"I'm trying," Coop admitted with a scowl. He really was. "The last few times I've been out, trying to do my thing, some lady who could shoot glue or something stopped me. Kept me trapped in a store for hours on Halloween night while -- "

While Philip was being killed. It was hard to forget something like that. Logically, Coop knew that his being stuck didn't hasten Philip's death but he couldn't really stop himself from thinking that he could have been some help. Maybe if he'd been better, he would have gotten over to Philip's and stopped whatever happened before it got bad.

"It's been a bad few months," he said apologetically. "I would really love it if this turns it around. I will owe you drinks and...whatever the hell else someone like you can think up for payment."