Chapter 74
DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT height difference between them, Maggie Chin held a steady gaze with Leonard Barr’s surly mother.
Then the woman said, “I’m so tired of you cops harassing people for no reason.
My Lenny is a good boy. Why don’t you go find some real criminals?
I hear how bad things are getting. Maybe you should spend some more time in the city. ”
Maggie said, “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. After we find your son. If you’d like to speed this along and help us all out, we’d appreciate it.”
“I’ve had enough of you two. If you’re not going to tell me why you want to speak to Lenny, you can leave before I make you.”
Maggie held the woman’s aggressive gaze. She simply said, “Okay, if that’s how you want it.”
“Why wouldn’t I want it that way? Are you threatening me?” Now her swaying became more pronounced. Mrs. Watson tried to set her drink on the banister running around the porch but only got half of the base of the glass onto the rail. The drink tumbled harmlessly into her yard.
I’d seen the same dance a hundred times. She wasn’t going to tell us anything and we were wasting time. I wasn’t going to engage with her. I just wanted to leave.
I turned and had taken one step when Mrs. Watson reached out and grabbed my shoulder, jerking me around to face her. I was impressed with her strength.
Maggie quickly stepped between us. The woman took a wild swing, which the ATF agent ducked easily. Maggie used a foot sweep to knock her off her feet, then caught her by the arm and lowered her gently onto the porch. Considering the size difference between the two women, it was astonishing.
As cops, we all have to train in self-defense, but it’s pretty basic. This looked like something Maggie may have learned in a martial arts class. I was impressed.
Leonard Barr’s mother wasn’t. She stayed on the ground, looked up at Maggie, and said, “I’ll sue you.”
Maggie said, “For what? All I did was break your fall and keep you from committing a felony by attacking a New York City police detective.”
Mrs. Watson lay still on the porch for a moment, thinking about what Maggie had said. Then she started to struggle to her feet. I was not inclined to help her. Neither was Maggie.
But she was more athletic than I had suspected. She got up, growled, “Just leave,” and gave us the stink eye as we walked all the way out of her yard and to Maggie’s car.