Rikki at least had the grace to look sheepish for having asked. She hadn't actually intended to and she should've been able to stop herself sooner, but she hadn't done. "Maybe it's better that way, yeah? Maybe it was really horrific and it's better that you can't remember the trauma that comes with it." She still couldn't decide if she believed that he was dead. Rikki believed that Ben believed he was dead, but she wasn't sure she believed he was dead. Tact wasn't really her strong suit, but she had at least grown enough to know that she should just go along with it. It isn't hurting anyone, him believing that. It would be hurting him, though, if she was cagey about it and he was helping her right now. The least she could do was let him have that one.

"That doesn't excuse it," she pointed out when he clarified that he was adopted. "...I'd wager that might even make it worse, actually," she went on before switching gears along with him. "And I co-own, I suppose. I'm a partner. I don't really work there as much anymore, but..." Her voice trailed off. She'd started working at the cafe a little bit, again. She and Zane had slowly worked back up to the point where they could get along with one another enough for her to do so. If the place was going to have her name on it, she'd rather be the one helping than knowing her absence only managed to invite Sophie in again, potentially. She'd practically help run the place into the ground. With Rikki around and Zane being largely peripheral, the cafe was back on its feet.

As Ben walked, Rikki tried to look around. She couldn't believe how dark it was; there weren't any windows. "But what if we get out and then you're not...y'know, alive anymore? Then what...?" she asked, sounding like she couldn't decide whether to feel sympathetic, sad, or worried for him. "...mate...?" she asked suddenly, straightening up a little on his back as she looked out in front of them. "...is it just me or does the hallway look a lot longer than it did a minute ago...?"