Cal had no idea why James was doing this nor did he know why Ivy was not aware of it. It took him longer than he thought to get the information because it was not on the wires. It was on the sports page in a small town newspaper. That was all he could turn up.

He took the copy he received by fax and folded it up. Shoving it into his pocket he decided to take it over to the boarding house instead of calling Ivy on the phone. When she'd asked about this she was pretty damn upset and he figured finding out that it was fact would be pretty hard on her.

It was obvious that this was concealed but a man like James Braddock would never do anything to hurt anyone unless there was a purse attached to it. He'd surely never hurt Ivy for God's sake but was he at risk of hurting himself? 

It was the investigator in Cal's mind that brought out all of these questions. He should shut that off sometimes, especially times like this where he was just doing a favor for a friend.

He only had a few blocks to walk but it was hot, sweltering today as a matter of fact. Sometimes the heat intensified things and right now it brought his curiosity to a head.  He should just mind his own business he thought. This was not his affair now was it something he needed to report about.

'Mind your own, McCaffery.'

"Are you talking to yourself?" Colleen poked him in the back as she spoke and it about scared the living hell out of him.

"What the hell, Col. I was just thinking is all. Can't a man think by himself?"

"Cal, what's wrong with you? You seem really agitated. I didn't mean to scare you." she added as she picked up her pace to come up alongside of him.

"I'm sorry, Col. I just had to dig something up and its kind of strange, you know? It seems Jimmy Braddock has got himself a bout and he never told Ivy about it. She found out somehow and asked me to confirm it. I'm just going to deliver the news."

Looping her arm into his she was pleased that he didn't pull away. "Want company?"

He looked over at her and for once the look they exchanged seemed to be a bit deeper than usual. "Yeah. Come with. I could use a drink and some company. Just give me a few minutes to talk to Ivy alone then I'll meet you back in the pub."

"I can do that."

The walked into the front door of the boarding house together. Colleen gave him a kiss on the cheek then she brushed the mark of her lipstick away before letting him go. She found a table and waited for him as he went up to Ivy's room to deliver the fax.