Ernie was going tell Zacharias to sit down again but decided against it. He sighed, resigned to the fact that Smith was a stubborn git. But a stubborn git who will have to hear bad news.
"Zacharias, I'm really sorry but I've just been informed that your father, Isaiah Smith has passed away," he said, his voice clear and even. He swallowed, feeling a lump in his own throat. "He had been found this morning and the cause of death is murder."