saturday
Wolfrom stares miserably out the passenger window of the unmarked car as Lewis navigates the cul de sacs of the suburbs. Wolfrom shakes his head, “How do people live like this. Everything looks the same.”
Lewis laughs. “Not exactly. The plans are the same, and the streets may be cookie cutter, but if you look closer you’ll see signs of individualism.”
“I don’t see it.” he stops as Lewis slows the car then turns into a driveway. This bungalow does look different. The lawn is overgrown, the paint is peeling and a general air of decay rests over the lot.
“This one looks like a crack house or something.”
Lewis nods. “Good guess. Maybe a year ago we busted this one. Didn’t recognize the address at first.” Lewis winks at Wolfrom, “Crack houses are cheap. They all look alike.”
Wolfrom rolls his eyes. “So what are we doing here?”
Lewis shrugs. “It’s gotta have something to do with junior perv ’cause it’s the address that woman slipped me.”
As they get out of the car they are assailed by the cacophony of power lawnmowers throughout the neighborhood. Mowers all through the subdivision are mowing lawns far shorter than the long bedraggled grass that Lewis and Wolfrom have to cross on this lawn in order to to reach the front door.
Lewis knocks.
Immediately the door opens a couple of inches before the chain catches it.
“Yes?” It’s a young woman’s voice, but it’s dark inside so they can’t see her.
“Police.” says Lewis, fanning her badge. “We’d like to ask you some questions, Miss Brooks.”
There’s no response so she adds, “Routine investigation. Can we come in?”
The voice says, “Can you pass me your badge officer? Waving it around like that it’s awfully hard to see.”
Lewis shrugs and passes it through the crack where it disappears. Wolfrom reaches into his breast pocket when the voice tells him, “Not you. Even if your badge looks legitimate you won’t be coming inside.”
Wolfrom frowns. “What?”
Lewis’s badge is extended through the crack. “I’ll allow you in by yourself Detective Lewis.”
Lewis nods as she pockets her badge. “You’ll have to wait in the car Wolfie.”
Disconcerted, Wolfrom says, “What did I…?”
The voice says, “It’s nothing you did. Just you’re a man.”
“But …”
Lewis shoots him a look. “Just go.”
Wolfrom stomps back to the car. He watches the front door close then reopen without the chain. The woman glimpsed in the shadows might be pretty if she cleaned herself up. Dressed nicer. Wolfrom wonders if he’ll ever understand women. This is ridiculous. This is … this is … it’s discrimination is what it is. He watches Lewis disappear inside.
Not for the first time, Wolfrom regrets having quit smoking. He opens his phone to play some Tetris.
