“So you believed what he was saying?” she asked Crow as they sauntered down the hall.
“Not the devil part, but about someone lurking the halls? Fuck, yeah. He’s not the only one with that story.”
Mrs. Keene’s renditions of a figure all in black prowling the hallways came to mind. “You’re right. The police should know about this.”
“The fuckin’ badges won’t do shit with it. They think everyone here is on drugs and hallucinating.”
“No, they don’t.”
He cast her a sideways glance. “Trust me—they do.”
A silence stretched between the two, each lost in thought. Angie wasn’t sure what was going on at the building.Is this shadow man for real, or is it a resident who has insomnia?Abe’s fear was genuine and so was Mrs. Keene’s, but they were both vulnerable: Abe was disabled, and Mrs. Keene was older and terrified of living alone.
“Hey, sexy.”
Angie gritted her teeth when she saw Ginny Kelly step out of her apartment and into the hall. And her stomach dropped when Crow flashed her a smile—too big in Angie’s opinion—and stopped in front of her.
Angie made it a point to try and put herself in the shoes of the residents. Every tenant at Madera Crossing had a hard life with a lot of challenges besides poverty, so she strove to understand and empathize with them, but Ginny Kelly was nothing but a selfish bitch. She’d tried to like Ginny, but the woman was the most hedonistic, self-absorbed person she’d ever met. What she despised the most was that Ginny had two adorable kids who she neglected. Angie had called Child Protective Services more than a few times when she found lice in their hair, when they were left alone in the apartment overnight while their mother crashed at some guy’s place after partying too much, and when the only thing in the refrigerator was a jar of olives and a gallon of spoiled milk. At that point, her suspicion that Ginny was using her food stamps to buy drugs was confirmed.
Child Services removed the children on two of the six complaints Angie had filed, so to say that she didn’t like Ginny was an understatement. And now there she was decked out in yoga pants that clung to her curves and a barely-there top, flirting up a storm with Crow and throwing in some measured death stares at Angie.
No wonder he comes over here—he’s got a bevy of fans at his feet. Why are men such jerks?Walking over to Ginny, she ignored Crow and plastered a fake smile on her face.
“How are your children?” she asked.
“They’re fine, and it’s none of your fuckin’ business,” Ginny replied.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but itismy business and part of my job.”
“I don’t need no shit from you. They’re inside playing. I got food in the cupboards and fridge, and they’re clean.” She glanced over at Crow and threw him a small kiss.
Angie resisted rolling her eyes. “I need to see them to make sure.”
“You’re such a bitch,” she muttered, opening the door wider. “Lexi! Tyler! Get over here!”
Two skinny kids rushed to the door, their eyes wide with fright.
“We weren’t doing anything, Mommy. We were just staying real quiet like you said and watching the show.” Tyler shifted in place.
Pointing at her, Ginny said, “This lady wanted to see you, that’s all.”
Angie hunched down and smiled. “Hi there. Remember me? Angie?”
Tyler glanced at his mom, then back at her. “Hi,” he said in a barely audible voice.
Lexi hugged the side of the doorframe, her blue eyes following Angie’s every movement.
The children’s clothes were clean—a first—and their faces and hair were also clean—another first.Maybe Child Services taking them out of the home was a wake-up call for Ginny.She doubted it. All it did was show Ginny that her government benefits were substantially reduced without the kids in the house.
“Satisfied?” Ginny ran her fingers through Tyler’s hair.
Not really. Your kids remind me of frightened deer caught in the headlights. I wish they had a better childhood.
Angie straightened up. “Just keep it up. You’re very lucky to have such wonderful children.”
Ginny pressed her lips together and glared at her, then nudged Lexi. “Go on back to what you were doing. Both of you.”
The children scattered away.