Tim was great at plastering on a fake smile and pretending his life wasn’t in shambles. Every time he was escorted into the visiting room and placed in a seat across from Dallas, he tried to play it off, but it always faded.

“You didn’t have to come today. I’m fine about the ruling. Melissa has been explaining everything to me. We have more options.” Tim’s voice was shaking enough to give him away.

“I know we do,” Dallas said, resting his elbows on the cold metal table between them. The rest of the room was empty other than the two-way glass likely monitored by at least one guard. “She’s working hard for you, and I am too. I’ve got some fresh eyes looking at the case; I’m hoping that will help.”

“Same fresh eyes you had sitting next to you at the hearing?” Tim’s mouth rose into that familiar crooked smile he’d been flashing since they were kids. “She’s beautiful. Who is she?”

“Right now she’s a client,” Dallas explained. “Remember the guy I told you about, Emmitt Kalling? He helped me out of a jam years ago, and he knew if he needed a favor I’d be willing. His sister, Harlan, had some trouble, and she needs a protection detail. They’ve got the house covered well, her mother’s place too, but I’m keeping her close for now.”

“How close?” Tim chuckled, his mop of dark hair bouncing a bit. “I thought you were always playing by the rules. Never fraternize with someone you’re supposed to protect.”

“It’s not like that,” Dallas lied, and it was clear Tim wasn’t falling for it.

“I’ve known you a long time man. I can see it in your eyes,” he said. “There’s a reason for those rules, but I’m happy to see you looking something other than half dead. You’ve cleaned up that messy beard, you look like you’ve gotten more than an hour’s worth of sleep. This girl must be good for you.”

“Forget about that.” Dallas waved him off. “I want to talk about the case. I’ve got copies of the case files, and I’m starting from scratch. I didn’t know enough about appeals. I thought that idiot of a lawyer you had the first time would be reason enough for a new trial. I had no idea how rare it is to win an appeal on those grounds. We need something else. New evidence. Or even better—catch the actual killer. I need to know more about Larry. I need to understand how he might have been involved with the victim. Can you tell me anything else?”

“I wish you’d live your life, Dallas.” Tim sighed, leaning back in the rigid metal chair. “I want to get out of here. I want to be exonerated, but how much more time can you dedicate to something that doesn’t seem likely?”

“Every minute of every damn day if I have to,” Dallas reiterated, slapping his hand down on the metal table. “You’re innocent, and I’m going to make sure you get out of here.”

“Why?” Tim asked, a bite of anger in his voice. “What is it that keeps you showing up? What twisted broken shit within keeps you coming back here all the time?” Tim’s gunmetal-gray eyes snapped shut as he slammed his palm to his forehead. “Why, Dallas . . . why are you here?”

“Because you shouldn’t be,” Dallas answered simply. “It’s not guilt about our past. It’s not some cross I have to bear. The reason doesn’t matter. I’m not going anywhere until we walk out of here together. That’s happening. So cut the bullshit and work with me.” They had a brotherly relationship that included all the relentless fighting in spite of unwavering loyalty.

“I don’t know why Larry testified against me, but I don’t think he killed Angus. He’s not that kind of person.” Tim bit nervously at his thumbnail as Dallas pressed on.

“What kind of person is he then? Because he told a very elaborate story about how you confessed everything about a murder to him. Right down to where the body was buried. Is that a coincidence? How are you justifying that?”

“I can’t answer that,” Tim shrugged, beginning to look defensive. “I’ve thought a lot about it. If I knew that answer, I’d be the first to tell you.”

“How can we keep going ’round and ’round on the same thing?” Dallas asked, knowing they’d avoided so much of this conversation for too long. Tim had held fast to his story but never offered any guesses into why Larry would incriminate him. The few times Dallas had pressed, Tim would only stick to his same story, never trying to guess Larry’s reasoning. That was who he was as a person, but Dallas was sure prison would force him to do whatever he had to do to get out.

“What if he knew who actually committed the murder? Larry is the kind of guy who wants to feel big and important. He was always getting in over his head. He’d exaggerate everything. His stories were laughable half the time. If he was in with the wrong crowd and one of them murdered Angus, he’d never turn on them for fear of retribution. But pinning it on me, that would solve plenty of his problems.”

“That’s a good theory,” Dallas agreed, nodding his head in support. Encouraging Tim at this point was the only angle he had. “So if he was afraid of them, maybe even in debt to them in some way, he could have thought you were an easy target. You went home most afternoons, you lived alone. Pinning it on you would kill a few birds with one stone.”

“But I still don’t know if Larry—”

“Stop defending him. I don’t care what kind of bond you formed in juvie or what you think you know about him. He sat in front of a packed courtroom and lied, knowing full well it would likely send you to prison for the rest of your life. Any man willing do to that has no loyalty. You need to pick a side, your own damn side, and fight. Melissa is doing everything she can for you. And I am. Now you need to forget the idea that Larry needs protection of any kind and start protecting yourself.”

“That’s what it is,” Tim smirked, a little light returning to his tired eyes. “Loyalty. That’s what keeps you here. That’s what keeps you coming back. That’s what has you protecting Emmitt’s sister right now. That’s every move you make, every day of your life.”

“Then the choice should be easy,” Dallas said, leaning in. “Help me find out who actually committed this murder. It’s your best shot of getting out of here.”

“Only if you promise me something,” Tim said, looking serious again. “Your life is bigger than just these debts you pay and these jobs you do. I get that you’re the hero. You’re dependable and solid. People count on you because you’ve shown them time and again they can. But one thing I’ve learned from being in here is that life is all about the small moments in between. It’s everything you aren’t paying attention to until it’s gone.”

“It’s not gone for you, Tim; it’s just on hold.”

“Promise me even while you do this, you won’t miss the life that’s happening right in front of you,” Tim implored him with a serious glare. “I’m serious.”

“Fine,” Dallas acquiesced. “Fine. I promise. But you have to give me everything. Tell me everything you remember. I’ve been leaving all of this up to the courts; that ends now. I know you are innocent. As of right now we’re done trying to prove that. We’re going to catch a killer.”