Excerpt from Alexander Steele and the Legacy of Death
The dimly lit hallways in the rundown apartment building were painted blood red. It was clear from the stains, cracks, and writing along the walls that the apartment building was way overdue for a fresh coat of paint. Even though the rain had cooled things off outside, the hallway was hot and muggy.
Odors of cheap wine and urine permeated throughout the dilapidated three-story walkup.
Steele ignored the police sirens wailing in the distance. He walked by an old black payphone with a dozen or so phone numbers scribbled on the wall before climbing the rickety stairs.
Apartment 12 was at the end of the hall on the right. Not knowing what to expect he cautiously approached the apartment. As he drew his weapon Steele noticed the door was slightly opened.
An open door especially in this neighborhood was always a bad sign.
As if that wasn’t enough the foul smell coming from the hallway was suddenly replaced by the stench of a rotting corpse. As the sound of the sirens grew louder Steele considered the possibility that they may be headed his way. He had to move fast. The floorboards creaked as he crept into the small apartment. An old porcelain lamp with painted pink roses topped with a battered cream-colored lamp shade gave Steele enough light to navigate around the room. A small picture frame had been tossed into the small black wastebasket next to an old raggedy lounge chair. The toxic smell of death grew stronger as he moved towards the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye, Steele caught a glimpse of flashing red lights from the window facing Germantown Avenue.
Moments later Steele’s suspicions were confirmed. After making a quick sweep of the ransacked efficiency apartment he holstered his Glock and stood over the lifeless body sprawled out on the kitchen floor. The victim had apparently been shot from behind.
Philadelphia’s finest were just outside the door. The corpse lay face down on the cold, dirty, gray tiled kitchen floor. Just as Steele was about to turn him over he heard a voice yell.
“Stop where you are and put both your hands up now!”
