Interrogation

Gus didn't know who grimaced more, Miriam or Detective Hardcastle. He figured the detective might give her a hard time, but he knew she could take care of herself.

He left her arguing with the detective.

Pulling in front of a downtrodden building, he hesitated before turning off the engine. No children played on the sidewalk. The few occupants loitering on the steps in the twilight gave him only a casual glance. He knew they had him pegged as a cop in his government surplus sedan.

Would that work in his favor? Would he return to find his car intact?

With a small prayer for his vehicle, Gus disembarked and checked the number on the sad building.

Yep, last known address of Mark Snell. Locking the door, he steeled himself for a confrontation. Gus intended to put an end to Snell's harassing of Miriam.

The few loiterers scurried away when he approached.

The front door, sitting ajar, probably didn't lock anyway.