Slowly the door swung open toward them.

“Damn, what idiots!” Colton said, “It opens from the other side.” Ian reached his fingers in the crack and pulled. The gate swung open freely and threw revealed a happy Irish setter on his haunches wagging his tail.

“Well, hello there, Ralphie!” Ian greeted the dog. Then Ralphie picked something off the ground and jumped through the opening, his size knocking Ian backward onto Colton. Ralphie jumped and licked them both over, the two men laughing and struggling. Ian finally managed to remove himself from the pile and pulled at the dog’s collar enough the free up his new friend.

The dog quickly settled himself down as Ian and Colton brushed themselves off and laughed. Colton was brushing the grass of his thigh when he spotted something on the ground. “What the hell?”

Ian watched him pick something off the ground. “What is it?”

Colton grinned broadly and shook open a pair of white men’s briefs. “I certainly hope that this man’s last words were ‘I’m coming” and not “Here, Cujo”. Colt laughed at his own joke.

Ian laughed along, “I think his name is Ralphie” or at least that what I heard the guy calling this morning.”

“So it’s that guy’s dog. I’ve heard one around, but not seen it. The guy who lives over there is new, too. Only been there a couple of months, not around much. Haven’t had the pleasure yet.”

Ian tried not to show that he recognized the underwear, but managed to choke out, “I’ve not met him either but I’ve, uh, seen him a couple of times late at night…from…uh.., the balcony.”

“Yeah, Tippy says she’s seen him jogging in the morning a couple times, but don’t see hide ner hair otherwise.” Colton tossed the under shorts at him. “Here, buddy, if you don’t see him again in a few days, you can take these to the police. Maybe they can get some clues. There’s a cop who lives in one of the apartments in the big house on the other side of ya.”

“That would give a good impression, Colt, I’ll knock on his door and hand him a pair of jockey shorts and say, “Can you find the man who fits these?” They laughed.

“Don’t even know for sure they belong to your neighbor, but shouldn’t be hard to find a man running around without his panties on.” They laughed again and Ralphie barked along. “Course this is L.A., wouldn’t be hard to find a man running around buck naked, you just have to find the one who fits these!”