Ricky Kane

Ricky Kane is a character created by George Pelecanos. He appears in Right as Rain. Kane is a drug dealer with ties to the Cherokee Mob. He worked as a waiter and supplied his colleagues and contacts in the nightlife industry.

Kane used his drug supply to attract women. As they deteriorated into full blown addiction he would hand them over to Coleman Cherokee to turn to prostitution. One such woman was his colleague Sondra Wilson. The disappearance of Sondra led to her brother, a police officer named Chris Wilson, searching for her. Wilson uncovered Kane's connection to the Cherokee Mob and uncovered their ties with corrupt police officers. Coleman ordered Wilson's death and Kane was instrumental in the set-up of the murder. Kane acted as bait by claiming he was going to return Sondrato her brother. Coleman predicted that Wilson would fly into a rage when Sondra was not delivered as promised giving his corrupt police connections a pretext to kill Wilson. The plan worked initially. Wilson was killed and Kane sued the police department for the injuries Kane caused when attacking him. He received a sizeable settlement and left his day job but continued to work as a drug dealer.

The truth of the shooting was eventually uncovered by private investigator Derek Strange, working on behalf of Wilson's family. Kane was arrested and agreed to give evidence against Coleman in exchange for leniency.