In Death 20 - Survivor in Death

Thank you. You catch any of that, asshole?”
    He actually looked hurt. “No jack?”
    “That is also exactly correct. Now I’ll repeat: What did you see, what do you know?”
    “You gonna take me in I don’t say?”
    “Two correct answers in a row. Want to try for three?”
    “Well, shit. I seen the big nose shuffling along, coming along looking like she smell something she don’t like. Ain’t worth two looks, but we just hanging, so I start to give her a blow. Then the van thing, it flies up. Fast! And the two dudes, they pop out the back. Got one on each sida her. Lifts her up, toss her in, slam, bam, gone. We and my ‘sociates, we’da taken them on but they was rat fast, man. You gets?”
    “Yeah, I get. What did they look like? The men who popped out the back?”
    “Like ninjas, man.” He looked at each of his pals for nods of agreement. “Like a coupla kick-face ninja dudes in black threads with the mask thing.”
    “How about the van?”
    “Black, too.”
    “Make, model, plate?”
    “Hell, what I know? I don’t drive no van. Big and black, and moved slick as goose shit. Musta been a dude in the front, but I didn’t see nothing. Wasn’t lookin’. And the big nose? She don’t even squeak. Got her grabbed and stashed so fast, she don’t even squeak. We chill now?”
    “Yeah, we’re chill now. Name?”
    “Man.” He shuffled his feet. “Ramon. Ramon Pasquell. I got legitimate parole, man. I be looking for a job now, but I’m standing here jawing you.”
    “Right. Ramon, if you or your associates remember anything else, you can contact me at Central.” She handed him a card and a twenty.
    “Hey!” No amount of joy lighting his face could make it any less ugly. “You fridge for a big nose.”
    “Sweet talker,” she said and walked into the building.
    “You don’t have a big nose,” Peabody pointed out. “In fact, it could be called narrow and elegant.”
    “Big nose--nosey--cops, GPS, probation officers, and so on. We’re all big noses to mopes like Ramon.”
    “Ah, I gets. Report has the witness on the third floor. Cable, Minnie.”
    It only took one glance at the grimy, dented door of the single skinny elevator to have Eve taking the grimy stairs instead. She had a moment to wonder why the stench of urine and puke always seemed to permeate the walls in such places when a uniform stepped out of a door on the third floor.
    She noted he made them as cops even before he eyed the badge she’d hooked in her belt. “Lieutenant, you’re quick. I just called for detectives.”
    “Belay that, Officer. This incident may be related to one of our cases. She going to give me anything worthwhile?”
    “Saw the whole thing. She’s excitable, but she saw the grab, recognized the victim. Meredith Newman. Child Protection. I contacted GPS, and it checks. Newman was due here for a home check.”
    “Okay. Rescind the request for a detective. I’ll contact Central after I’ve talked to the wit. I’d like you to wait downstairs. I’ve got your unit boxed in anyway. I’ll want your report when I’m done up here.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    As he went down, Eve glanced at Peabody, noted the beads of sweat on her partner’s face. Should’ve risked the elevator, she thought. “You holding, Peabody?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine.” She dug out a tissue, wiped her face. “Still get a little winded, but the exercise is good for me. I’m good.”
    “You’re otherwise, I want to know. Don’t pussy around.” Eve stepped up to the door, knocked. She could already hear the shouts, the crying, the voices. A trio of voices, if she wasn’t mistaken. And two of them kids.
    It seemed to be her week for kids.
    “Police, Ms. Cable.”
    “I just talked to the police.” A woman, looking harassed--and who wouldn’t with one kid on the hip and the other pulling at your leg?-- opened the door. Her hair was a short, spiky blonde, her build going toward bottom heavy. And her eyes had the rabbit pink hue of a funky junkie.
    “Lieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody. We’d like to come in.”
    “I told the other guy the works. Jeez, Lo-Lo would ya stop for two seconds. Sorry, the kids’re riled up.”
    “This Lo-Lo?” Peabody smiled. “Hi, Lo-Lo, why don’t you come on over here with me.”
    Kids responded to Peabody, Eve noted. And this one, a pint-size with hair as blonde and spiky as her mother’s, peeled off her mother’s leg, put her hand in Peabody’s, and walked off babbling.
    There wasn’t