Read Online Gone by Jonathan Kellerman - Free Book Online Page A

is that?”
    “I arrived shortly after my husband died, which was four years ago. I used to have my own house in Crenshaw, nice neighborhood, then it got bad, now it’s getting nice again. After Walter passed on, I said who needs all this space, a big yard to take care of. A fast-talking real estate agent offered me what I thought was a good price so I sold. Big mistake. At least I’ve got the money invested, been thinking about getting another house. Maybe out in Riverside, where my daughter lives, you get more for your money there.”
    She patted her hair. “Meanwhile, I’m here, and what they pay me to manage covers my expenses and then some.”
    “Who’s they?”
    “The owners. Couple of brothers, rich kids, inherited the building from their parents along with a whole lot of other buildings.”
    “Does Mr. Peaty pay his rent on time?”
    “That’s one thing he does do,” said Stadlbraun. “First day of the month, postal money order.”
    “He go to work every day?”
    Stadlbraun nodded.
    “Where?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “Does he ever entertain visitors?”
    “Him?” She laughed. “Where would he entertain? If I could show you his place, you’d see what I mean, teeny-weeny. Used to be a laundry room until the owners converted it to a single. There’s barely room for his bed and all he’s got besides the bed is a hot plate and a little TV and a dresser.”
    “When were you inside last?”
    “Must’ve been a couple of years ago. His toilet backed up and I called a rooter service to snake it. I was ready to blame it on him —
you know, overstuffing the commode like some fools do?” Regret made her eyes droop. “Turns out it was lint. When they converted it, no one had the sense to clean the traps and somehow the lint got wadded up and moved round and caused a godawful mess. I remember thinking what a
teeny
little place, how can anyone live like this.”
    Milo said, “Sounds like a cell.”
    “That’s exactly what it is.” Stadlbraun squinted. Sat back. Folded her arms across her chest. “You should’ve told me from the beginning, young man.”
    “Told you what, ma’am?”
    “Like a cell? He’s an ex-
con,
right? What’d he do that sent him to prison? More important, what’d he do to bring you around now?”
    “Nothing, ma’am. We just need to ask a few questions.”
    “Come on, now,” said Ertha Stadlbraun. “No shilly-shallying.”
    “At this point—”
    “Young man, you are
not
asking me questions because that one’s thinking of running for
president.
What’d he
do
?”
    “Nothing that we know of. That’s the truth, Mrs. Stadlbraun.”
    “You don’t
know
anything for certain, but you sure
suspect
something.”
    “I really can’t say more, Mrs. Stadlbraun.”
    “This is not right, sir. Your job is to protect citizens so you
should
say. He’s a crazy person and an ex-con living in the same building with normal folks.”
    “Ma’am, he’s done nothing. This is part of a preliminary investigation and he’s one of several people we’re talking to.”
    She folded her arms across her dress. “Is he dangerous? Tell me yes or no.”
    “There’s no reason to think that—”
    “That’s a lawyer answer. What if he’s one of those ticking time bombs you hear about on the news, real quiet until he explodes? Some of the Mexicans have kids. What if he’s one of those perverts and you didn’t tell me?”
    “Why would you think that, ma’am?”
    “He
is
?” said Stadlbraun. “A
pervert
?
That’s
what this is about?”
    “No, ma’am, and it would be a real bad idea—”
    “It’s in the news every day, all these perverts. It wasn’t like that in my day. Where did they all
come
from?”
    Milo didn’t answer.
    Ertha Stadlbraun shook her head. “He gives me the willies. And now you’re telling me he’s an ex-con child molester.”
    Milo leaned in closer. “I am definitely
not
telling you that, ma’am. It would be a
terrible
idea to spread those kinds of