Mercy (Atlee Pine #4)(18)

“Who are they?”

“Said they were hired by the folks that just bought this place. Some people on the West Coast, they said. Plan to turn it into ‘luxury condos’ or some such.”

“But my rent’s paid through the end of the month.”

“So’s mine. I told them fellers that. They told me it wasn’t their problem. I could go to court and sue.”

“Right, like we can afford to hire lawyers. But I still got stuff in there.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, El. They threw my ass out last night around midnight. Scared the shit outta me. Just cut my lock clean in two. They done it to everybody here. Had the cops with ’em, just in case.”

“Cops! But how can they evict people if they’ve paid their rent? I thought there were laws.”

“Hell, laws are for the rich folks. You think anybody gives a shit about us? And when I tried to argue the point one of them said the rent money we ‘supposedly’ paid wasn’t. That we were illegally squatting.”

“That’s bullshit. What else did these guys tell you?”

“Told me if I come back they’d toss me in the can.”

“But you are back.”

“Hell, I never went away. I slept next to the dumpster.”

“Where are these ‘guys’ now?”

“I think they’re coming back tonight. They said something about fencing in the whole kit and kaboodle then.”

“What are you gonna do now?”

“This was the only place I could afford. Just got my Social Security and whatever I can earn. Guess I’ll check out one of the homeless shelters. But last time I did they was full up. And they got some mean suckers in there. Do stuff to you, take your things, what little you got. I’ll probably go to the underpass. Or maybe down by the river. They got a little shantytown there. Least till I find something else. Well, good luck.”

He tottered off to move on with his life. She had to admire his pluck in the face of losing basically everything he had.

Cain picked up all her things and carried them to her car. She returned to the building and looked at the padlocked door. She was calculating how best to do this.

“Hey!”

She turned to see the man striding toward her. He was in his thirties, about her height, around two hundred muscular pounds. His blunt expression was as serious as a man about to go to war. He had a holstered pistol and wore the uniform of a private security service.

“Hey right back,” said Cain.

He stopped cold when he saw her uniform. “Who are you?”

“Who the hell are you?”

“Dwight Talbot. I’m on duty here to secure this place.”

“Well, so am I. Name’s Donna White. I just got called up to come here. And that’s after pulling a graveyard shift.”

He looked at the logo and name on her uniform. “Steele Security? I used to work for them. They lowball the guards.”

“Tell me about it. When did you make the switch to Douglas?” she said, noting the name and logo embroidered on his sleeve.

“About six months ago.”

“Smart man. I might do the same.”

“I didn’t know Steele was on this job, too.”

“I just go where I’m told, you know how it is.”

“Yeah, I damn well do.”

“West Coasters putting up luxury condos here, so I heard,” she said smoothly.

“Hell, I was wondering what they were doing with this pile of crap. When I was a kid they made furniture here, least I think.”

“Well, we’ll never be able to afford to live here. I don’t have luxury in my future.”

“Me too. That’s the damn truth.”

“Look,” said Cain. “I know they cleared everybody out last night, but have they checked out all these buildings?”

“Dunno, why?”

“Because when I got here, I could have sworn I heard somebody inside this one.”

“Shit, really?”

“Yeah, but the door’s padlocked. You want to call the cops? Although if I’m wrong we might get our asses handed to us. But if I’m right and we score the prick ourselves?”

“We might cop a bonus,” said Talbot.

“What I’m thinking.”

“How you want to do this?”

“You got a key for the lock? I was supposed to get a copy, but in all the rush they never got it to me.”

Talbot pulled out a key on a large ring from his pocket. “This is a master. Fits all the ones they put on last night.”

“Cool. Okay, hand it over. I’ll pop the lock and let’s go in. You got the gun so you cover my back, okay?”

“Okay.” He passed her the key and took out his pistol.

“Just don’t shoot me by accident, Dwight.”

He grinned. “Hell, Donna, that ain’t gonna happen, hon.”

“Just checking.”

She unlocked the door, and they quietly made their way inside and up a short flight of steps. The interior was tiny with only two doors. Cain knew one led to her bedroom, the other to the bathroom.

“You check that door,” she said, pointing to the bathroom door. “I’ll do the other.”