Chapter 26

“Not a problem. Thank you for feeding me, and I mean that. I guess I should get going now.”

“Back to your vacant building?”

“Unless I want to take my chances of finding a drunken tourist and lifting his wallet.”

“Not a good idea.”

Ephram nodded. “I know. Still,” he grinned, “I’m getting better at it. As my mom used to say, ‘Needs must’.”

“When the devil drives,” I said, completing the quotation. “And feeling safe for a while is definitely a must.” Once again I studied him. Long enough that I must have embarrassed him because he turned away, starting out of the kitchen. “Hold on a minute,” I told him, stopping him in his tracks.

“Umm?” He glanced at me over his shoulder.

I wondered if I was about to do something very stupid, but I suggested it anyway. “If you don’t mind sleeping on the sofa, you’re welcome to spend the day here. Or the week when it comes down to it.”

Ephram’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you serious? And what will your partners think?”