The following morning while I was sitting in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee Ray told me he was going to meet Finn Mac to see if he could talk to Benji about the street cameras.

“I just need fifteen minutes to get dressed and we can go,” I said as I went to the sink to pour the rest of my coffee out.

“No.” Ray’s voice was sharp. Turning I saw his eyes go soft. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Look.” He stepped into my space. One hand touched my cheek, the other my shoulder. “I’m not sure bringing you all over the city while I ask hardened criminals and shystee strangers questions is exactly keeping you safe. Theodore Bradford has generously given me Richie when I’m in need of him, and I exposed you to people I probably shouldn’t have yesterday.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that burst from my mouth. “The hulking and terrifying looking guy that practically set me on fire with his eyes? I’m supposed to feel safer with him by myself?”

“Yes.” Ray spoke in a way that brokered no argument. “If you fear him others fear him, and they should. There’s not a lowlife, executive, or cop who doesn’t know Richie Callaghan and who he works for. Fucking with you while you’re with Richie would be a grave mistake for anyone.”

Part of trusting Ray was trusting who he allowed around me and where he took me. He didn’t feel comfortable taking me to see Finn Mac or back to the dilapidated part of the city. That was evident in his expression.

“Okay, Ray.”

“Thank you.” He gave me a chaste kiss before walking out of the kitchen to finish getting ready.

Even though I wasn’t joining him, I still took a shower and got ready for the day. I didn’t think going out would be a great idea, and when Richie arrived, I didn’t want to just be in my boxers.

I was ready to argue with Ray when we got home last night about his need to have a babysitter for me, but when he spooned behind me and thanked me for not fighting him on the protection, I melted into a pile of goo. Of course, the goo also prevented me from asking Ray more about his past.

When there was a knock on the front door, I yelped. Ray didn’t laugh as I expected him to, he kissed my forehead, told me it was just Richie. I was so jumpy these days, no wonder why but sometimes my own fear of the situation got the better of me.

When Ray opened the door, I saw Richie, all eight hundred feet of him. I wondered if he had to crouch and shimmy to get through the doorway.

“Thanks for doing this, Richie.” Ray patted him on his thick arm.

“I do what the boss tells me to. I’m told I gotta keep your little lamb safe. I’ll do it.” Richie’s voice was so deep I felt the vibration through my feet.

“I shouldn’t be gone long, but you never know when dealing with Finn.”

I didn’t miss the scowl Richie gave Ray at the mention of Finn’s name. “I’m assigned to Andy until the boss says otherwise so do your thing.”

My eyes followed Ray as he opened a drawer by the small table next to the couch. He pulled out one of his trusty pads and slipped it in his back pocket.

“You’ll be fine, Andy, if you need me, call.” He gave me a kiss and was out the door.

Richie didn’t take any time at all getting comfortable. He drew all the curtains I opened, sat on the couch, and turned the television on to some sports channel. I guessed it was going to be a boring day.

When noon struck my stomach rumbled, I went to the kitchen to make lunch. I figured tomato soup and grilled cheese were good.

Richie came in just as I was placing cheese on the bread. “I was just going to order a pizza, but if you have enough I’d love some of that.” He pointed to the skillet with a hopeful expression.

“I have plenty, have a seat it won’t take long.”

“So, you saw your friend get killed?” Richie wasn’t a pillow talker, his brash question made that clear.

“Yeah. His name was Francis. Good guy.” I wouldn’t say it got easier talking about Francis’ murder, but I was no longer fooling myself that I could hide from talking about it. I slipped two grilled cheese onto a plate and brought them over to Richie, followed by a bowl of soup.

“Ray figure anything out?” he asked as he shoved almost an entire half of sandwich in his mouth. Did he not realize it was hot?

“I think right now all we can be certain about is that it’s not a woman. Everyone who saw a glimpse of him confirmed that. When I saw him, I was too terrified to take anything in except that my friend was being butchered.” The hunger I felt a moment ago began to dissipate with the memories of Francis’ death, talking and remembering were drastically different. I sat across from Richie, my own food now getting cold.

“It may not seem like much, but knowing that eliminates a lot of fucking people.” Richie’s expression was hard. Impenetrable even. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking or feeling just looking at him.

“I guess.” I scooped up some soup and slowly began eating.

“I’m surprised Ray didn’t ask my boss to poke into the police reports or dig into the underground. If there’s a killer ripping apart young men, I have no doubt my boss is looking into it. Might want to tell Ray that while I’m a good favor to ask for, there are better ones my boss can give him.”

I didn’t put it past Ray to have thought about that. One thing you learn living how we do is the more valuable the favor the more soul sucking the return.

“I’ll tell him.”

We ate the rest of our lunch in companionable silence. Only when I was loading the dishwasher did Richie leave me with a passing thought.

“And I’m not a detective or nothing, but maybe start getting curious about Ray’s ex-partner?”

It seemed Richie’s looks were deceiving. He looked like brainless muscle, but he was far from it. I made a mental note about talking to Ray about these things when he returned home.

Ray didn’t get home until close to six in the evening. He was disheveled, and he looked frustrated which told me he hit walls.

“I’m assuming it didn’t go well?” I asked after Ray shut the door behind Richie. Both agreed he’d return in the morning.

“Finn gave me the okay to talk to Benji again, and he was able to hack into the cameras.” Ray tossed his keys in the bowl and ran his fingers through his hair. “This guy, I could see him. Everything about him told me he knew what he was doing. His head was down the whole time, generic cap, he gave nothing away.”

Frustration got the better of Ray and he kicked the laundry basket, spreading the clothes along the floor.

“Sorry,” he said as he began picking things up.

“Don’t worry about it. Richie ordered Chinese for dinner, why don’t you go in the kitchen and have some. I have things to ask you.”

“I ate some pizza. Just ask, Andy, just ask.”

I made quick work of tossing things back into the basket while Ray took his shoes off and sat on the couch.

“Richie isn’t an idiot,” I started, pulling a chuckle from Ray.

“Never said he was.”

I sat beside him and continued, “Why didn’t you ask Theodore Bradford to help you dig into what the police know, or find out what he already might know about the killer?”

“Why would I? He’s not my secretary. And he knows I’m working on it if he knew something I’m sure he’d tell me.”

He had a point but… “Yeah, but men like him like to have men like you owe him.”

I watched as Ray scratched his day long scruff, squinting in thought. “I can bring it up, but I won’t sell my soul for it.”

I nodded, accepting that. “I have one more question to ask you tonight, Ray.”

“Shoot.” He smiled, more relaxed as we decompressed from the day.

“Tell me what happened to your partner.”