the mess with the police as well as Carter, who had initially hired Albright to find her, since he really did love her and not his money. Easy approaches Carter and requests his help with the police. He blackmails him by saying that he will leak the information about his love for a Black woman unless he is protected from the law. Carter helps him. At the conclusion, Mouse returns to Houston, Easy takes up detective work, and Ruby disappears. Main characters Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins is an out-of-work African American man who has moved from Houston to Los Angeles. Easy is a war veteran and owns his own home. He is drawn into a mystery by Albright, who hires him to locate Monet, telling him that it is on behalf of a wealthy businessman named Todd Carter. Easy has no interest in life as a detective, but his tutelage under Albright encourages him to consider doing 'favors' for people as an ongoing career. Raymond "Mouse" Alexander is Easy's best friend, described as dangerous and deadly. Easy calls Mouse to assist him when the case becomes dangerous, but Mouse's deadly nature forces Easy to question whether this is the right decision. Daphne Monet is the young woman who has gone missing in the Watts neighborhood of LA; Easy is tasked with finding her, and as a result, gets caught up in the intrigue. Dewitt Albright is the white private investigator who hires Easy to find Monet. Frank Green is a criminal in the Watts neighborhood, who is known for his skills with a knife. He is connected to Monet, and a person of interest in Easy's investigation. Jackson Blue is Easy's intelligent but cowardly friend, who assists him with information on his case. Matthew Teran is a pedophile who recently dropped out of the mayor's race. He keeps a little Mexican boy as a sex slave, and is grotesque in appearance. He tries to use Daphne to get back at Carter, who forced him to withdraw his candidacy. Odell Jones is Easy's quiet, cautious, religious middle-aged friend. He is wont to sit at John's or Vernie's, and sip one beer all night. He is also a voice of fear, advising Easy to run away from his problems. Todd Carter is a well-connected white man who has a relationship with Monet. The president of Lion Investments, he is a humble-looking, weak-willed man