I was waiting for Ben when he came out of the courthouse. He stopped when he saw me. He barely caught the helmet I tossed to him. "Brenda? What are you doing here?"

"I just bailed you out," I told him as I held out his board.

He didn't take it. "How?"

I shook my head. "Does it matter? You're out. Let's ride. I want to talk."

He sighed. "Okay." He took his board and began riding in the direction of the park. I rode next to him. After we had reached the sidewalk that wound along the lake he began talking. "I'm not sure what happened," he started.

"You were working late, yeah?"

"Yeah." we were slowly rolling along, more of a casual ride than trying to get anywhere. "I was sitting at my desk near the back room. There was a picky client that wanted Rob to handle the company matters, but he had to leave early. Something about his kid. I think she got sick and he had to pick her up since Rachael couldn't leave the hospital at the time. I think she was the only nurse on duty or something like that. I didn't mind staying and working on it, but I had to stay late to finish it up. I figured it'd be fine.

"I think it was around five-fifteen or so that I heard a noise coming from across the building. I wasn't sure what it was. I figured that maybe Rob had come back for something and was making the noise. I heard a metal clank and figured he was going to make a late run to the bank, but that was when I saw the time. The bank closed nearly twenty minutes before, so I saved my work and tried to make my way to his room."

"Tried?" I asked.

He easily dodged a branch laying on the concrete in his path. "I got a call about the time I was walking that way. When I picked up, it was the client, asking about how things were going. It was due this morning, actually. Anyway, I explained that I was just reviewing it all and promised it would be done on time, that it only needed a few finishing touches. That was when I heard a loud bang from Rob's office. I hurriedly hung up and went to check on him. But, when I got in there, it was empty. The safe was wide open."

Ben stopped his board. I did the same. He led us over to a bench. "Someone broke into the safe?" I asked.

He shrugged. "It didn't look like it was, but the office was basically torn apart. I knew that the code was in his desk, and apparently so did whoever that was. The back door that connects to the office was wide open and I could hear a car leaving. I ran outside and saw taillights leave, but I couldn't see the plate. I went back inside and was just about to call the police when there were suddenly sirens right out front, like they'd magically appeared. I never heard them come."

I swallowed as his words hit me. "Someone set you up?"

"I think so," he said quietly. We were both silent for a minute, stewing over the story he'd just told me. "They busted through the front door," he continued. "I stepped out of the office. It was slow motion after that. They ordered me to the ground, cuffed me, and took me out to the car. I saw the news van outside when they led me out. They were all out there, like they were waiting for it to happen. Something's not right, Brenda." He turned to me. "I have no idea what's going on."

My throat constricted as I looked at him. "I can't lose you, too," I told him, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Ben's lower lip trembled before he engulfed me in a hug. We sat there that way for a couple of minutes before he sniffled and pulled away. He wiped at his eyes with his sleeve as he stood. "I need to go see Lilly." He turned to me as I rose to stand with him. "Things will be okay," he said, resting his hands on my shoulders. "You'll see." He gave me a final smile before leaving on his board.

I sighed as I started off on mine in the opposite direction. The ride to the music store was short, but filled with something like dread. I wanted the job - I needed the job - but I was terrified of actually getting it. If I did, that would mean I'd have to deal with old classmates and people who pitied me all day. I knew the owner didn't, but he was just one person.

Mr. Buckley was sitting behind the counter when I walked inside. He looked up as I entered and smiled at me. "Ah, there you are. I was wondering what had happened to you."

I forced a smile. "I had something to take care of unexpectedly. Sorry I'm late."

He nodded. "Of course. I saw the news last night. Anyway. Follow me." I frowned once his back was turned. Everyone surely knew by now. News traveled fast in small towns, and this one was no exception.

I followed him to a small table with two chairs facing each other in a corner of the shop. He sat in one of the chairs, leaving the other for me. Once I was seated, he began the interview. "It's not the best time for you, I know," he said to begin. "I don't require you to work many hours, just on the weekends and in the afternoons. Will you be able to do that?"

"Of course," I answered, feeling suddenly very annoyed and upset. It took considerable effort to keep my answers from being clipped or flippant, but I managed to make it all the way to the end of the interview. We stood, shook hands, and he said he'd call me in a few days. I left the store on foot, carrying my board. I started heading home, but took a detour.

The town was nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, somewhere between Denver and Boulder. This meant the town was hilly with some sheer drops in some places. One of those wasn't far from my dad's house. I used to come here regularly, sometimes with people I hung around. None of them ever came here on their own that I know of. It was my spot.

In late fall, only a few leaves clung to mostly barren branches, the rest of them blanketing the ground in beautiful colors that were turning brown. If you didn't know what you were doing, it was easy to simply slip and fall down the incline - not that it was so far down you'd die if that happened - or to not be able to climb back up. I figured out how to do it some years ago and had shown some other people how to do the same, but it wasn't easy.

I glanced around when I reached the spot I always climbed down. Sure that no one was nearby, I began making the descent. Pebbles skittered as I let myself mostly slide down the incline. The thick layer of leaves at the bottom cushioned my already gentle landing.

Once I was settled, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air. I may not live in a city, but there's still a decided lack of the smells permeating the air here. The smell of decay, of branches and logs and leaves turning into something to nourish the plants they came from, and the smell of living things. After I had stopped moving for a little bit the sounds of the animals returned, the little sounds most people didn't notice.

The best thing about the peace was that I could think. The last time I came here was the week after my dad was arrested. I'd needed to come to terms with the fact I now lived with Ben and Lilly, that I no longer lived in the house I grew up in.

That my house was about to go up for sale to be bought by strangers because I couldn't bring myself to say I wanted it. My mother died in that house, and a part of me died in there, too. I wanted to be rid of that place, but at the same time, I hated to let it go. It held memories, some good and some bad. I wasn't an overly sentimental person, but I still liked having things that made me remember other times.

I sat in my spot for a long time. Daylight grew dimmer, and I knew I would have to leave soon, before the nighttime animals came out and I would be in danger of them and bad people that roamed the bad neighborhood between here and Ben's house. My skin felt like it was frozen, but I was only just noticing how the cold bit at me.

I made the ride back home slow. I took in the scenery, memorizing each of these houses. I was determined to not stay here. Not now. Ben may be guilty, but I wanted him to be innocent. I wanted that almost more than I wanted to breathe. I couldn't lose him, too.

But, when I left, I'd never come back. It would be a lot like leaving him behind to build a life in a different world. What about when he had kids? I knew he would - he'd told me before that's one of the things they both want. I wouldn't come to help out? Just to see the little rascals? It was the only thing bothering me. If I never came back, I'd never see them unless they came to me, and I couldn't honestly ask that of them every time we wanted to see each other.

By the time I reached my house, I had made the decision that the only reason to ever come back to this place again would be for their children. And Ben. And Lilly.

I walked into the house and found Ben waiting for me. He stood from where he sat at the table and came over to give me a huge hug. 

"What's this for?" I asked, my voice slightly muffled where it was pressed into his shoulder.

"Lilly just told me."

"I told her not to."

He held me at arm's length. "I can't believe you'd give up your savings - just for me."

I shrugged. "Ben, you're the only family I have left except for Lilly. Why wouldn't I do whatever I could to get you out?"

He pulled me back into a hug. "Never change, Brenda. You're an amazing person."

I felt the hot blush color my face. "Thank you." Once I could feel tears trying to push their way to the surface, I gently pushed Ben away and wiped at my face with the back of my sleeve. "I need to change out of these clothes," I told him, making an excuse to be alone for a few. "They got wet."

"Hurry up, sis. Lilly said dinner's about ready." He gave me a smile and headed back into the kitchen.