"Demolitions. I work for Riley Crowe." I take another tiny sip, pretending to take a longer one.
His eyes narrow immediately. "Crowe Demolitions. He runs that convict program."
My heart pounds. “Yes sir."
"You part of that?" His gaze is sharp.
I swallow a lump of nerves—or, try to. The lump stays in my throat, hot and hard. "Yes sir. I am."
Noelle arrives then, a glass of wine in her hand. "Dad, stop. No interrogating my friend."
Nicholas takes a long sip. "Just making conversation, honey."
"It's okay," I tell her.
Nicholas glances from me to Noelle, who's standing quite close to my side—closer than one would expect just a friend to stand. "What happened? What'd you do?"
"Dad. Stop," Noelle snaps.
I touch her shoulder. "Noelle, it's okay. I don't mind." I direct my gaze at her father. "I was involved in an armed robbery that went wrong. Someone was killed."
Nicholas's gaze narrows. "You kill him?"
I shake my head. "No sir. It was an accident. I got charged and convicted for it, though."
"But you were there. You were part of it." The judgment is clear in his voice.
I nod. “Yes sir, I was."
He looks at his daughter. Then at me again. "How long were you in prison for?"
"Ten years, almost eleven. Out on parole, working for Riley."
He nods slowly. "I see." A long pause, his gaze thoughtful. "Learn anything?”
"I did."
"Such as?"
Noelle touches my forearm to hold back my reply, glaring at her father. "Dad, please. He doesn’t need to be interrogated."
"Noelle." My voice is firm. "Let him ask his questions. You're his daughter. He has the right to know who you're hanging out with."
Nicholas looks from me to her, waiting for Noelle's answer.
"I'm an adult. I choose who I spend time with," she says. "I know all about Bear's past."
"Itisyourpast,though, isn't it?" he asks me.
I nod. "Yes sir, it is. I live here in Three Rivers. I work for Riley. I volunteer at the shelter. I got nothin’ to do with anyone or anything from that part of my life anymore. I did some badthings, even if I didn’t do what I was accused of. I did do other stuff. I was given a second chance, and I plan on doing things right this time around."
Nicholas nods, setting his beer aside to check the food on the griddle. He notices that I've set my bottle down after only a few sips. "Not a drinker?"
"Not much of one, sir, no," I answer.
"Problems with it?"
I shake my head. "No. But I'm on parole. Doing my best to keep out of trouble." I frown at Noelle. "I forgot to give them the things I got."
