Billy took the beer, but he didn't open it. He didn't even try. He just took it in both hands, lowering it into his lap. Looking at it in the faint light that reached them from the beach. But he wasn't really seeing it.

Those words. The story. Did Mike know the truth? Had Billy's reaction given him away? Was he made? Would someone as involved in this business have reacted different? Taken up that invitation upstairs? He twisted the bottle between his fingers, watching it. Why was Mike telling him this?

"Life leads us to places we never planned," he remarked, still in that same tone. Easier to hold onto that then suddenly act like everything was fine. Until he figured out if Mike knew anything.