probably weighed the same, however. “What can I do for you, Detective?” he asked, an innocent gleam in his eye.
Crawford got right to the point. “I’m going to have to ask that you leave Alison alone, Mr. Miceli. She doesn’t know anything and can’t help you with whatever it is that you want.” He tried to remain fairly convivial; he was already in violation of about half a dozen department rules and he didn’t want Miceli to feel threatened in any way.
Peter considered what he said, staring up at Crawford’s face. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “She’s an old friend, Detective. She was very kind to my daughter. Occasionally, I like to drop by and remind her of how grateful we are.” His face turned hard. “I don’t see what business it is of yours.”
Crawford took a step back. “It’s entirely my business, Mr. Miceli.”
Peter paused another moment. “Stay out of it, Detective. It doesn’t concern you anymore. From what I hear, Alison doesn’t want to spend a lot of time with you right now.” He smiled. “You’ve got a wife. I’m sure that didn’t sit well with Professor Bergeron.”
Crawford swallowed. “Please. Stay away from her.”
Peter laughed. “Or what? Are you gonna have me arrested, Detective? For what? Visiting an old college friend?” He gave Crawford a look. “You’re out of your league here, Detective. Let it go.”
Crawford looked down at him. “Don’t go there again. That’s all I have to say.” He turned to leave, making his way down the first two steps of the porch.
“Let it go, Detective!” Peter called after him. “After all, it’s not like I visited your wife and daughters on Donald Street in Greenwich or anything like that. You know, beautiful Meaghan and Erin? And Christine?”
Crawford was back up the stairs before he had a chance to think. He grabbed Peter by the throat and squeezed; when Peter’s face began to turn red, he let go. He got a small satisfaction out of the fact that the smug look that had been on Peter’s face had been replaced by raw fear. “Don’t ever, ever, say anything even remotely threatening about my family again. I will—”
“What? You’ll what, Detective? Kill me?” Peter said, rubbing the red mark on his throat. “Think about your alternatives, Detective. When you do, you’ll realize you don’t have any.” Peter turned and went back in the house, calling out to his guests that he would be returning to the dining room shortly.
Crawford stood on the porch, shaking with rage. His hands were trembling and his face was hot. He went back to his car and got in, his hands gripping the steering wheel. This may not have been the stupidest thing he had ever done, but it was close.
Chapter 9
Fred and Max had stopped by later in the afternoon, after Peter’s visit. I had called Max at her downtown apartment after Peter left the house and she could tell immediately that I was shaken. Fred had worked a double shift the day before and she didn’t want to wake him to fill him in, so she waited until he awoke on his own, which wasn’t long after I called. I’m convinced that cops have a sixth sense about these things. As soon as he heard what she had to say, they took the forty-minute ride up to Dobbs Ferry to get a handle on what had happened.
I was calmer than I had been in the morning, but still unnerved at the ease with which Peter was able to get into my house. He was all about intimidation, and intellectually, I knew that. But I also knew about his history and his business. He had people killed just for saying the wrong thing. What was to stop him from killing me if I didn’t entertain his flights of fancy and his wish to “make amends” with me?
I hadn’t called Crawford this time. I had a couple of reasons for this: one, he was my go-to guy every time something happened and I didn’t want him to lose patience, and two, the next night was my blind date with Jack McManus. I didn’t want him to become embroiled in my life on the one day when I was poised to betray him. I know, it sounds dramatic to say it like that, but that’s how I felt.
Fred listened to the story and agreed with me that pressing charges really wouldn’t be wise or necessary. I couldn’t think of a