The man, I confess, is a bit of a hero to me. I know his CV by heart. He’s American-born (Long Island somewhere), undergrad at Yale, doctorate in Earth and Planetary Science from Johns Hopkins. He “made aliyah” to Israel at twenty-eight and immediately enlisted in the IDF as a private. Within eighteen months he was a captain. He’s a major now, commanding a reserve paratroop battalion. In person he’s shorter than I thought he’d be, but with forearms like a stevedore’s and a presence in its own way as imposing as Manning’s.

Ben-David informs Manning, “as a matter of courtesy,” that he has engaged legal representation for Rabbi Davidson.

He names Ellie Landau.

Manning thanks Ben-David for so informing him and replies that he is aware of Ms. Landau’s retention. He expresses admiration for Ms. Landau’s professional standing and commends Ben-David on his discerning choice of representation.

Ben-David thanks me for sending the Mayday text from the hospital. “Forgive me if I have not responded,” he says. “Things have been a bit hectic.”

He adds, to Manning, that he has phoned Ms. Landau’s office some ten or fifteen minutes ago and has been informed that Ms. Landau is on her way here to the impound lot as we speak.

Uribe joins the group, bringing coffee in Styrofoam cups with sugar, sweetener, powdered creamer, stirrers, and a half box of Yum Yum donuts.

BEN-DAVID

(indicating Uribe)

Detective Manning, your associate informs us he has a search warrant, but so far he has failed to produce it.

Manning apologizes at once. Warrants these days, he says, are issued digitally. They’re on your phone. Uribe, he explains, is a bit of a klutz; apparently he misfiled the document and can’t figure out how to retrieve it.

We’ll straighten the situation out, Manning promises.

“Meanwhile,” he says, “as I’m sure you’re aware or have been informed by these officers, possession of an automatic weapon and/or high-capacity magazines is a Class A felony under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2031, in which instance probable cause is waived and the requirement of a search warrant becomes moot.”

Manning indicates Uribe, whose team stands to his rear, beside the van, with the seized Uzi and its magazines displayed on an adjacent shop counter.

Manning begs Ms. Davidson and Dr. Ben-David’s forgiveness if his colleague’s tone or comportment have been brusque or “in any way untoward.”

Did Ms. Davidson and Dr. Ben-David know, Manning asks, that Uribe is an MD? Indeed he is a licensed physician, medical examiner with the OCME, as well as a specialist in crime scene investigation. Dr. Uribe meant no disrespect, Manning assures Rachel and Ben-David, if “in the exigency of the moment” he has, perhaps, expressed himself in “the urban idiom.”