PART 2 “These are photos from the tow company that pulled our car out of the lake,” Celeste said. “The police never asked for them. My husband told me not to give them to anyone.” The first photo showed the Range Rover’s center console.

Graham stood up so fast his chair hit the wall.

“Your Honor, he’s a child. He’s confused. He was in shock—”

“Sit down, Mr. Crane,” Judge Ellis said. Not loud. Just final.

Austin kept going. His voice shook, but he didn’t stop.

“When the car went in the water, my dad climbed out the front window. He didn’t open my door. I was yelling ‘Dad’ and he swam away.”

His mother started crying beside the bench.

“The man from the truck came,” Austin said. “He broke the window with his arm. He pulled me out. I wasn’t breathing and he kept pushing on my chest and it hurt, but he didn’t stop.”

He turned around and looked at me.

“Thank you, Mr. Walt. You’re the one who saved me. My dad didn’t even try.”

I couldn’t see anything for a minute.