Stacey pulled a cigarette pack and plastic green lighter from her large patent leather purse. She removed a cigarette and lit the tip. “Don’t we all?”

Jordan’s sister, Avery, had moved in with her six months ago, full of resolve to get clean. They had been down this road before, but Jordan had not given up hope, so she’d welcomed her sister back into the house.

Hours ago, Jordan had been doing the laundry, and thinking she would help Avery out, she’d scooped up the dirty clothes off her sister’s bedroom floor. She had found a baggie of white powder in a shirt pocket and confronted Avery. The two had fought bitterly, and Avery had stormed out.

Stacey inhaled and blew out smoke as she studied the picture. “She was here an hour ago. I tried to talk to her, but she was just looking to score.”

“Do you know from who?”

“I ain’t looking to get anyone arrested. I don’t need trouble.”

“I’m not looking to arrest anyone. Who tells me the quality of what Avery bought and where I might find her.”

“She was asking about Walker,” Stacey said.

“Marco Walker.” Walker had dated Avery once. And he was the reason she had started using.

“That’s right.”

Jordan tucked the picture back in her pocket. “He still living down the street above the El Dorado bar?”

“He is, but I didn’t tell you nothing.”

“Thanks, Stacey.” She handed her the fifty bucks that was supposed to get Jordan to payday. It was going to be peanut butter sandwiches for the duration.

Jordan moved down the dark street, past the unlit alleys. Music from a bar drifted out an open window. A man and woman were laughing across the street. And in one alcove two grunted and groaned as they went at it.

A three-story building sat on the corner. There had been a bar on the first floor until it had closed last year. On the second and third floors were apartments that saw a lot of resident turnover.

She climbed the stairs to the third floor, removed the gun from her ankle holster, and knocked on the door. Inside, music pulsed loudly. Anywhere else there would have been a noise complaint. She tried the doorknob. It was unlocked.

Carefully, she pushed open the door. She spotted a stereo on a side table, and she crossed to it and shut it off. Her ears throbbed in the silence.

There were two bedroom doors, and she opened the first. On the floor, she found a mattress covered with rumpled sheets, discarded clothes, and trash.

She moved to the next bedroom, and when she opened the door and flipped on the light, she immediately spotted the woman lying on her side, facing the opposite wall. Her hands were bound, and she sounded like she was gagging.