"Can I help you?" asked a young woman sitting behind a desk at the Crawford Construction Company main office.
"I hope so," Phoebe said. "I'm looking for one of your employees. Or maybe a former employee, I'm not really sure. His name is David Brannick."
"Brannick?" questioned the woman. "The name is familiar. May I ask what you'd like to see him about?"
"Well, I found his wallet," said Phoebe holding up the wallet. "I'd like to return it to him."
"I see," said the woman.
Phoebe waited as the woman picked up the phone and called her boss. A few moments later an older man came out of the offices at the rear.
"Sharon says you're looking for David Brannick," said the man.
"Yes," said Phoebe. "I found his wallet and I'd like to return it. I was wondering if you could give me his address."
"Sorry," said the man. "I can't do that. I can make sure he gets the wallet if you want."
"I'd really like to return it myself," said Phoebe. "I just need to know where to get hold of him."
"Well," said the man, "I'm afraid the law won't let me give out personal information on employees unless they say it's okay. But I suppose you could go to his worksite. He's finishing up a house over on Palmer Street. I think the address is 1652. Some of the gangs left their calling card on the walls and he's been cleaning it off for me."
"Has he worked for you long?" Phoebe asked.
"A couple of months," said the man. "He's a good worker. Stays to himself most of the time. Doesn't cause any problems."
"Do you know if he's got any kind of problem?" Phoebe asked. "He struck me as being afraid of something."
"I thought you said you found his wallet?" asked the man.
"Well," said Phoebe, "I bumped into him downtown this morning. He had all ready walked away when I found his wallet. There's a check in it from your company and I figured it was a payroll check so I thought he might need it."
"Yeah, yesterday as payday," said the man. "You seem awfully interested in him for someone who just wants to return his wallet."
"Like I said," said Phoebe, "he looked like he was in some kind of trouble. I just thought I might be able to help, that's all."
"You're Ask Phoebe," said the young woman suddenly. "Phil, she's the one who writes that column I read every day. I've told you about her. She gives advice to people. I thought you looked familiar."
"Yes, I am," said Phoebe, smiling. "I thought I might be able to give this David Brannick some help."
"Well, can't tell you if he's got any problems," said Phil. "He'll be working at that house the rest of today and probably most of tomorrow."
"Thank you," said Phoebe.
Phoebe went out and got into her car. It didn't take her long to locate the address Phil had told her about. There were several houses in various stages of construction along the road. She saw Brannick at one of the houses using a pressure washer on one of the brick walls of the house. Phoebe parked her car and walked up to him.
"Excuse me," she said.
Brannick nearly jumped out of his skin as he spun to face her.
"I'm sorry," said Phoebe. "I didn't mean to startle you. Do you remember me?"
"Oh," said Brannick obviously recognizing her. "Yes, I remember you. You're that young lady from the building this morning downtown."
"Yes," said Phoebe. She held out his wallet. "You dropped this but you ran off so fast I didn't have a chance to give it to you."
"Oh, thanks," said Brannick, taking the wallet. He stuck it in his back pocket.
"Aren't you going to check it?" Phoebe asked. "To make sure everything is there?"
"I doubt you'd come all this way to return it if you were gong to steal anything from it," Brannick said.
"I see your point," said Phoebe. "Are you okay? You seem awfully nervous."
"Oh, just the gangs around here," said Brannick. "That's why I'm here. They spray their symbols on the buildings. It's my job to clean it off."
"I see," said Phoebe. "Well, you seemed nervous this morning. Especially when my friend helped you. You know? The policeman."
"Oh, that," said Brannick. "Uh, it's just I had a bad experience with a cop when I was young. I've always been nervous around them since."
"Okay," said Phoebe trying to figure how to find out why a demon would want to attack him. "Listen, if you're in some kind of trouble..."
"No, no trouble," said Brannick. "I just want to be left alone."
"I'll be honest with you," said Phoebe. "I think you're in danger. I can't explain how I know I just do. My sisters and I can protect you. You need to come with me."
"Ain't no one going nowhere," said a voice behind them.
Phoebe and Brannick turned to see six young men standing several feet from them.
"You're on our turf," said one, obviously the leader. "And we don't appreciate your removing our sign. You shouldn't ought to have done that."
"I'm just doing my job," said Brannick nervously.
The man pulled out a switchblade and opened it.
"Too bad for you," said the man as the rest of the man also pulled out switchblades. "You should have minded your own business."
The men began to move toward Phoebe and Brannick.