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Chu pressed the button and waited. Then he pounded on the door.
No answer.
Pro pulled out her cell and dialed the number.
“Front desk,” came the big man’s voice.
“Hello, sir, it’s Detective Thompson. I didn’t get your name.”
“It’s Luther. Luther Ardoin.”
He stated his last name with a French pronunciation, and Pro found her knees grew weak.
“Ah well,” Pro said, surprised she was short of breath. “Did Mister Mystique leave at some point?”
“No, detective. We saw him last night about 7:00. I suppose he could have gone out, but usually he lets us know.”
Chu held his hand out and Pro handed him the phone. He took it and spoke into it. “Do you have the ability to open his door with a spare key?”
“Is that necessary, detective?” Luther replied. “We try to respect our residents’ privacy.”
“I understand completely. However, if you could open his apartment just to make sure he’s all right.”
“That sounds reasonable. I’ll be right up.”
Chu handed the phone back to Pro.
Pro watched her partner carefully. “Are you going to claim exigent circumstances?”
Chu sighed. “I will in my report. I’m sorry, Pro, I just have a bad feeling.”
“I understand. But we are allowed warrantless entrance in, quote, emergency situations requiring swift action to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, end quote.”
“No one can say you don’t know the rules.”
“Well, if he’s just asleep, we’ll have egg on our face.”
“On the other hand, the LT can’t be madder at us than he is right now,” Chu fretted.
Pro gave her partner a knowing grin. “I’ll try to remember you said that when I end up walking a beat for the next five years.”
The elevator door opened and the tall, bare-headed Luther strode over.
Pro had to look down as she found her mind racing again with unbidden thoughts. What was happening to her? She hadn’t had desires like this in at least a year.
“Detectives,” Luther said. Chu nodded and Pro just muttered, keeping her eyes on the floor.
Luther stepped up to the door, pressed the buzzer, and then pounded on it with loud raps. “Mister Mystique. It’s Luther. We are concerned about you.”
He pounded on the door a second time, and Pro couldn’t help taking a look at his muscular rear end. She shook her head, surprised with herself that such a brief encounter had activated such feelings in her.
“Mister Mystique, I am coming in!” Luther hollered, and pulled a large ring of keys, and with a practiced hand inserted one and unlocked the door.
“Mister Mystique?” Luther called out again. Only a dark room, and silence greeted them. “That’s not good.”
Chu nodded. “Mr. Ardoin, I think we have probable cause to go in.”
“I agree, detective,” Luther assented and stepped back from the door.
