"You killed me mum!" The wild, scraggly little man brandished a rusty knife from somewhere in his bedraggled trench coat. "Now, I's gonna kill you!" He shuffled forward with the speed of a racing penguin.

"Woah woah woah! I didn't kill your mum!" I showed my palms to display my innocence, my non-aggression. I continued talking, as it slowed up the mad squatter. "I don't even know who your mum was, mate!"

He shook his knife at me and barked, "Yeah ya did! Don't you deny it, Lenny!"

I had to think fast, before he could talk himself up again. It was my throat if I didn't. So I improvised. And I cut him off before he could keep talking.

"Lenny?! Lenny, that SCHMUCK! That's the one that killed my Pa!" I dropped my hands and balled them into fists. Maybe if I mimicked his anger but changed the target, I'd be the ally rather than the enemy.

"You isn't Lenny?" He cocked his head to the side.

"No, mate! I ain't Lenny, and it sounds like you have a bone to pick with the rascal as well!" I did my best to play the savory character. "Tell you what, you and I need to team up, seeing as we have a man to find." I walked toward him with a hand out to pat him on the back. He must have dropped his defenses; he hardly flinched at the weight of my hand. "Tell me what you know about this Lenny character, Bill. Can I call ya Bill? With your skills, and my wit, I'm sure we can sniff him out."

He walked with me, looking into my eyes rather than where we were going. "My name is Murray."

"Fine then, Murray. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I have a friend who knows how to find people. Let me give him a ring, and we'll give this Lenny character what's coming to him." I pull out my phone and call 9-9-9, still talking him through so he doesn't see the number. "And as soon as Jethro picks up, he can set us on the trail. Oh, Jethro? Didn't hear ya pick up, friend! Listen, my friend Murray and I have a bit of a problem. Think you can help us out? Stable? Of course Murray isn't stable, his mum is dead and he's wanting revenge! Well, he was waving a knife on me until he found out I wasn't Lenny. Yeah, of course I'd love for you to stop by. We're on the corner of Greene and Riperun. Yeah, the warehouse. Yeah, we can wait." I turn to Murray and ask, "He Murray, mind giving Jethro your last name?" He declares it Westerly. "Hear that, Jethro? Oh, you know of Murray Westerly, eh?! Small world! How long 'til you're here, mate? alrighty then, see you in five." I hang up, fairly satisfied with my performance. "He should be here soon, and we'll sus' out our culprit, sure enough!"

Murray nodded in bewildered agreement. "You're a right good friend, helpin' a soul ou' wit' 'is problems. Thank ye, mate."

Adrenaline in my veins, fear screaming in my ears, I still manage a calm, "What else are mates for?" I'll live to lie another day.