Cooper nodded, not really sure what to say.

Still, that seemed to satisfy Ed. “Right,” he said. “That’s it. You ready to go see this snake or what?”

“In a minute, you go ahead,” Cooper said, and Ed escaped, perhaps just as grateful as Cooper was for a moment alone to regain his composure. If he walked over there right now, he might do something horrifying like start sniffling, or worse, hug someone. Unfortunately, his solitude didn’t last long.

“Everything okay?” Ryan had snuck up behind him and was blinking at him with that wide-eyed puppy-dog look. “It looked like you guys were getting pretty intense over here.”

“Fine. Just having a personal conversation,” Cooper said with more edge than he’d intended, and immediately felt bad when Ryan’s face fell. “Sorry. Long day.”

“No apology necessary,” Ryan said genuinely, tucking his surfer hair back behind his ears, and Cooper might think it made him look oddly sweet and pretty if he wasn’t still a little irritated by his presence. “I can’t imagine all the stress you’re under right now. They really keep you working all hours.”

Cooper forced himself to smile. “You too. I didn’t think this would be your usual gig,” he said, gesturing toward the snake.

“It’s not,” Ryan agreed. “But Niko disappeared an hour ago and Genevieve is freaking out and we’re all operating short staffed after—”

Ryan seemed to realize what he was saying and stopped, a very pink blush appearing over his entire cheeks and, amusingly, the tip of his nose. “Not that this is more important than a man’s life and what you’re doing,” he said hastily. “I don’t think I’ve really quite processed what’s happened to James.”

“Were you close?” Cooper asked.

“Yeah, we hung out a couple of times.” Ryan looked a little sheepish. “I mean, I guess that’s not really close. But he was a pretty reserved guy. Felt more comfortable with animals than humans. He and I probably talked more than he did with anyone else at work, besides Niko, of course.”

Cooper frowned. “I didn’t realize James and Ms. Hirano knew each other well.” In fact he was sure she’d said they hadn’t. Which meant someone was lying to him.

Ryan shrugged. “I know they talked outside of work. He was friends with Niko’s girlfriend, too. I saw her and him together a couple times in town.”

“James and Niko’s girlfriend?” Cooper asked, trying to keep up.

“Yeah. Or, uh, partner, I guess?” Ryan said, scratching at the back of his neck and squinting. “They’ve been together for years. Met back when Niko was a documentarian, around the same time of her accident.”

Cooper hummed, thinking. “I heard her mention an accident, as well,” he said. “Can I ask what happened?”