I was almost home, but my night wasn't over yet. I saw Cindy standing in the entrance to the alley across the street from my apartment building. Which meant she was playing lookout for her boyfriend Yogi, who was probably doing something he shouldn't be.

"Evening, Cindy."

"Uh, um, Ranja Smith! Er. How are you?"

"I'm fine Cindy. So, what are you doing out so late?"

"I, um, I was just out for a stroll, wouldjya care to accompany me back to Jellystone?"

"Sure Cindy. First I need to see if I left something down this alley, the other night."

"But, um, but…"

I walk past her into the alley and sure enough there was Yogi menacing a tenant who'd been harassing Cindy for the past few weeks. Apparently things had come to a head while I was out. With him was his little brother. I don't know his real name, Yogi and Cindy all call him by the nick name his mother gave him.

"I don't know, Yogi. Ranger Smith isn't gonna like this."

"Hey, hey, Boo Boo, what Ranger Smith doesn't know won't..."

"Won't what, Yogi?"

He obviously wasn't expecting me.

"R-r-ranger Smith, lovely evening isn't?

"How many times have I told you not to harass people outside the building?"

"But, Ranger Smith…"

"No buts Yogi. And why is your little brother out so late?"

"I…"

"Go home, Yogi, take Cindy and Boo Boo with you. If you keep this up I'm going to have you evicted."

It's an empty threat, I wouldn't do that to him. Besides being a world class moocher and having a bit of a temper, Yogi was for the most part a decent guy. And he took good care of his brother, I wouldn't want to be responsible for putting that kid on the streets. Yogi probably knows this, but he shows me enough respec1t to pretend he doesn't.

"Thank you Ranger Smith, though I honestly don't see why you keep giving his kind second chances."

"Peebles, I want you out of my building by next week."

"What!? But, Ranger Smith! I've done nothing wrong."

"Look what I do for a living Peebles. I spend my nights out investigating crimes. Do you honestly think I don't know what goes on under my own roof? I didn't step in to protect you. I did it to make sure Yogi didn't do anything stupid. You'd deserve it, but he wouldn't deserve what he'd get for doing it."

"But…"

"You have a week Peebles, and that's assuming you don't do anything else between now and then."

I don't bother to wait for him to argue more. I'm tired, I don't have the patience. Just want to get home and get to bed. I cross the street and climb the stairs of the stoop up to the door of the Jellystone Park Apartment Complex. My building.

I'd been living here for years before I did TC a huge favor. Got him out of a lot of hot water. Frame job by the mob. As thanks, he bought the place, then gave it to me. I don't have many tenants don't need many. TC covers all of the utilities plus cable, and by covers I mean gets'em for free. For the tenants I do have, rent is pretty cheap. Don't need much money, just enough to keep groceries in my refrigerator. If I choose to go out and eat, I'm comped pretty much anywhere. The higher ups generally know who I am and what I do.

I press the up button for the elevator and hear it comin' from the basement. When it reaches the first floor and the doors open I see James standing there in uniform.

"Good evening, John."

"How's life Jim?"

James is Augie's father. An all around good man just trying to do right by his son. His wife is dead. Murdered. She saw something she shouldn't have working in a mob run joint. They threatened James and Augie too and they were going to make good on the threat. Jim stopped going to work, too afraid to leave his boy alone. Wound up losing him his job.

"Not too bad. Tenant on the seventh floor has some clogged pipes, I'm heading up at deal with'em."

I couldn't get whoever killed Audrey. The mob is good at staying out of jail. And even if I did, that'd still leave the rest of the mob to get revenge. So I took them in. Jim was about to lose his home anyway, on top of that, Clyde's not stupid enough to touch anyone that lives here.

So they moved in. I told them they could stay for free and for as long as they wanted. Jim doesn't take charity. So now he's working as the building's superintendent. And doing a damn good job.

The elevator gets to the fifth floor. My floor. Jim asks if I could check on Augie before I head in for the night. I tell him sure.

Like I just said, the fifth floor is my floor. And anyone stayin' on my floor is someone that doesn't have to pay to stay here. You probably guessed that Yogi, Cindy, and Boo Boo all stay on this floor, so do James and Augie.

"H-hello, Ranger Smith."

And then there's Velma Dinkley. Velma and the Doo kid, Scrappy, both stay here. I'd tell their story, but it'd take some time, maybe later.

She's at her door, a fist full of envelopes, obviously just got back from her mailbox. I nod politely.

"Evening, Velma."

She gives me this quick little shy smile before opening the door and entering her apartment. I can hear her sadly address Scrappy before the door closes all the way.

Poor kid.

James' apartment is four doors down from mine. I knock on the door and am greeted by a high pitched

"Who is it?"

"Hey, Augie, it's John, your dad asked me to check in on you."

"And how can I be sure it's you, Ranger Smith. My dear old dad wouldn't want me opening the door just because someone says they're John Francis Smith."

This happens every time I check on him when he's home alone.

"Can't wait 'til you can see out that peep hole."

I hear the sound of various locks being undone. There are, at last count, ten locks on that door. They're entirely unnecessary, the two of them are safe here, but the extra security helps Jim sleep at night.

The door opens

"By then, Ranger Smith, I'm sure I won't need checking in on."

"Ya never know Augie. Lot of trouble a teenager left home alone can get into. 'Specially one with your brains."

"Well that days a long way off."

"Never as long as you think, Augie. Every thing alright?"

"Yep."

"Good. See you later, Augie."

"Bye Ranger Smith!"

The door shuts and the locks are re-secured. Augie is once again safe and sound in his home. With this mission accomplished, I head for my own place. I open the door, no need for my key, I leave it unlocked. Call me over confident, but no one is going in there without my permission. The instant I cross the threshold I throw my hat and jacket on the couch and make a beeline for my room to crash until this afternoon. There are things I don't want to have to think about until then, so for now, I'm just going to sleep.