It was helpful information. It told Evie the witness statements from building residents when Jenna disappeared should be studied in detail for what they had heard and when. Evie scanned the apartment windows, checking angles from which others would be able to see inside. “The building manager, the super, any problems or delays getting stuff tended to that needs attention—a dripping faucet, broken latch, loose floor tile, that kind of thing?” Management of the building hadn’t changed in the last decade, Evie had checked, so it was likely a few of the same staff were still working here.
“There’s a maintenance number, and they are good about coming by. You have to leave a signed slip in their box downstairs with details on what is wrong, give permission for someone to come into the apartment if you want someone to handle the problem when you’re not here.”
There would be keys to the apartment somewhere in the manager’s office, and Evie would want to check how easy it would be for someone to lift those keys, use them to enter the apartment, or make a duplicate for later. Procedures might have changed, some personnel, but certain things would be very much the same. “Laundry is in the building?” she asked Heather, trying to understand the dynamics of a shared building like this.
“On the first floor, past the mailboxes and the utility room. You can sign up for a specific laundry time for one machine or take your chances that the other is free.”
“What’s in the utility room?”
“They keep extra snow shovels, brooms, that kind of equipment available for tenants to use. It’s left unlocked because there’s not much there you would want to steal. Stuff has been spray-painted a bright lime green.”
Evie smiled. “What do you do with your trash?”
“We’re supposed to use the dumpster out back marked for this building, but if you’ve got a car and you’re going out by the south parking lot, it’s quicker to use the dumpster for the next building.”
“Parking’s constantly full? You have friends over, they’re going to have to park where they can find a place and walk over to your building?”
“Mostly. It’s always a challenge,” Heather agreed. “You can get away with double-parking to bring up groceries, but you better be less than five minutes or someone is going to remember it was your car and make a fuss about it. We’ve got a parking space matching our apartment number, and mostly it’s honored. But in winter it gets to be everybody for themselves when the pavement numbers get covered up. Most simply walk to where they are heading if it’s anywhere nearby. It’s just not worth moving your car and losing your parking space. And the bus is decent for going out to the mall—it passes through this block every hour.”
That was useful to know. Evie pointed to the refrigerator. “Where do you get your groceries?”
“There’s a decent grocery store two blocks east that most of us use. And every restaurant around here delivers in thirty minutes or less. This kitchen seems great when you look at apartment options. But having lived here a while, it would be better if they had made this area all office space and given us a half-sized refrigerator and a microwave rather than tie up all this floor space. No one has time or really wants to cook when it’s just one person.”
Evie remembered those days and mentioned lightly, “I kept my books where the plates were supposed to be.”
Heather reached over and opened a cabinet. It was filled with art supplies. They shared a laugh.
The mood shifted to serious again as Heather asked, “Do you think something bad happened in this apartment?”
“If it did, I’ll figure it out,” Evie replied, keeping her tone matter-of-fact. “Think of it this way, Heather. You’re in the one apartment the building manager worked the hardest to improve for security—new dead bolts, new window locks, a camera in the hall—not to mention it’s been fully updated.” Evie pointed out the living room, then the kitchen. “When Jenna lived here, that carpet was blue, the backsplash had a gold-checked pattern, and every wall was painted white. You’ve got basically a new place. Whatever occurred is history, and every apartment here has its own history, good and bad.”
Evie looked back at the building from the front sidewalk. It showed its age, but it was well-maintained and matched others on the block, so likely it was built by the same developer. Odds were good the building stayed fully occupied, given it was cheaper housing than the campus dorms and was within walking distance to where classes were held. There would be people around, coming and going, at all hours.