“Yeah. That’s her. Anyway, I always make sure to hold the door for her and watch when she walks down the block. She’s such a bitty thing.”
Harper pressed him. “So these two, you’ve seen them today?”
“Yeah. They been hanging here for hours. I noticed ’cause they’re young and I was surprised they ain’t in school. Don’t they check up on them?”
“We’ll alert the truancy division,” Nolan said. “Did you see if they paid particular attention to anybody?”
“Nah, I wasn’t lookin’.” He rushed to open the door for a young woman with a stroller on her way out.
“Thank you.” She hesitated, then reached into her purse, which was slung over the back of the stroller, and fished out a dollar.
“Thank you, miss. And if I was you, I wouldn’t keep my bag like that. They can just come and rip it right off, ain’t that right, Officers?”
Harper nodded. “He is correct, ma’am. It’s best to wear it crossbody.”
“I usually do. I just threw it there after the bank, but I guess that’s not smart.” Her brow wrinkled. “Is something wrong? Are you here because there was a problem?”
“We’re investigating a string of push-in burglaries. If any young women come to your door, saying they need help or that they need to use your phone, don’t let them in.”
“I live in a co-op with a doorman, so that’s not an issue, but I’ll tell my friends who don’t.” She glanced at her baby. “That’s scary. I hope you catch them.”
“We do too, ma’am. And if you do hear or see anything suspicious while you’re in the neighborhood, here’s our card. Please call us. I’m Detective Rose, and this is my partner, Detective Martinez.”
“I will.” She walked away.
They thanked the man for his help and strolled down the street to the supermarket. School had started earlier in the month, and Harper already mourned the loss of the less crowded streets, as they dodged a large group of kids clogging the sidewalk.
“I’m looking forward to the next holiday. I don’t remember there being so many kids around,” he grumbled.
“You don’t like kids?” Nolan asked.
“I like them fine.” Harper became serious. “I remember when David was little—like two. He used to only want me to read him a bedtime story. I knew it gave my parents a break, so I did it for a little while, but then I stopped because it was annoying to sit and read the same stuff over and over every night.” He sighed. “I’d give anything for a redo. I could’ve been a better brother.”
“You’re an incredible brother.” Nolan paused. “And what about being an honorary uncle?”
For a moment he didn’t understand, until Nolan’s smile grew broad. “What? You and Gina? Seriously?”
“Yeah. We’ve been trying since we first got married, but nothing happened. Doctors couldn’t explain it, so we gave up, figuring it wasn’t in the cards. Three months ago she said she wasn’t feeling well and felt nauseated. When it didn’t go away, she went to the doctor andboom. Pregnant.”
Harper hugged him. “That’s amazing news. You’ll be terrific parents. How’s she feeling now?”
“Good, but since she’s in her forties, she’s high risk. Doctor wants her to be real careful.”
“Yeah, I bet. Tell her I’m happy for her.”
“I will.”
They reached the supermarket, and when they showed the sketches to the cashiers, one of them recognized the girls.
“Yeah, they was just here. Like, ten minutes ago.”
He and Nolan exchanged glances. “Thanks. Let’s go.”
For over an hour they searched the streets but found nothing out of the ordinary. They spoke to women on the street, warning them to be vigilant and handed out their cards, asking them to call if they saw anything.
By six o’clock, his feet hurt, and they’d covered every block of Brooklyn Heights from Atlantic Avenue down to Front Street. At the A train station, he and Nolan stopped. “I’m calling it a night. Tomorrow we’ll go out earlier. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Yeah. I’m ready for a foot massage and a hot shower.” Nolan rolled his neck.
