Mr. Kruger gave in first. He shook his head and forcefully guided Ace away. “Come get prayed for. We need to ask God to show you his path for you.”

Ace couldn’t see his Papa’s reaction but he didn’t hear anything being said to stop Mr. Krueger. Nor was any physical attempt made to stop Mr. Kruger from dragging him over to the pastor. People around them turned away, trying to seem preoccupied with gossip about their kids' school activities or some annoying person at work.

If only Mr. Kruger could drop me and I could become one with the floor. Why did they have to do that in front of everyone anyway? Embarrassing. Ace took in a deep breath.

Pastor Stein was trying to step out the door, no doubt to start the service. People were crowded around him, stopping him to ask for prayers. 

As soon as the person closest to Pastor Stein was finished talking, Mr. Kruger hollered, “Pastor!” Ace was shoved forward, before anyone else could grab the Pastor’s attention,“This one needs it. He’s been gone too long.”

Stein looked behind them to where Ace knew his Papa was before settling on Ace. Ace tensed at the look in Pastor Stein’s eyes. There always seemed to be a quiet indifference in them. As though he didn’t care about anyone or anything. The way Ace understood, you did God’s work because you had conviction. How could someone who was unfeeling, have it? 

Ace waited for Stein to come closer, reach out and place his hand on him. Before the pastor could, a woman with glasses bounced over in front of the Pastor and took his hands into hers. 

“Frieda”, Eric called from behind Ace. He sounded alarmed. 

Ace swallowed his slight panic before it could grow bigger.

Ms. Neumann flashed a smile behind Ace, at his Papa, before leaning into Ace’s face. A bit too close. “William, my dear boy. Have you had any dreams lately? Visions from God? Hear any words from God?”.

Ace blinked a few times, “No.” Guilt seized him suddenly, making his slight panic flash into something slightly bigger. It felt a bit hard to breathe. Ms. Neumann’s perfume giving him a headache didn’t help.

She tilted her head, seemingly not bothered by his answer. “That’s okay.” The intensity in her brown eyes increased. “Have you had any visits- any demonic attacks or anything of that nature?”.

Ace expected for Stein to step in and remind her of the service. For Mr. Kruger to tell her to stand back so the Pastor could pray for him. For someone to do anything. Everyone around them waited for him to say something first, he realized. Everyone was watching them. Watching him. I can’t tell them about Jensen or the hospital. I can’t. I can’t.

A hand landed on his shoulder. Firmly. “The service.” It was his Papa.

Everyone turned to his Papa. The smiles that had been on him were gone, replaced with tight lips. Ace tried to lean into his Papa. Away from their anger. The man welcomed him, placing another hand on his other shoulder and pulling him away from Ms. Neumann.

But she wasn’t done.

She was quick to smile again, tightening her grip on Ace’s hands before his Papa could fully pull him away. “There is never any reason to fear, William. God is always with us through all of our battles. And we each have an angel to stand guard over us. And he gives strong battles to his strongest warriors. No matter how strong, you will get through it. Remember that. Always.” Then she let go. 

Mr. Wilson’s questions about the afterlife came back to Ace. Pastor Stein stepped in front of him to pray, forcing  Ace to clear his head.

After prayer, Ace caught Toru’s subtle hand gestures to him across the room and made an excuse to his Papa about getting something to drink and slipped away. At the refreshments table, Toru threw an arm around him and led him out the door into the hall. It was quiet in the hall. And no one was there that Ace had to worry about saying the wrong thing. 

Ace laid his forehead on the glass window. “Thank you, Toru.”

Toru winked at him, stepping back to give him room to breathe. Toru busied himself with looking into a small pocket mirror of his, checking his rosy cheeks. 

Ace turned his head to watch Toru, “... was that your father?”

Toru stopped smudging his cheek, meeting Ace’s eyes. “It's blush.”

Ace relaxed. “That’s … good.”

Toru laughed. “You don’t have to walk on eggshells when we talk about my father Ace. You're one of my best friends. Yes my dad beats the shit out of me for wearing makeup even though he himself has said I look more like a daughter than a son long before I started wearing it.” Toru shrugged, “maybe he should have fasted more before I was born.  I think my ‘feminine looks’ are to die for.” He struck a pose as if he was on a runway. “And the blush is simply a nice addition.”

The two of them laughed, filling the once quiet hall. 

Toru moved closer to the window and the two of them looked down into the empty parking lot. 

“What about you and your father?”

Ace startled. “Were- um-” Ace scrambled for something to say.

Toru shook his head, “you don’t have to force an answer if you don’t have one.”

Ace relaxed against the window, looking back out at the parking lot. 

Toru had been one of the children his parents had deemed acceptable to be his friend. Their families attended the same church. Their families both came from old money. They both had to learn to play their part within their own family and live up to the many expectations. But now, next to Toru, Ace couldn’t help the small bubble of jealousy building in his chest.

He likes to anger his father. His little act of rebellion. I would never dare do that. …I’m a coward unlike him. Ace looked down the hall at the open door. “Maybe we should head back now.”

Toru groaned, “hell no”, he grabbed Ace’s hand and began walking. “We’re going downstairs with the normal people.”

“But-”

“My sister is here and she will see you, do you want that instead?”

Ace stopped, nearly tripping over his feet and taking Toru with him. 

Toru spun around, his eyebrows shot up in disbelief, “she might be bad but she is not that bad! Man up Ace!”.

Ace snorted on top of the stairs. Toru snickered half way down. By the time they got to the bottom they had to stop to compose themselves before leaving the stairwell. 

_____________

The end of summer heat was beating down on the city. Every second outside was miserable. People were walking around carrying hand held fans. Sprinklers were placed on the sidewalk connected to hoses laying all over the sidewalk for blocks, kids were running through the water shouting with laughter. 

Paul Rispoli watched the people walking by on the street absentmindedly, happy to be out of the office. He had his suit jacket stuffed under one arm. “I think maybe after this witness, we should stop and get a portable fan Rafael.” He glanced at his fellow Assistant District Attorney by his side. 

Rafael scoffed, busy switching between looking at the window of their car and the front camera of his phone to fix his dyed red hair. He was meticulously lifting sections and spacing them out so it didn’t clump together.

Rispoli smiled. Youth these days. “I think it’s fine. In fact it’s more than fine.”

Rafael glanced in his direction, his face scrunched into a pout but his hands moved slower.

A group of girls in school uniforms walked by, ranting about some girl in their class who was apparently ugly.

Rispoli half listened to them, checking his watch. “I feel like I should care about my looks more like you young people.” His freckled skin seemed to glow with the sun beating down on it.

“You look your age Paul. nothing wrong with it”.

Rispoli drew back in shock, he let the complement soak in, fixing his clothes dramatically and smoothing back his sandy brown hair dramatically, “Rafael Silva complementing me? Something must’ve been in the coffee back at the office.”

Rafael shook his head, holding back a smile, “forget I said anything.”

Rispoli turned his head when a familiar voice called out. “Here he is.” He waited for the man to get closer. “Alex,” he held out his hand with a smile. 

“Sorry I’m late. My wife wanted me to pick up a birthday present for my youngest since it went on sale finally.” Alex shook Rispoli’s hand. 

Paul held out his hand to gesture to Rafael, “this is the new assistant district attorney Rafael Silva, my new second chair”, he looked at Rafael,gesturing with his head toward Alex, “ this is Detective Alex Ha. A good friend.”

Alex and Rafael shook hands. Both men appeared the same on the outside. Young men who looked out of place in their profession. Alex always favored  plain tees and slightly oversized slacks with some name brand sneakers. Rafael had noticeably dyed hair, though it wasn’t against regulations and his outfits always looked like he stepped off a fashion runway. Today he had a  very obvious oversized blazer with striped slacks and striped sneakers. 

Paul smiled to himself. These two will get along for sure. “We’re all going to be partners in crime now, You two can get to know each other over the case.”

Alex laughed, “lawyers and cops are always good partners in crime”.

A hint of a smile graced Rafael’s face, “Let’s hope we’re better than Edenstone when it comes to crime. Mr. Walker should have something good for us.”

Behind them a loud crash echoed through the air. The men looked over and froze. A person was on top of one of parked cars, his face was smashed into the windshield. Alex pulled his radio up shouting for backup, running over to the car. Down the street the children screamed. Paul and Rafael worked to get people on the sidewalk back at a safer distance. 

Alex cursed, “Dispatch this is Detective Ha, I’ve got a civilian down,” he looked up the apartment building, “apparent fall from fourth floor balcony. Not moving. Send EMS and additional units to 12 Baker Street”.

Rafael got a glimpse of the man’s face through the driver window and walked up closer to the car.

Alex shouted at him, “wait for EMS!”.

Rafael leaned in and then turned around, “get your Captain down here! That’s our witness on the car!”.