Diane pulled her raincoat tightly around her as she ran for the doorway. The frigid February rains made the ringlets in her hair cling limply to her face. She felt like a freakish auburn poodle as she shook the water off her coat and did her best to fluff some semblance of life back into her mop. Diane’s partner, Claire Kelly, didn’t have a carrot-red hair out of place, even after dashing through the same deluge. Diane groaned in frustration, and Claire looked around to see what had caused it. With no apparent cause in evidence, Claire shrugged and moved on to business.

“Okay, the couple is on the seventh floor,” Claire whispered as they carefully entered the building.

“Lucky number seven,” Diane nodded back, and the two bounded up the stairs. Seconds later, just slightly out of breath, Diane was pounding on the door to apartment 7A. Claire, however, was bent in half, her hands on her knees, gasping for air.

“Jeez (gasp) Diane (gasp) where’s the fire!” Claire managed.

“Been getting out of shape this last month, haven’t you?” Diane needled her.

“Well, loving a good cook will do that to you,” Claire smiled.

“Open up! NYPD!” Diane shouted to the door. A few other doors down the hallway cracked open and curious neighbors peered out to see what the police were doing.

They heard sounds of scratching on a wood floor, followed by something being dragged, and a door closing after great effort against something large and soft. Diane and Claire shared a puzzled glance, tinged with a hint of impending doom. Just as Diane was about to bang on the door again, it opened, and the old woman who appeared cringed in fear of Diane’s raised fist.

“Mrs. Krechnov?” Claire said as she holstered her weapon and stepped up to the door.

“Yah. What you vant?”

“We received a call from one of your neighbors that there was a pretty big disturbance in here. May we come in?”

“Which neighbor called? Vas it that nosy Mr. Campbell in 7B? He’s alvays sticking his nose into my business.” Mrs. Krechnov glanced nervously at Diane, wondering how she would attack now that her hand was lowered to her side. She winced once more when Diane crossed her arms.