"What's the exact address?" Juhle asked me. "I'm hanging here anyway with my partner, looking for witnesses. I'll stay close."

"No need," I said, "but I appreciate the offer. But really, catch you later. I gotta go check the place out now."

The wooden door to the barrack unit closed behind me, and the hallway went almost pitch-dark. Someone had painted out the long glass windows on either side of the door. I let my eyes adjust for a few seconds, then tried the light switch, which had come into view. It didn't work.

There was a stink in the hall, the familiar trifecta of mold, urine, animal. I also noted a whiff of pot and tobacco smoke, although the stronger smells predominated. The wind howled outside as it tore between the buildings, and hearing it, I thought to turn back and open the door again slightly to get some light. Just outside in a pile of rubble against the building, I spied a rock that would serve my purpose. I picked it up and propped the door with it, holding it open about five inches.

The Jeffersons lived in number 3, the back unit on the left side. I listened at the door and heard only the familiar drone of a television but couldn't really tell if it came from this apartment or one of the others. I knocked, got no response, knocked again. "Mrs. Jefferson."

Finally, a shuffle of feet, then a woman's voice from inside. "Who's that?"

I knew a few tricks myself. You say Child Protective Services to some people, the door never opens. But you say Human Resources, of which CPS is a part, they often think it's about their welfare payments, and it's open sesame. Mrs. Jefferson opened the door a crack, the chain still on. "What you want?"

"I'd like to talk to you a minute if I could."

"You doin' that."

"We got a call about Keeshiana. Is she all right?"

"Who called?"

"Your mother." Thank God, I thought. It should have been the girl's school, since she'd already missed two full weeks, but they hadn't gotten around to it by the time I called them to verify the absences. Luckily, the grandmother had come by the apartment yesterday and after leaving had called CPS. "She's worried about you both." I shifted to another foot, keeping the body language relaxed.