Page 83 of Carter

The apartment is small. The layout upstairs is probably exactly like this. Living room and kitchen to the right, small dining area ahead, bathroom to the left along with two bedrooms.

“I’m investigating a matter around the area, and I wanted to ask you a few questions about your neighbor.”

“Which one?” she asks, gesturing toward the couch. I take a seat, trying to stay calm. But I’m getting antsy.

“Upstairs. Jason Mercer?”

“Oh God, him.”

“Problems?”

“All the time. I don’t know what he does up there, but he’s always banging around. I hear shouting all the time. Charlotte and I had to switch bedrooms because he was keeping her up all night.”

“You’ve complained to the super?”

“Many times. So have others. They don’t care about us. They just want their money.”

I nod as I take notes. “How long have you lived here?”

“Two years. When Charlotte’s father and I split.”

I get some more information from her, like her name and number. Let her know I may be in touch and to not say anything about this.

“Is he dangerous?” she asks as he sees me to the door.

“Just… avoid him if possible. But don’t worry. Call us if you need anything.”

She thanks me, and I hear the lock clicking behind me. I talk to the rest of the residents on the floor. One tells me she just ran into him on the street because he was leaving for work. Now I know I can head up. So I go talk to the neighbors up there too. They all say the same thing as the first woman. He’s loud, always shouting about something, sometimes with others—women andmen. They say he drinks a lot and hangs outside during the summers with shady people, but seems to pay his rent on time and works, so the super doesn’t do much about the noise. That’s the area, and it sucks.

On the way out, I knock on the door labeledMaintenance. A middle-aged guy in a grey jumpsuit with blond hair and a goatee opens the door. “Can I help you?”

I flash my badge. “Detective Nash Bennett. Get apartment 3E a chain lock on their door before the end of day or I’ll fine the entire building.” I turn on my heel and walk away.

“For what?!” he shouts.

“Everything!” I call back.

He curses under his breath, and I hear the door close harder than necessary. There better be a fucking lock on that door by the time I’m here next, or I’ll have his head.

I get back to my car and update my team. There’s an email waiting for me that says surveillance will be on Jason Mercer tomorrow at six a.m. That’s the soonest we have officers available. For now, I just have to be patient.

My phone rings as I’m about to pull off, so I put the truck back in park to answer it.

“Hey,” I answer with a smile.

“How was work?” Glancing at the clock I see it’s already almost seven.

“It was work. How was your day?”

“Tiring. I forgot we had schools visiting today. Those kids are crazy. Too much energy.”

I chuckle.

“I was hoping you wanted to come over,” he says carefully.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I’d like toattemptto make you dinner, if that’s okay.”