Not knowing what time Bradford would be sending someone, Ray had set his alarm for five A.M. After breakfast? I always wondered why people said that. Breakfast for me is like eleven in the morning. What if he eats at seven? Ray and I joked about it and in the end, he said five was a safe bet.

We showered, ate, and watched the news where they spoke some more about the murder. His name was Gideon Meadows. I wondered if that was his real name, but Ray didn’t know. From what the reporters could piece together, his murder was exactly like Francis’ and the others.

At nine there was a knock on the door. Richie and two other equally large men stood there.

“We’re here to make sure you don’t get dead on your way to Mr. Bradford’s,” Richie said with a smirk, but the redness in Ray’s complexion told me he would have hit him if he wasn’t in a rush to hear what Bradford had to say.

The ride was quiet; I shot a text off to Elise that I was okay, and she said she was staying at her sister’s until this killer was behind bars. I told her I wasn’t sure when I’d get back to work, but she said Gabin and Augustine had been so wrapped up in their collapsing marriage neither had mentioned it. I suppose that was good for now.

Richie instructed us to wait to get out until the area was secure. The whole thing felt like it was out of a movie. Aside from the phone call… and yeah, the murder of my best friend, the killer hadn’t contacted me. He didn’t strike me as a sniper either. Likely, all this was overkill, but I let the boys have their fun.

“I don’t see you for months and suddenly we see each other twice in one week,” Bradford said as we entered the fancy brownstone.

“I wish it were under better terms.” Ray guided me into the living room while Bradford watched us with great interest.

“I won’t beat around the bush, Ray. After you left, my concern over this issue became far too great. I have a few, shall we say, dalliances. All of them are around the age and description of these men who are being slaughtered. While none of them are more than an amazing night, I am fond of them.” He sat in a wing back chair across from Ray and me. His hair was pitch black and slicked back. His eyes almost shined like silver, but it was his cockiness that shockingly gave him a rather gorgeous appeal.

“And you found something out?” Ray handed me a mug of coffee Bradford’s housekeeper—maid, whatever—brought in.

“I have.” Bradford’s eyes shifted between Ray and me. “Andy, have you ever gone to Epiphany?”

His question seemed out of the blue. “Once maybe. It wasn’t… isn’t really my thing. I’m not very coordinated. Walking is hard enough, dancing is out of the question.” When I looked at Ray, he narrowed his eyes. I knew he hated when I said anything negative about myself, but I wasn’t insulting myself. I was not a good dancer.

“Hmm…” Bradford sipped his coffee. “Gideon Meadows, Captain Green’s little whore, was a frequent flyer over there. One of my boys knew him well.” He placed his coffee down and took out his phone. “I knew to contact you about the murder because it was my boy who called me when he saw reporters begin to descend on Gideon’s place.”

“Your boy, who clearly is nameless, how’d he know they were going to his place? It was an apartment building,” I said earning a glare from Bradford. I knew I was being snippy, but it was all cloak and dagger stuff with these guys.

“My boy, who does have a name but it’s none of your business, lives in the same building. He saw the cops, the news, everything. He called me. Happy, Andy?” His tone wasn’t so much sarcastic as it was annoyed. Ray’s smile wiped away the nerves that I’d just upset Bradford.

“Go on.” Ray pointed to Bradford’s phone. “What did your concubine say?”

“Don’t you start.” Bradford’s tone was light. “I spoke with him for a while and asked if he saw Gideon leave with anyone last night. He said he did. A gentleman who wore a fedora, a long leather coat, and he had some facial hair. He told me he’d seen him in Epiphany before.” Bradford put his phone down and looked at us with slight concern.

“What is it, Bradford?”

“The man doesn’t match the description of the man who was in the store or in the other apartment that killed Chad. Nor does he sound like the man who killed Andy’s roommate.”

There was a simple explanation to that. “So, maybe this guy isn’t the killer. Maybe he was just interested in Gideon.”

Bradford nodded. “I thought that as well. Then my boy explained he’d seen him before. A couple times actually. And all the men he left Epiphany with were all victims of this killer.”

It felt like someone slowly poured ice water down my back. It was shocking and numbing.

“So what you’re saying…” I began to say, but Ray cut me off.

“We’re not dealing with one killer, we’re dealing with two.”

“Seems so,” Bradford said. “I’ve told my boys to steer clear of Epiphany. It’s clearly the hunting ground, but you knew that already. I can tell you something else, Ray, something you’ll be glad I told you now so you will have some time to let it toss around in your brain.”

“What’s that?”

“With the death of Gideon, Captain Green has become fierce with his department. He has brought close to everyone in on this case. I heard through the grapevine he’s actually requesting you be brought back in.”

“Me, why?” Ray was surprised, but he was an idiot. Of course, they wanted Ray back. He was brilliant and he knew this case better than any of them.

“My guess is you’ll find out why soon. But everything this killer, or killers, have done has one thing in common.”

What’s that?” I asked.

“Ray.” Bradford’s smile was sympathetic. “Something tells me Green knows that, and you’re being brought to be what they need to make this end.”

Ray didn’t talk all the way back to his apartment. Richie and another man came back with us and neither of us argued, they’d be around watching out for us whenever they could, but Bradford also had to keep eyes on his lovers, too. It was dangerous out there, and if Bradford was right, Ray was important to these killers.

We’d just entered the apartment when the phone rang. Ray answered it while I put our coats away.

“Good afternoon, Green.” It was all Ray had to say; Bradford was right and Ray was being thrown into the trenches.