Other People's Pets by R.L. Maizes

Author:R.L. Maizes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celadon Books

* * *

Two weeks later, La La and Zev are eating dinner in the kitchen when there’s a knock at the front door. “Police!”

Zev opens it to two uniformed officers. La La stands back in the entry to the living room.

“I’m Officer Gregson, and this is my partner, Officer Maines,” the older of the two cops says. He lifts his hat to scratch his head, revealing a white buzz cut. “Mind if we come in?”

“Yes,” says Zev.

“We have a warrant.” Gregson pulls it from his jacket pocket and hands it to Zev, who examines it. “Are you Zev Fine? Is that your daughter, Louise Fine, also known as La La?” The officer looks toward La La.

Zev ignores the questions.

Glancing around the living room, Officer Gregson asks Zev, “Is that your Lexus in the driveway?” There’s irritation in the question, as if the officer himself would like such a car, but honest work doesn’t allow for it.

“If you’re going to search, get it over with,” Zev says.

“Any reason the two of you would have been in Cherry Creek on a Wednesday afternoon two and a half months ago?”

“Don’t say anything,” Zev says to La La.

“Two witnesses say your daughter told them you both robbed a house there. She knew the exact amount of cash that was taken.” The officer looks at La La. “Isn’t that right?”

Pain gives Zev’s eyes a sunken look. “Don’t answer.”

La La’s neck warms. Blood rushes to her cheeks. Three pairs of eyes take in her reaction, but she can no more control it than she can control the past.

“Maybe you better sit down,” Officer Gregson says to her. “You, too,” he says to Zev. La La takes the opposite end of the couch from her father.

Officer Maines looks at a curio cabinet. “Quite a collection of locks you have.” His thumbs loop in his belt. His thick fingers seem capable of violence.

“I’m a locksmith,” Zev says.

“Convenient,” the officer says.

“Stay put while we have a look around,” says Officer Gregson.

La La closes her eyes. Remembering the conversation with Tamara and Leonard, she wishes she were born a cat or dog without the ability to speak. She counts the beats of her rapid pulse. Tiny and Mo have disappeared.

After a while, the officers return with a crowbar and lockpicks. They show them to Zev.

“I told you, I’m a locksmith,” Zev says.

“You did say that,” Officer Gregson says.

They put Zev and La La in handcuffs.

“Don’t say anything,” Zev repeats.

He doesn’t have to worry. La La is too frightened to talk.

La La spends the night in a juvenile facility, separated from her father, who’s locked up in the county jail. The next day, O’Bannon secures their release. Zev found the lawyer’s name in the yellow pages.

“Your friends Leonard and Tamara got into some trouble,” O’Bannon says, looking across his desk at La La. Zev sits to her left. An interior window with a view of a secretary is to her right. It isn’t safe to look anywhere, so she looks at her lap.

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