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“It’s been a crazyI haven’t seen him yet”

“Good! Because I think we can close this case right now”

“I a this because you’re my partner,” Chu protested

“That’s good enough forup She passed Ninth Avenue and strode up the block toward the brownstone Her hand slipped into her jacket to touch her sidearm and reassure herself that it was there

She reached the correct address and looked up the concrete stairs that rose up before her Like the rest of Shaut’s building, they looked freshly painted and clean

Pro stood waiting for her partner, who couldn’t be very far away Her eyes went to the wrought-iron fence that surrounded the front of the building and was about waist-high Behind it there was a door on street level Pro decided that it must have been the basement, as one had to ascend the stairs to reach the first floor

Frole, she noticed that the door wasn’t quite closed It couldn’t really be seen frole it was noticeable

She glanced down the block to see Chu as he approached He earing a brown blazer with khaki pants She waited until he drew near

“Are we going up and ringing the bell?” asked Chu “Or are we just going to stand outside and wait?”

Pro put her extended index finger to her lips and Chu quieted immediately She pointed at the basement door, and Chu went up a couple of steps to view it He returned and whispered, “You noticed the door was open?”

“He ht have an intruder,” Pro murmured “One that has no problem with locks”

“Should we let Shaut know?” Chu asked quietly

“Let’s see if anyone is in there We have probable cause to suspect there is a burglar”

“Or Shaut forgot to close the door”

They moved as a unit up to the iron fence Pro lifted the latch soundlessly, and the pair h it She carefully closed it, and they advanced to frame each side of the door Chu was on the side that opened, so he cautiously grabbed the knob, gave it a very gentle pull, and it opened a crack