned bank in South Texas?”

“Y-You killed my mother.”

“Your mother?” Ethan asked. “That stupid bitch was your mother?”

“Y-You can’t call her—”

“Do me a favor, will ya?” Ethan asked. “When you see her, tell her to leave me the hell alone.”

He fired one last time….

At the sound of the first shot, Thomas and Father Vincent started running toward the church, each concerned for their own brother. Damn Matthew if he went inside, Thomas swore.

While they were running they heard the second shot.

“This way!” Father Vincent said to Thomas, grabbing him from behind and directing him toward a back door of the church.

As they reached that door they heard the third and final shot.

Ethan stepped over the dead lawman’s body and headed for the front door. He wanted to see if there were any more outside. He opened the door and stuck his head out, but the square was empty, except for a woman and her small daughter, who were walking toward the church.

He closed the door and looked at the lawman again. At that point he heard someone rushing in from behind the altar. Quickly, he opened the door again and stepped out.

Thomas and Father Vincent ran up the center aisle toward the fallen man, each with their heart in their throat. It was Thomas, however, whose heart sank when he saw Matthew lying in a pool of blood.

“Oh, Matthew,” he said, “no!”

“Oh, my God,” Father Vincent said, feeling pain and relief at the same time.

Matthew had been shot twice in the chest and once in the head. Thomas knelt next to his brother, cradled his head in his lap and began to cry.

Father Vincent knelt next to the dead man and began to administer Last Rites.