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And as the tears continued to fall, Bryce wished he could just be as good a man as his father had been. To hell with the rest… And the conscience he had tucked so effectively away was beginning to slip out. As Bryce dashed back his tears and got up to wash his face, he wondered what he would do with a conscience… Bryce hadn’t had much use for it in quite a while.
    He picked up his cell phone and found the number he was looking for. He dialed and listened to it ring.
    “Hello?”
    “Sheriff?”
    “… Bryce? What’s up?”
    “Is it too late to meet for a cup of coffee? I’ll come anywhere you say.”
    He heard Dan chuckle on the other end.
    “You must have read the logbook.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I’m still at the Excalibur.”
    “…Twenty minutes in the coffee shop again?”
    “I’ll be there, son.”
     
    * * *
     
    Dan sat in the same back booth of the coffee shop at the Excalibur Hotel watching Bryce walk up to him. Dan nodded and reached out to shake his hand.
    “Didn’t expect to hear from you quite so soon, son.”
    “…But you expected to hear from me…” Bryce slid into the seat across from him.
    “…Thought I might…”
    “Tell me exactly what happened to Dad’s business. I’ve never really known.”
    “Okay. Your grandfather loaned your father enough to buy into that Western clothing franchise. The stores are only in the Western states.”
    “Yes, I know that much…”
    “… Patience…”
    “…Sorry.”
    A waitress came up. “Want to order anything?”
    “Coffee…”
    “Coffee…”
    She nodded. “Two coffees coming up.” And she left with their order.
    “Anyway… It went well for a few years – most of your high school years, I’d say.”
    “That’s what I remember too.”
    “He’d paid back your grandfather and the store was doing well. Making a good profit…”
    “… And then?”
    The waitress came back then with their coffees and set them down on the table. “Anything else I can get you?”
    “No.”
    “No.” Neither man looked at her.
    She looked from one man to the other, shrugged and left.
    “… And then it all went to hell. A large retail company notified him that the franchise was being bought out -- All the individual businesses in the franchise were being shut down. Your dad was forced to sell.”
    “So he didn’t screw up or make poor business decisions?”
    Dan shook his head. “Nope. He was a good businessman – He was forced out.” Dan stirred some milk in his coffee and took a good drink. He watched Bryce…
    Bryce ran a hand through his dark hair. He knit his brows and his forehead creased. His face scrunched so little wrinkles appeared around his eyes. Then he sat back and blew out a breath.
    “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”
    Dan took another sip. “… You’d have to ask your mother. I never saw you again after the funeral. Someone said you’d left town.”
    “How’d you know I was in Vegas?”
    “I talked to Carol before my trip here. She said she’d heard from you a bit and thought you might still be here.”
    Bryce looked uncomfortable.
    “Aren’t you keeping in contact with your mother, Bryce?”
    He finally took a sip of his coffee. It was already starting to cool and he frowned.
    “… I haven’t called Mom in a while, that’s true. How is she?”
    “Find out yourself…”
    He grimaced. “I deserve that.”
    “Can I ask you a personal question, son?”
    “…Yes…”
    “… If you haven’t made peace with your father’s death and haven’t been speaking to your mother, what the hell have you been doing for the last ten years?”
    Bryce smiled. “Making money…”
    “Does it salve your conscience?”
    “I haven’t had one for a while.”
    Dan smiled. “…And now?”
    “It’s beginning to feel more familiar.”
    “What? Having a conscience?”
    “That and actually using it.” Bryce blew out a big breath. “I think I’m in for some rough times.”
    Dan took another sip of his now cold