When Errol arrived home, he always did three things by habit: locked his door, placed his keys in a kitchen drawer, and turned on the radio. This time, he only put his keys away, not wanting to frighten Beauty by making her feel locked in or to seem trivializing by drowning her out with jazz. He stayed standing just outside of the kitchen in case she wanted something to eat or drink, but did not make any moves to interrupt her lest she change the subject. He knew how easy it could be to seize upon the opportunity to do so.
"Someone bad," he said, not making it a question. If it had been anyone who meant well, she likely would not have been so skittish. His stomach knotted, though it did not show on his face.