Chapter 03: Identity

Flack, engrossed in reading his case notes, didn't notice the coffee cup appearing on his desk. As soon as the rich aroma hit his nostrils though, he glanced upward, his eyes meeting Angell's.

"Coffee?"

"That's exactly the reason why I'm marrying you", he stretched, loosening his back muscles.

"You're really funny, you know? Bad case?"

"Do good one even exist?", he turned the memo-book in her direction.

She read for a couple of minutes, biting her lips. "Have you already found out his identity?"

Don glanced at the computer screen.

"From missing persons, nothing yet. CSIs are processing his prints... but I don't know how much time they need...", grabbing the cup he gulped down some of the dark liquid, "Thank you, Jess. I was going into withdrawal"

Angell smiled tenderly, stroking lightly his arm. Obvious PDA was a big no-no and they were too professional to even risk to ruin their reputation.

Flack was about to say something more, but his computer bipped claiming his attention. He clicked a key, opening a file.

"There he is: Gregory Buster, thirty-seven years old, 159 Lexington Avenue. His sister, Carla, filled a missing report two days ago. Better contacting her"

"He has been found near the Fifth, hasn't he?"

"Yeah... We're still looking for the primal crime scene. Though we have an address now", he stood, grabbing his gun from the desk drawer. Angell looked at him silently as he secured the Glock in the holster and then grabbed his jacket and coffee.

"I'm going to the lab, talking to Danny. Maybe he discovered something, too"

"What about...", her cell rang and she answered: "... Angell. Right, I'll meet you downstairs", she ended the call, "Stella. Homicide at Bryant Park. Gotta go" she resumed.

"Okay. About lunch: Count on me, if we can find some time"

"Perfect... oh, Don? Will you call the catering, please?", she asked with a big, sweet, loving smile.

He shrugged, unable to resist her: "It's in my to-do-list. I'll phone them later, even if the idea of calling so early to wake them up is really appealing..."

Jess laughed.

"Talk to you later", she turned to leave.

"Bye, detective!"

She simply waved at him without stopping.

In the lab, Danny was still analyzing prints and DNA.

"Messer, I'm bearing gifts!"

"Show me, show me, show me!", he begged.

"Gregory Buster, he lived on the Lex"

"Are we going to take a look?"

"What about Mac?"

"He was speaking with Sid... he already has some autopsy results. Gun shot was confirmed as COD"

"Okay. Let's go"

"I'm behind you"

The traffic was jammed: "I hate driving between eight am and... the end of the day"

"I told you I could drive"

"You?", Flack raised an eyebrow, glancing curiously at his passenger.

"Yeah, me. Any problems?"

"Not with you. It's just your I know a shortcut which will take us there in a blink of an eye. Last time you said that, we almost got lost..."

"it happened only twice!"

"Considering it was the third time I let you drive..."

"Manhattan is changing so fast..."

"And we're not getting younger..."

"Uh?", Danny looked at Flack with a shocked expression.

"So, it wasn't just one of your wise and resigned monologues"

"You're really in a bad mood, today!", he snickered.

"I didn't have breakfast"

"A crime against humanity!", Danny joked.

"Thank god we're here", they left the car and walked to the late Buster's house. Inside the hall, there was a doorman waiting for them.

"Detective Flack and detective Messer, NYPD", they showed their badges, "We're here to check Gregory Buster's apartment"

The doorman, a kid who was in his early twenties, stared at the badges for some seconds, unsure and a little worried. Then he grabbed the passe-partout and pointed at the elevator: "Please, follow me, I'll bring you upstairs"

Don let the young man press the forth floor button before speaking.

"When you saw mister Buster last?"

"Something happened to him?"

The two detectives shared a look.

"I... I don't really know... a week ago, maybe. He comes and goes very discreetly"

"Really?"

"Yes"

With a loud "BLING" the elevator stopped. The floor, like the hall, was very classy and tidy. It was clearly an elegant complex.

"Have you received any complaints against him?"

"Complaints?"

Danny sighed: "Yeah... from other tenants"

"No. He was a little mysterious and grumpy, to be honest, but it was expected..."

"Expected? Why?", it was clear the doorman needed to be pushed to go on.

"I started worked here only few weeks ago, but I have been told that mister Buster's wife died in a car accident... well, here we are"

He opened the door and made room for the detectives.

"Do you need something else?"

"Not right now, thank you. But I may need to talk to you again before we leave"

"No problem. I'll be downstairs"

"Thank you", Flack stared at the boy for a while, noticing the way his shoulders were slumped forward. Then, he followed Messer inside the apartment.