Despite his words, I kept going, knowing if I stopped, I'd never be able to get it all out. "I was distracted, Rene. I let down my guard." I didn't tell him that I had lost focus because I was too eager to see her. Or what we were doing when it happened. Although he could probably guess if he knew she was found naked in the back room. "This was my fault," I repeated. "But I will make it right."

Rene stood stiffly beside me, and I thought for a moment he was going to take me up on my offer and pull out his gun after all. And...