Page 91 of Crow
“Do you know what this is all about?”
“One of the resident’s was murdered,” she said.
“Fuck, that blows,” Benny said.
“How?” Josh asked.
Shrugging, she muttered, “I don’t know.” The last thing she wanted was to rehash what had happened. “I need to get back to the office.”
“Who was killed?” Josh asked.
“I can’t really talk about any of this.”
“But you know what happened?”
“Fuck, Josh, shove it. Can’t you see she’s upset?” Benny said.
“He doesn’t give a shit,” Stu said. “He was in the military too long.”
Josh threw back his head. “And damn proud of it.”
“Stu’s just messing with you, dude.” Benny laughed.
“Like always,” Josh grumbled.
“I’m going now. Bye.”
Everything seemed so surreal—a waking nightmare. Angie turned around without waiting for a reply from any of them. If she didn’t get out of there, she’d lose it in front of everyone. A lump rose in her throat, and she fought back the tears. Her heels clicked on the pavement as she power walked to the car.
Fifteen minutes later, she plopped down in her office chair and stared blankly at the wall clock’s second hand as it ticked away.
“What’s up?” Joey asked. “You look like you could use a double martini.”
Angie glanced at him for a second, then looked back at the clock.
“So what’s going on?”
In her peripheral vision, she caught Joey rise from his chair and walk toward her.
“You seem upset,” he said, now standing beside her.
She blew out a long sigh and leaned back. “One of the residents at Madera was murdered,” glancing down at the black desk pad, she whispered, “and I found him.”
“Oh fuck, that’s rough.” Joey’s hand felt warm on her shoulder. “Who was it?”
“Abe Dwyer.” A shiver snaked down her spine. “It was awful … horrific.”
“I’m sorry you had to see that. The dude was sort of a nut job. I heard he’d go off on the neighbors for no reason, so I can’t say I’m surprised.”
Her eyes widened. “So you’re saying that what happened to him was justified?” She pushed his hand off her shoulder.
Joey took a step back. “I didn’t say that. The tenants at that building aren’t exactly the cream of the crop, so this shit is bound to happen if he pissed off someone.”
“What he’s trying to say is that the loser probably deserved what he got. We aren’t dealing with upstanding citizens, you know.” Damon tipped his chair back and put his hands behind his head.
Anger sparked through her, and she jumped up. “Abe was fucking slaughtered!No onedeserves to be butchered to death. How can either of you be so damn callous and nonchalant about this? A person was murdered!”
“Angie, I didn’t mean—”
