Sitting in a beach chair, not far from a danger zone for crashing waves, Brett monitored the kids building sandcastles. Wondering where the heck the parents were, his protective mode was on full throttle. With sun rays bouncing off his Ray-Bans and a five-day growth of beard, Brett had the dangerous look of a gunslinger bent on trouble. He wore the look naturally, like a second skin or a shield of armor.

The faint hint of a smile broke through as he watched the small boy run over to him and ask, “You want to play with my Buzz Lightyear?”

“That is a pretty cool astronaut.”

“He’s not an astronaut,” the boy bristled, “He’s a space ranger.”

“Ah, a space ranger. That’s much cooler than an astronaut.”

“Damn straight,” the boy responded.

That brought a burst of laughter from Brett. It had been a long time when he could laugh so easily.

“Michael James, get over here right this second!”

Rolling his eyes in a male conspiratorial expression, the boy whispered, “That’s my Mom.”

“Michael James…”

With an audible sigh, he turned his head and yelled, “Coming, Mom.”

Turning back with a mischievous grin, the boy raised his hand in the universal high-five and said, “See ya’.”

Slapping the small hand, Brett chuckled, “See ya’, buddy.”

He watched the boy join his Mom and the little girl he assumed was the boy’s sister. Prancing up and down, next to Mom, was a white poodle – definitely a chick dog. He’d bet cold hard cash, it wasn’t the boy’s choice.

As if in retaliation, the poodle lifted its leg on Brett’s blanket as the family parade made their way across the beach. Roaring in laughter, Brett warmed at the sound of the little boy’s giggle.

With a quick jerk on the boy’s arm, his mother pulled the boy along to a waiting limousine. “Welcome to southern California,” Brett laughed.

Slowly the smile faded as he was transported back to the dark recesses of his mind. He saw the murdered child, who was only slightly older than the boy on the beach. Headlines of journalism trash screamed the ugly truth, if only in his head – THOU SHALT NOT KILL – OOPS – I DID.