He poked at the fruit, still focused on the pot instead of Malcolm. Really, there was nothing for him to do but watch the fruit simmer and make sure it was submerged.

"Before I came here, I had the chance to disappear with the score of a lifetime. Cut the anklet. Start over with my best friend, wherever we wanted to go. We could have afforded to be whoever we wanted. Had ironclad IDs from a guy who'd been cultivating fake lives for people for years."

He shrugged. "I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave. I like my life. I like who--" Who he was becoming. "--who I share it with. One of the last things Mozzie said before he walked out was that I was lying to myself if I thought that was who I really was."

Neal took a deep breath, trying for casual again. "Still trying to figure out if he was right."