Page 18 of Crow
Knocking, she said, “Ms. Welton, could you please open up?”
Nothing.
A few more knocks resulted in the same response, so she turned away and headed to apartment 315. Angie slipped the electronic device into her purse, and as she rapped on the door, muffled voices could be heard coming from the inside.
“Stop jumping!” a female voice yelled.
A male voice said something inaudible, then Angie heard footsteps getting louder until the door flew open.
A short woman with curly hair and blotchy skin stared at her. She wore big silver-hoop earrings and faded, ripped jeans.
“Hi,” Angie said with a smile. “I’m here to see Ms. Stockton.”
The woman folded her arms across her chest and looked Angie over. “Who are you?”
“Are you Ms. Stockton?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Angie slipped her hand into the front pocket of her shoulder bag, withdrew a business card, and handed it to the young woman. “I’m Ms. Morelli.”
The woman scanned the card, then glared.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“Again, are you Ms. Stockton?”
“Yeah.”
“I need to ask you a few questions.”
“Like what?”
“May I come inside?”
“No.” The resident gripped the door and closed it halfway.
“How many people are living in your apartment?”
“What kind of a fucking question is that?”
“A simple one.” Angie’s nerves were beginning to fray.
“Me and my two kids. I’m sure you know that.”
“No one else is living with you?”
“I just told you that. Are you deaf or something?” She began chewing on a fingernail.
“We have reason to believe you have an adult male living in the household.”
Sparks of anger flashed in the woman’s eyes, and she dropped her hand by her side. Glancing down the hall, she scowled. “I bet that bitch, Theresa, told you that.”
“Nobody told me anything. Who is the male in the house right now?”
“No one’s here but me and the two kids. Now get away from here.”
Angie slipped her foot in the door’s threshold to stop Ms. Stockton from slamming it shut. “I heard a masculine voice. The fact that you’re denying it tells me—”
