Page 51 of Two Kinds of Stranger

They scanned the area, looking for other homeless people. They both knew that this was a community. Those who live on the streets get to know each other. And most help each other too, when they can.

‘I don’t see anyone. Let’s walk the blocks. We’re bound to find somebody.’

They circled the block, didn’t see anyone who might have been part of that community. Until they walked back toward Grand Central and saw two men on the corner of 41stStreet. Bloch always felt a pang of guilt when she saw people living on the streets. It was not their fault. Poverty, addiction, mental-health problems and sometimes even just bad luck could put almost anyone here. The hardest thing was to climb back onto their feet and get out of that spiral.

Lake and Bloch approached the two men. One was tall, with sharp eyes and a long gray beard. The other was short and wore odd boots–one brown and one black. They both wore beanie hats and thick coats. A shopping cart filled with bags of empty plastic bottles and cardboard sat between them. They were sorting through the bags and talking.

‘Excuse me, guys, we’re looking for the man who lives on the corner of 40thStreet, in the alcove. Any idea where we could find him? He’s not in trouble or anything. We just want to talk to him,’ said Lake.

Both men halted their conversation and eyed Lake warily.

‘You a cop?’ asked the tall man.

‘Used to be. Private investigator. My name is Gabriel Lake, this is Bloch. We just want to talk to the guy. He saw a client of ours, a lady who had been attacked. He helped save her.’

‘You mean the girl who was puking in the street?’ asked the short man.

Bloch stepped forward, said, ‘Her name’s Elly Parker. We need to talk to your friend. Do you know his name and where we could find him?’

Both men looked at each other for a moment. Something passed between them, their eyes searching each other’s faces for the appropriate response.

‘He helped her. Made sure she didn’t choke while they were waiting for the paramedics. Is she alright? The lady, I mean?’ asked the tall man.

‘She recovered, but she’s in a different kind of trouble. We’re hoping your friend could help,’ said Lake.

The tall man stepped back, shook his head, said, ‘I’m glad she’s okay, but we ain’t seen the guy you’re looking for. Don’t know him. Sorry.’

The short man took the big guy’s lead. He too backed away, dragging the cart, shook his head, said, ‘Sorry, can’t help you.’

‘Wait, I thought you knew him? The guy who lives in the alcove on 40th?’

‘We ain’t seen him,’ said the big man.

‘Do you know where else he might hang out?’ asked Bloch.

‘Sorry, lady,’ said the short one. ‘Like he said, we ain’t seen Joe in days.’

‘Joe? What’s his last name?’ asked Bloch.

The short man swore under his breath, and turned away from the accusing look shot at him by his friend.

‘It’s none of our business. Like we told the other guy, we don’t know shit,’ said the tall man.

‘What other guy?’ asked Lake.

‘The cop who came by the other day. IfJoeis in trouble–’ and as he said ‘Joe’ he gave his short friend another withering look – ‘we don’t want no part of it.’

‘A cop? Was he in uniform?’ asked Bloch.

‘Nah, detective.’

‘What was this cop’s name?’ asked Bloch.

‘Didn’t give no name. Just asked if we’d seen Joe or if we know where else he hangs out.’

‘Did he leave a card so you could call him if you see Joe?’ asked Bloch.

‘Didn’t leave no card, neither. Just asked about the guy in the blue hat who stays on the corner on 40thStreet.’