Excerpt
“Yeah, that’s it – a few days ago I heard of a bloke being beat up pretty bad in this very building. But I didn’t see him, I don’t know who he was.” Sitting on the side of the bed, Corky shuddered. “Still can see his blood on the walls and floor, though, if you look.”
Tyne swayed on her feet. With both hands she grabbed Arthur’s arm in a death grip. He glowered at Corky. “Where in the building? What happened to him?”
Corky shrugged. “I dunno what happened to him. I never heard anythin’ more. But it was right on this floor, right near the top of the stairs by Sadie’s room. Yeah, that’s right, by Sadie’s room. And when I asked her about it, she brushed me off, and she’s bin actin’ kinda funny ever since, if you ask me.”
Arthur grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet. “Where’s Sadie’s room? Take us there. Hurry up, man.”
Bending over, Corky began to grope under the bed. “Gotta find my shoes.”
Arthur jerked him upright so hard he almost lifted him off his feet. “Forget the shoes.” He glanced at Tyne and started to speak, obviously wanting to tell her to stay where she was. But seeing the stubborn determination on her face, he shrugged and shoved Corky into the hall. Tyne followed.
Padding over the gritty floor in his bare feet, Corky walked slowly along the corridor, pausing to squint at each door as he came to it. Tyne wanted to scream at him. Finally, at the last door before the stairs, he stopped.
“Sadie’s room,” he announced with an air of satisfaction.
Arthur stepped forward and rapped sharply. “Sadie? Open up.”
There was the sound of hurried shuffling before a plaintiff voice answered with an expletive. “Can’t you give a girl some privacy? I got company. Wait your turn.”
“I said open up, Sadie. Police.”
Another expletive. “I ain’t done nothin’ wrong.”
Arthur pounded on the door like he might break it down. “Open this door now, or you’ll find yourself behind bars before you can blink.”
Libros Libertad 