See Me(124)

In the living room, Maria again went through the story from the top, including a description of what Lester had been wearing, only this time in a more linear fashion. Her family stood behind her, looking more upset than she did, while the two officers who’d arrested Colin flanked the front door. Colin watched as Margolis took notes, Serena occasionally interjecting. It wasn’t until Maria was finished that Margolis asked his first question.

“Did he ever directly threaten you with the gun?” Margolis asked.

“He was holding it in his hand.”

“But he didn’t raise it? Or point it at you?”

“Why does that make a difference?” Maria demanded. “He showed up at the house with a gun. You need to arrest him.”

Margolis held up his hands. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m on your side. With his admission that he sent the roses to the office and had the drink delivered and now this, there’s not a doubt that you’d be able to get the Fifty-C. I can’t imagine that any judge would turn down the request, and I’ll put a call in to find out if I can get it expedited. I was asking because I was trying to determine whether he additionally violated any gun laws.”

“He’s mentally ill. That makes it illegal for him to own a firearm in this state.”

“Maybe.”

Maria’s eyes flashed. “He was in a psychiatric hospital this morning. Or so you told me.”

“I have no reason to believe that he wasn’t there, and trust me – I’ll make absolutely sure the detective was correct about that. But when I was talking about mental illness, I meant legally. To this point, I haven’t had access to his medical records, and in those instances when he was arrested, the cases were dismissed. I’m not sure his mental status has actually been adjudicated. There’s also a difference between entering a hospital voluntarily and being committed involuntarily.”

“You’re splitting hairs,” Maria said, her frustration becoming evident. “I told you how he was acting. He was talking to the phone, for God’s sake. He’s delusional and he threatened me with a gun!”

“Are you sure?”

“Did you listen to a single thing I said?”

Margolis stood straighter, defensiveness on display. “To be clear, nothing you said indicated that he raised the gun or compelled you to do anything. And when you retreated to your house, he ran in the opposite direction.”

For a second, Maria said nothing, but Colin noted a flash of uncertainty in her eyes.

“What about the fact that he slashed my tires and stole my phone?”

“He told you he slashed your tires?”

“No, but…” Maria looked up at him. “Why are you doing this? Making excuses for him. It’s like you’re looking for any reason not to arrest him.”

“On the contrary. I’m trying to find something that will stick. There’s no reason to arrest him if I can’t hold him.”

“He had a gun! Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“It would if he tried to conceal it. Or threatened you. But according to you, he didn’t do either.”

“That’s… insane.”

“That’s the law. Of course, if he doesn’t have a permit for the weapon, that’s something I can use. But that won’t be enough to hold him for long. Nor will the fact that he took your phone.”

“What about slashing my tires?”

“Did he admit to that?” Margolis asked again.

“No, but…”

Margolis sighed. “I know this is frustrating for you, but I really am trying to help you here. I’m looking for something that might give rise to an actual arrest, on charges serious enough to keep him locked away.”

“Okay, then. I was mistaken earlier. I remember now that he did aim the gun at me. Pointed it at me the whole time.”

Margolis lifted an eyebrow. “You’re changing your story?”

“I’m correcting it,” she said.

“All right.” He nodded. “But before we go that route, you should also realize that this entire situation may be more complex than you think.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not at liberty to say. It’s still early in the investigation. For now, all you really need to know is that I’m exploring a lot of different angles.”

Different angles? Colin thought.

Maria shot him a questioning look, then turned back to Margolis just as a knock sounded at the door. One of the officers who’d been searching for Lester poked his head in. Margolis excused himself and stepped outside for a minute, then returned to Maria and the family. The other two officers joined him inside, remaining near the door.

“The officers said they couldn’t find him. They went through the neighborhood a couple of times, talked with a few people who were out, and no one had seen him.”

Colin opened his mouth, then closed it again. Margolis noticed.

“Something to say?”

“I was wondering if they checked the park,” he said. “And the house on the next block that backs up to this one.”

Margolis stared at him. “Why?”

Colin told them what he’d learned, as well as his suspicions about the vacant house and Lester’s spying activities. He also mentioned where he suspected Lester had been parking his car. At Margolis’s prodding, Colin admitted he’d been visiting the neighborhood late at night and early in the morning, and had spent time researching license plates. Maria’s parents looked sick at the revelations; meanwhile, Margolis’s stony gaze never swerved from him.