“Yes.”
Miller asked whether she could come outside.
Marcus stared at him. “Why does she need to?”
“To clear up the residence issue.”
“My driver’s license has this address.”
“I understand.”
“I have a key.”
“I understand.”
“I came out of the garage.”
Miller said, “We’re responding to a burglary call.”
Marcus looked toward Patricia.
“From someone who knows me.”
Patricia stepped closer.
“I know who you claim to be.”
That sentence changed everything.
Several neighbors had come outside.
Carlos Mendoza stood near his mailbox. Tom Walker watched from across the street.
Marcus turned toward Patricia.
“Claim?”
She crossed her arms.
“You’re always here when she’s gone.”
Marcus stared.
“Because I live here when she’s gone too.”
Officer Price looked toward Miller.
The situation was beginning to sound less like burglary and more like a neighbor dispute.
Miller asked Patricia whether she had personally seen Marcus enter the home unlawfully.
“No.”
“Break a window?”
“No.”
“Force a door?”
“No.”
“Carry anything you knew did not belong to him?”
Patricia hesitated.
“The colonel’s property.”
Marcus laughed.
“My property.”
Patricia shook her head.
“That’s what you keep saying.”
Carlos finally spoke from the sidewalk.
“He lives there.”
Tom followed.
“I’ve known Marcus for almost a year.”
Patricia turned toward them.
“You don’t know what their arrangement is.”
Marcus could not believe the sentence.
“Arrangement?”
His voice became louder.
Officer Miller told him to remain calm.
Marcus looked at the five officers now positioned around the walkway.
“I am calm.”
“You brought five cops to my house because she cannot imagine my name being on a deed beside a Black woman in uniform.”
Patricia stepped onto the porch.
Miller told her to stay back.