James shook his head. "I can't rest there. They're loud. I wanna go to my hide out. But I can't show it to you, because you're a constable and Noah says you're bad."

Elijah shook his head. "I look bad to people who do bad things because I have to do my best to make them stop doing bad things. But if you want to go without me, I understand. You have a right to your own private space. Will you be alright?"

James nodded. "Can I come to your place later on?" he asked.

Elijah smiled weakly. "Of course. I don't see why not."

"Thank you," he said and he ran away. But turned after a hundred feet and returned. "I'm still hungry."

The constable laughed softly. "Then come to my house and I'll feed you. Afterwards, you are free to go to your secret spot and sleep it off. But no more calling him my boyfriend in public alright?"

"Alright," the boy said with a smile, and he followed the constable. Why did his family say constable Crane was evil?

Constable smiled as he led the way into his home, quick to let him meet his cat, Diane, before he started to cook in the kitchen. "What's your favorite food?" He had no idea what the kid liked or was used to. And he wasn't about to give him sweets.

"Sweets."

Elijah chuckled. "Well, sadly I don't keep many sweets. I hope a nice meal of something more savoury will be alright. Anything you hate?"