"Me?" Conner scowled in mock outrage. "I had no reason to lie, Ms. Alice Yu. I liked you, remember? I’m as transparent as an x-ray. My Irish grandparents hated the big smoke and its cruel ways, so headed as far south as they could go. Mom and Pops loved the small town life, but a bunch of dead-end streets weren’t for me. I came all the way back up here to meet interesting individuals such as yourself. After Mom died, I set Pops up in Long Island. You know the rest."