The Boys With Blue Pendants

Chapter 1 - Five Dollars For One Night

The rain had soaked both boys before they reached the hotel.

Ten-year-old Ethan held his younger brother Noah's hand tightly as they ran beneath the awning. Their shoes were dripping, their clothes clung to their bodies, and Ethan had only one crumpled five-dollar bill left.

The young employee at the door opened it.

Ethan held up the money.

"We only have five dollars. Just for one night?"

The employee, Lucas, looked at the boys.

Noah was trembling badly.

Lucas stepped aside.

"Come in."

For the first time that evening, Ethan relaxed.

Lucas handed Noah a clean towel.

Then a sharp voice came from behind them.

"Hey, they can't stay here."

The hotel manager, Gregory, approached with obvious irritation.

"This is a luxury hotel, not a shelter."

Ethan slowly lowered the five-dollar bill.

"We can sleep in the lobby. We won't bother anyone."

"No."

Gregory pointed toward the doors.

"Outside."

Noah moved closer to his brother.

As he lifted the towel around his shoulders, the blue oval pendant hanging over his hoodie swung into view.

Beside him, Ethan wore an identical pendant.

An elderly man sitting nearby lowered his newspaper.

His name was Henry Caldwell.

For several seconds, he forgot to breathe.

He knew those pendants.

He had ordered them specially ten years earlier.

Only two had ever been made.

Henry stood.

"Where did you get those?"

Ethan immediately closed his hand around his necklace.

"We've always had them."

Henry studied both boys.

Then he pulled out his phone.

When the call connected, his voice shook.

"I found them."

He looked directly at the two children.

"Come now."

Ethan tightened his grip on Noah's hand.

He had no idea who Henry was calling.

Or why one small piece of jewelry had made an old man look as though he had just seen the dead return.