Chapter 15.3

“Thank you. He was a cop.” The words made her heart ache, but she spoke them anyway, as a tribute to her father. “He was pulled from the rubble that first day, but he was already dead.”

It was quiet for a moment while they all ate a few more bites and let the ghost of Shannon’s father drift away.

“What are you writing about the other people you’re including in your book?” Beverly asked.

“Whatever they tell me about themselves. How they have or haven’t changed since 9/11. What that day and their part in it has cost them. Their families.”

“Maybe you should show Nick what you’ve written so far. Maybe it would convince him you’ll be careful with his story, treat him with respect.”

Shannon thought for a moment, thought hard. She normally didn’t allow anyone to see her work until it was as clean and polished as she could make it. No eyes on her rough drafts but her own. But she had three chapters she could let him look at that were polished. “Sure,” she said. “Will you read some of my manus