Page 38 of D for Dead

There was a camera positioned above the main door, which they soon established hadn’t worked in months, and the tenants didn’t appear to give a damn about security, holding the door open for people on a daily basis. Their best hope was having someone remember holding the door open for their perpetrator and being able to give a decent description.

Joel noted there were security cameras on each level and another in the lift. When they were done with the tenants, he would track down the super and see if any of them worked. As he rapped his knuckles on the door of 12B, he could hear Rivers further down the hallway, lecturing a young mother with a crying baby in her arms about the importance of not opening the door to strangers, and he rolled his eyes.

Damn you, Max Sutton, for retiring.

He hadn’t been partnered with Rivers for long and so far their relationship had been the exact opposite to the one he’d shared with Sutton. Joel’s partnership with Max had been easy-going, trusting and mutually respectful; he doubted he would ever get to that with Rivers. The guy was a dope. The way he’d been sucking up to Angell had irritated him as well. He would prefer Rivers didn’t look at, talk to or have any kind of interaction with Angell.

And why is that, Joel?

Six years had passed since they’d seen each other. Back then their investigation had ended, emotions had been running high after Angell was stabbed, and he had been fool enough to hang around. Their fling had been fun, but brief, and he’d cut it short, knowing it couldn’t go anywhere. Commitment was never going to be on the cards and he had blasted his way through a dozen more women since Angell, keeping all of the liaisons short and sweet, not wanting to admit she was the only one he remembered with any fondness.

When they’d first pulled this case he had been apprehensive about crossing paths with her again, unsure how she would react to seeing him. What he hadn’t counted on was the kick in the gut when he first saw her.

She was no longer a young wide-eyed rookie with a chip on her shoulder. She had matured into a smart, confident and sassy woman, and she was far prettier than he remembered. Much to his chagrin, and for the first time ever, Joel was finding himself wanting to go back. It pissed him off. He never went back. Annoyed with himself for even considering it, he refocused on the job at hand.

The tenant of 12B didn’t appear to be home; he started to make a note for a call back – and was surprised when the door in front of him creaked open.

The face peering up at him with eyes magnified behind thick lenses and framed by silver, thinning hair, had to be one hundred years old. As the gap in the door widened he saw the walking frame.

‘Can I help you?’

Joel doubted the lady standing before him would be any help at all. Regardless, he went through the motions, flashing his badge.

‘Good afternoon, ma’am. My name is Special Agent Hickok. I’m with the FBI.’

‘Sorry?’ The lady cupped a hand to her ear. ‘You’re with the what?’

‘I’m with the FBI.’

Giant eyes blinked at him, confused.

‘The FBI,’ he repeated loudly and waved his badge in front of her again. His voice was loud enough to have Rivers and the mother with the baby looking over. Rivers gave him a disapproving look and Joel scowled at him.

After studying the badge for what seemed like forever, a look of understanding crossed the old lady’s face.

‘Ah, the FBI.’

‘Ma’am, I need to ask you some questions.’

‘Say what?’

‘Questions.’

‘Would you like to come in for a coffee?’

Frustrated, Joel glanced at his partner again. ‘Hey, Rivers? Come here.’

‘Two minutes, Joel.’ The younger agent held up his hand, the gesture patronising. ‘I’m running through a few safety tips with Miss Nolan.’

Joel’s shoulders tensed with irritation. ‘Rivers, you idiot, focus on the damn case,’ he snapped.

Red-faced, the younger agent apologised to the young mother and hurried over. She was quick to shut the door after him, clearly glad to get away.

‘I wish you wouldn’t speak to me like that in front of people,’ he hissed.

Ignoring his bleating, Joel nodded towards the old woman waiting expectantly in the doorway. ‘I need you to speak to this lady.’

‘Why can’t you speak to her?’