[ Ray watched his replacement juggle with his doubts and concerns for a second. He felt the same flash about Fraser: oh, now you realise that things aren't going too great, huh? But this wasn't the right moment to call him on it. Now there were just two guys watching them, Kowalski would be judging his company constantly, looking for an opportunity he could take advantage of. And he'd be trying to think of ways to get Fraser out of the cuffs, too.

He stayed on the other side of the bed, watching Ray retreat away from him. Distance himself a little, make himself feel a little safer--nice try, anyway. It was better than nothing, right? Now it'd feel more like him and Fraser against the world. But the fact was, if a shootout started now, it was probably Fraser who'd get the bullet in the chest. Both of them wanted to avoid that.

Ray licked his lips, then took a step back, moving into the chair beside the bed, nicely out of view of the video. ]

You're the star of this show. There's two ways out of this room, Detective--I get some sorta film I can use, or I shoot you both in the head and throw your naked bodies into the lake. You pull a lot of dead bodies outta that lake, I bet. You know how they look after they've been down there a while. Not as good as being buried in the desert and getting your eyes eaten out by vultures, but you gotta work with what you've got.

[ He bit his lip briefly, and dared a look at Fraser. ]

He's a Mountie, right? So ride him.