"I know you're not buying any of this."

She didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. The tension sang through him, like he was ready to turn and run at any moment, but something about their conversation -- if it could be called that -- had held him here. He still stood there, waiting, expectant. He wasn't quite ready to rabbit off and hide just yet.

"I don't know how I can help. But I'd like to."