Page 15 of The Perfect Revenge
“Yes,” Beth replied.“But she’s down in the evidence room right now looking for something for a case that Detectives Nettles and Goodwin are working.Do you want me to get her?”
“That’s okay.Please just ask her to give me a call when she has a moment.”
Jessie tried to sound as casual as possible but wasn’t sure if she’d succeeded.Her sister had shown zero interest in communicating with her last night after their visit to Finn Anderton’s safe house.And Jessie had to leave for work before Hannah woke up this morning.She wanted to smooth things over as best she could.Of course, she got the distinct sense that it would require more than a quick phone chat, but she had to start somewhere.
“We’ll let her know,” Beth said.
“Thanks.”Jessie hung up.She and Susannah listened to the voicemail they’d just received.
“Well, that’s interesting,” Susannah said when it was over.Jessie agreed.
They got out of the car and walked along the crumbling path to the building’s main entrance gate.Susannah was preparing to access the Knox Box, a lockbox with a master key for police and emergency personnel to access apartment buildings, when Jessie gave the gate a shove.It eased opened without any opposition.The springs seemed to be busted, along with the lock.
Even though it was now 10:30 in the morning, there was no movement in the small courtyard leading to the interior entrance.The place was deathly quiet.They did have to use the Knox Box to open the building’s main door before moving into the shabby lobby.In included a rickety wooden bench and a wall of mailbox slots.There was no elevator so they took the stairs to the second floor.According to Jamil, Mickey Flanagan lived in apartment 208 of the twenty-unit building.
The overhead lights in the second floor hallway flickered dimly, like something out of a horror movie.Jessie almost preferred it, as the poor lighting made it hard to discern the source of the many stains on the worn gray carpeting.
When they reached apartment 208, both women undid the holsters on their weapons and stood on either side of the door.
“You ready?”Susannah asked.
“Ready,” Jessie said.
She hoped that she really was
CHAPTER NINE
Jessie watched nervously as Susannah knocked firmly, waited a couple of seconds, then announced herself.
"LAPD," she barked."We need to speak with Michael Flanagan."
Jessie could clearly hear movement on the other side of the door.It was hard to be sure but it didn’t sound like someone scrambling to escape.It was more like shuffling, along with an occasional cough.After waiting fifteen seconds, Susannah was about to rap on the door again.But before she could, it opened.
Looking back at them through the narrow slit allowed by the chain lock on the door was a weary-looking man with the same brown eyes as his dead sister.His longish brown hair was pressed down against his head.He had about half a weeks’ worth of stubble on his face.
“I didn’t do anything,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.
"We're not suggesting you did, Mr.Flanagan," Susannah replied, though that was their suspicion."I'm Detective Valentine.This is Ms.Hunt.A situation has come up, and we need to speak with you about it.We think you might be able to help us.May we come in?"
Jessie noted that her partner for the day was using her most restrained tone.Susannah was usually much more confrontational in situations like this.But even with her brusque demeanor, she was aware that this man’s sister was dead and that if he wasn’t responsible for it, they’d be breaking the news to him.
“You’re not here to arrest me, right?”
"That's not our intention," Jessie told him."We're investigating a case, and we think you might be able to provide some valuable information.We'd much rather discuss it inside where you'll have more privacy."
Flanagan snorted.“Trust me, no one on this floor is awake yet.Hold on.”
He closed the door to unlock it, then opened it wide.He was wearing athletic shorts and a Nirvana t-shirt.Their scent suggested that they hadn’t been laundered recently.
They stepped inside.The apartment was small, essentially a studio with a half-wall separating the kitchenette.Flanagan walked over to the loveseat and removed a pizza box and several fast-food wrappers.
“You want to sit?”he asked.
"You go ahead."Jessie was in no way interested in settling on the loveseat."I'm happy to stand."
“Same,” Susannah said, clearly fighting the urge to scrunch up her nose in disgust.
“Suit yourself.”Flanagan plopped down on the loveseat.“What’s this all about?”
