“What is it?” Bailey stood in front of me. “You’ve been looking around like you’ve forgotten something.”
“No, I’m just thinking. Who decorated your place? It’s nice.”
Bailey’s lips twitched. “Me.”
“Really?”
He snickered. “My taste in decorating is only surpassed by my taste in men.” He ran his tongue across his lips, and my face heated.
“Idiot,” I murmured. “I just figured you’d have more ultra-modern stuff. Single guy and all that.”
“Well, I must confess my secretary’s boyfriend works for an interior designer, and he helped me get some good deals and gave me advice. I was already living here when it went co-op, so I got it as an insider for a great price.” He scanned the rooms. “I love it.”
“So why keep your old house? Sell it, and use the money for something else.” As soon as I spoke, Bailey’s eyes dimmed.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now. I have to get to the office. Ready to go?”
I swung my bag to my shoulder. “Yeah, sure.”
On our way to the subway, I got a text from Ambrose.
Gonna be in a little late.
Everything ok?
Yeah, just gotta stop by the bank. Lucas needs money for the commissary.
I grunted and shoved my phone into my jacket pocket.
“Problems?” Bailey side-eyed me.
About to shrug it off, I thought,What the hell. “Listen, I have a favor to ask. My coworker, Ambrose, has a brother in jail. Got arrested for drugs. Ambrose is convinced Lucas is innocent.”
“And you’re not? Why?”
“’Cause the guy’s a piece of shit. From what I was told, he also slaps around his girlfriend.”
Bailey frowned. “So why do you want to help him?”
“Not Lucas. Ambrose. He’s the little brother and always looked up to Lucas. I’ve met the guy, and he’s slick, you know? Doesn’t have a job, yet always has money.”
“That’s a red flag for sure. So what can I do?” We stopped at a red light.
“Most likely nothing, because I’m positive the guy is guilty. He was arrested for possession—cops found coke and fentanyl in his apartment.”
Bailey winced. “Ouch. Yeah, that’s a pretty major felony.” He shrugged. “If you want me to take a look at his case, I’m happy to.”
“I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Yeah, I am, but this is your friend. Send me the info, and I’ll see if there’s anything there. Did he have his own lawyer, or was it Legal Aid?”
“Legal Aid, and that’s also part of the problem. Ambrose thinks the guy just skimmed the file because they have so many cases.”
“It is a problem.”
We approached the 86th Street train station and went through the turnstiles. Waiting for the 1 train, Bailey took out his phone. “Give me the guy’s full name, and if you know it, the date of his arrest. I’ll start when I get to the office.”
I recited what I knew, and we got on the local and transferred to the express at 72nd Street, but not before Bailey gave me a kiss on the platform. We crowded into the subway car. I now appreciated I could walk to work.
