Page 15 of Crosshairs

There was no one in the third-floor hallway as we emerged from the stairs. I found the Marine’s apartment just about in the middle of the hallway.

I knocked on the door.

We heard someone inside call out, “Go away.”

I spoke to the door after identifying myself. “Anton? We just need to talk to you for a few minutes.”

From behind the door, Anton said, “Am I under arrest?”

“No, sir.”

“You have a search warrant?”

“No, sir.”

“Then I stand by my earlier comment. Go away. Right now.”

I was at a loss. We needed to talk to this man, but he was right: we had no legal paperwork on him. I noticed Trilling writing something on his business card. Then he leaned down and slid it under the door.

Trilling motioned me away from the door and we then stooddown the hallway silently. I didn’t even ask Trilling what he had written on his card.

About forty-five seconds later, the door opened, and a tall Black man pointed at Trilling. He said, “You the one who slid the card under the door?”

Trilling nodded.

Anton said, “You can come in. Tell your buddy he has to wait.”

CHAPTER 19

I REACHED OUT and held Rob Trilling’s arm for a moment. I said in a low voice, “I’m not sure I want you alone in a room with that guy.”

“I’ll stay alert and keep him in front of me at all times. We need to talk to him, and this is the fastest, most efficient way to do it.”

“I’m gonna wait right here. Make sure he doesn’t lock the door. If I hear anything out of the ordinary, I’m coming through fast.”

“I hope so.”

Anton waited at his open door, not even trying to hear what we were saying. He kept glancing up and down the hallway. I wasn’t sure what to make of that.

Finally I just nodded, and Trilling stepped into the former Marine’s apartment. The door closed behind them.

Aside from being nervous about Trilling inside the apartment, I didn’t mind waiting in the hallway. Although the wait was a little longer than I’d expected. I nodded hello to residents who hurried past me nervously. One young lady muttered something about the police. It didn’t sound like a compliment.

After a little while, a small boy popped out of the apartment I was standing next to. He looked at me and said, “Why are the police here?”

“Why do you think I’m the police?”

“You’re white and you’re not collecting rent.”

I had to laugh at that. I said, “I’m waiting for my friend, who’s just talking to someone in another apartment.”

“He talking to Anton?”

“As a matter of fact, he is.”

“That won’t take long. Anton don’t say much.”

“Neither does my friend.”