The apartment was located in part of one of the oldest tenements in New York City. At the turn of the century, it had housed not only Irish and Italian immigrants at one time or another, but had also been one of the famous brothels in the city during late 1800s. But now, it housed mainly lower-income, blue-collar workers who worked many jobs that a lot of people wouldn't dream of doing. It was Danny, Lindsey and Sheldon Hawkes who were the first to arrive on the scene. The tenants in the building had been complaining of a foul odor coming from the apartment belonging to an elderly man and his single daughter. No one had heard from either of them in some time, and the neighbours began to fear the worst. Sure enough, standing in front of the door, All three could smell the stench of decomp coming from the inside of the house, along with another stronger, heavier smell that told a different story.
"Agh," Danny gagged, "That's animal feces, Hawkes." He said, covering his mouth and nose with his forearm.
Sheldon shook his head as he raised his fist to knock on the door. "Looks like the neighbours would've called sooner than this," he said, when a quiet voice behind them caused all three men to jump in surprise.
"We didn't want no trouble," Said the small, wiesend old woman standing on the stoop of the apartment across the hall.
Lindsey frowned, and cautiously approached her.
The little woman was no more than 4 foot tall, and a brightly coloured afghan hung around too-thin shoulders. Her hair was arranged in a neat bun at the back of her head, and it was a beautiful silvery gray. She was very well-groomed, and Lindsey could tell by her posture that she was a very proud person. Her ivory and black linen dress came down to the tops of her black sturdy shoes.
"Who are you?" Lindsey asked, and the woman placed her hand over her heart.
" Name's Maddie Lorraine DeAngelo," she said, her chin tilted up to see Lindsey's face.
"I've lived here for 57 years, and those people across the hall; they're best left alone.
Sheldon and Danny came to stand beside Lindsey.
"How long have they lived here?" Lindsey asked, and Ms. DeAngelo shrugged.
"Too long, if you ask me. But I'd say a good three or four years. They keep to themselves, and if you so much as say 'boo' to them, they give you a look that would freeze your heart."
Danny stepped forward and Ms. DeAngelo's deep blue eyes skittered up and down his frame before resting on a point just below his chin.
"Has anyone seen them lately?" He asked, and the little old woman sighed, shaking her head.
"No, not since the girl moved out about six or eight weeks ago. Made quite a lot of noise doing it. 'Course, all of us were glad to see her go, seeing as how she was so rude all the time. Just never did make friends with anyone."
Ms. DeAngelo seemed to be in need of some company, as she was getting quite chatty.
"When my husband Sal was alive, we knew all the neighbours. That was along time ago, though.
"Okay, Ms. DeAngelo," said Danny, pulling out a card and handing it to her. "If you notice anything, or have anymore information about them, let me know, okay"
Ms. DeAngelo peered at the card, holding it against the tip of her nose. Finally, she looked up at Danny and grinned broadly, showing a row of perfectly straight, white teeth.
"I sure will," she said, and waved to the three CSIs before going back into her apartment and shutting the door firmly.
"We'd better get started," Danny said, eyeing the door to the stinking apartment they'd originally come to investigate. "It's not going to get any prettier just because we're standing here visiting with the neighbours." He said, and knocked again at the door.
Again, his knock went unanswered. Danny looked around at Lindsey and Sheldon.
"Here we go," he said, and kicked the door in with his foot.
"Holy shit!" Gagged Danny, as the scents of decomp and decaying filth hit them full in the face.
"My God," Lindsey said, breathing through her mouth as the three of them looked at each other in horror.
