Never Alone Read Online Free PDF Page B

from her feet a few months ago.” His index finger shaking as he pointed down toward his feet. “Bunions? Something like this. Well, Miss Shannon made my wife her favorite galletas … um … cookies.” He stopped to take a sip of water, most of it missing his mouth. “A lovely girl. Just lovely.”
    â€œI’m sure she was, sir,” Megan said.
    â€œWell, she leave a note in the basement last week. We have a message board. Tenants write down what they need me to do.” Looking at Nappa, he repeated nervously in Spanish, “She maybe put her name down once in the last year. Miss Shannon never made a fuss.”
    Nappa, in his broken Spanish, told Mr. Mendoza to continue.
    â€œI was hosing down the sidewalk in front of the building this morning. Miss Shannon came back from her jog.”
    â€œWhat time was that? Was she alone?” Megan asked.
    â€œYes, alone. I think maybe six thirty? She ask me would I mind checking the faucet in her kitchen today. I tell her no problem. She said she be gone by eight thirty. Any time after that is okay. I ring the bell twice to make sure no one is there. I don’t like to bother my tenants. I unlocked the door, bring in my toolbox, and then I see that poor girl just lying on the floor like … like …”
    Mr. Mendoza started to break down again and pulled out a handkerchief from his back pocket. He abruptly pulled it away from his face, shaking his finger. “I tell you whoever did this to that girl is a monster. I tell you, un monstruo !”
    Megan took a small step back so the EMT could administer more oxygen to Mr. Mendoza. His color soon returned to normal.
    â€œMr. Mendoza, have you noticed anything suspicious lately? Anyone hanging around the building or going in and out of Ms. McAllister’s apartment? Any male visitors for Ms. McAllister?” Megan asked.
    â€œBoyfriends, you mean? No, no, not that I know of. She’s a quiet girl, a good girl. I can’t remember anyone.” A few seconds passed when he looked up at Megan, tapping his index finger against his left temple, stunned he could recall such an uneventful moment. He stammered, sure this would be of no use to them, “I remember she had a party at the end of the summer. She worked at a camp, a summer camp for sick city kids. She and a few other people got together to celebrate the end of the summer. Nothing big, just ordered a few pizzas, no big thing. No neighbors complained or anything like that.”
    â€œHow did you know about it?” Nappa asked.
    â€œI run into her when she was paying the pizza guy. I help her into the apartment with the pizzas. There were six, maybe seven people. Nice kids.”
    Megan glanced over at Nappa. A small something is better than a big nothing when it comes to leads.
    â€œWe noticed there’s a video camera at the entrance to the building,” Nappa mentioned.
    â€œYes, but I have trouble with it. It works, but not too good. The company was supposed to come last week to fix it. We never had no trouble at this building, never! I been here twenty-two years and not once, not one bad thing ever happen here!” Mr. Mendoza pulled his handkerchief out again, attempting to mask his emotion, as much as a man who just found a murdered woman could.
    â€œOkay, Mr. Mendoza. Thank you, thank you.” Megan placed a business card on the desk next to him. “If you wouldn’t mind providing us with information we’ll be needing, sir. Names, phone numbers of everyone in the building, and if there is anything at all that you remember, please call us immediately.”
    _____
    Megan and Nappa walked up the back stairwell to the lobby level. They were at the front door of the building when a uniformed cop attempted to warn them of the onslaught of press, but it was too late. Megan opened the door to find television reporter Ashley Peters in her face. Ashley Peters was a twenty-something pain in