Richmond, Virginia, enters the investigation as both a destination for Dixon Noble and Ruth Warnecki and the setting of their meeting with the Richmond Police Department. Their visit brings them face to face with Detective Morales and clarifies what local investigators are pursuing, but it yields no name for the person who hired Tommy Dempsey and Jackie Slater to kill Dixon Noble.

Setting and Arrival

On Saturday afternoon, traffic slows as Dixon Noble drives toward Richmond. He leaves the downtown expressway and makes his way to the Richmond Police Department headquarters on West Grace Street. Ruth Warnecki remarks on the street name’s irony; the account does not explain the observation further. The busy streets provide a brief view of ordinary city distress before Detective Morales greets them and leads the group upstairs.

The Investigation in Richmond

The Richmond visit follows an unresolved question about who hired Tommy Dempsey and Jackie Slater to kill Dixon Noble. Earlier, Dixon asks whether Richmond has produced any leads; Ruth says neither the field agents nor the Richmond Police Department has reported anything. She plans to contact Detective Morales, even joking that dinner might encourage him to come through.

At headquarters, Dixon asks Morales about information from a source called Eddie Skanky. Morales confirms that he has two detectives working the usual investigative avenues, including credit cards, phone calls, and bank accounts. They have also questioned Dempsey’s girlfriend and business associates, though Morales doubts such associates will provide useful information unless they need leverage in a criminal case. The visit therefore establishes active police work, not a breakthrough.

The Visit’s Personal Stakes

Dixon brings Rob Noble and Rafe Noble with him rather than leave them alone after a rough week marked by deaths among people they know and a shooting at their home. He apologizes to Morales for occupying staff with the boys and explains that he wants them to see that the adults are addressing the danger. Morales arranges for Officer Craig to look after them. The boys become interested in the station’s booking area and its newer fingerprinting machine, a small diversion within an investigation shaped by family fear.

After the meeting, Ruth tells Dixon she is glad they stopped because knowing Morales makes a difference to her; she considers him straightforward and expects him to find a name, though perhaps not in time. When Dixon raises an eyebrow, she adds, “By Tuesday.” The brief exchange gives the Richmond visit a measure of cautious confidence while leaving the central question unanswered.