The Maltese Cube (Chapter 12)

What happened in Chapter 11

Mac leaves Lisa and his apartment behind to begin his search for Newton. He decides to call the Local Apple user’s group for more information on Apple’s hardware.

Chapter 12
Where the fig is Newton?

As I walked through the neighborhood with the last known address for Newton, I couldn’t help but notice that it was even more rundown than the last time I was here. Cracked sidewalks, closed storefronts, and desperate people wanting nothing more that to leave this area of desolation.

Newton couldn’t have picked a better place to hide. Unless it directly involved them, people in this area kept a closed eye on events taking place around them. Healthier that way I suppose.

The closer I got to the apartment building that Newton was supposed to be staying in, the more I took in of the people and cars around me.

I was on the lookout especially for any cars that were dented on the side or people who were taking more than a passing interest in me and where I was going.

Newton could have been followed to his new digs and if that was true, this was an exercise in futility. The powers that be might have already grabbed him and the Cube and took off for parts unknown. No point in speculating what might have happened I guess.

Newton was either there, in which case we end this with as little trouble as possible, or he was gone and I’d probably never know what happened.

As I approached the building, I stopped and took one last look around. Nothing out of the ordinary. I turned toward his building and began walking up the steps to the front door.

I considered hitting the buzzer for his apartment, but there was no guarantee that it would even work. Besides, if he was as scared as Lisa said he was, he probably wouldn’t answer anyway.

Studying the cheap lock on the lobby door, I pulled out some lock picks that would get me a stir in the joint if any cop found them on me and easily sprang the latch.

I walked into the building and was pleasantly surprised to find the elevator was working. Newton’s apartment was on the 5th floor, but I decided to walk down from the 6th to scope the hallway.

Peering around the corner, I saw two men. One was standing near the elevator, and the other was down the hall near Newton’s front door.

These were rough looking guys. The kind that breaks your legs while talking about 67 Mustangs without losing stride. It’s possible they weren’t connected to the Cube, but I wasn’t betting on it. No one was going in or out this way without them knowing what was going on.

I left the building and went around the alley to the back. The goons inside had the front covered but had no one to watch the back. All brawn and no brains.

I pulled down the fire escape ladder and as quietly as possible, made my way to Newton’s window. The shades were up.

Peering inside, I saw no lights, no movement. I silently sprang the window lock and stepped inside. The place was a mess. Furniture torn, clothes strewn about, and all the closet doors open.

This was actually somewhat encouraging. If they already had Newton or the Cube, the two bully boys would not be outside. They may have been waiting to see who else might show up (I didn’t know if they knew about Lisa), but I think the searchers went away empty-handed.

I did my own casual search, but didn’t expect to find the Cube. I was looking for clues for where Newton may have gone to next.

Looking in the kitchen, I found what I wanted. Empty quart milk containers that could have come from almost anywhere, but there was also two small sheets of plain wax paper with what looked like bits of lettuce and roast beef.
There were only two delis in the area that still used this kind of wax paper, but only one of them sold this brand of milk. I slipped back out of the apartment, leaving the window unlocked in case I had to return. There was no guarantee that Newton was at the deli or even close by, but what else did I have?