"Officer? Ravi?"
"How did you know it was me?" Ravi asked. He could understand Malik recognizing him by his scent or maybe his emotions but he had just searched for his number from the Davenport Community College website and called him.
"Secret." The gentle voice had a trace of amusement for a second before it became serious, "I heard what happened in the news."
"Yes, it is terrible."
"The man."
"Dead."
"Burnt alive. It must have been very painful."
There was something in Malik's voice that made Ravi feel guilty. An ordinary citizen will still feel bad when he hears of such matters, he does not want to spoil the other's mood.
"Malik, I need a favor."
"Okay, what is it?"
"I would be very late. On your way home, can you get dinner for Asher and give him the phone? I need to tell him something. It is okay if he stays over at yours tonight."
"No problem. But I don't do favors for free."