There was also some coverage about the relatives of one victim who were preparing a wrongful death civil suit. The standard of proof in civil court wasn’t as high, a “preponderance of the evidence” as opposed to “beyond a reasonable doubt.” But the punishment in a civil case could never match what the prosecution and the state and the public felt was called for. O. J. Simpson’s civil conviction was the most famous example.

All the coverage that Emily shares with them, all the legal discussion, is only a source of growing frustration for Steve.

“You don’t understand, Zack. He tortured me. I almost died.” Irritable. Pissed off. The peaceful Steve has been fundamentally changed. “I don’t think I can last much more with him out there. Out there somewhere.”

“The cops are watching him. They told us. They assured us.”

“Watching him only as long as he’s perfectly willing to be watched. Believe me, first time he needs to dodge them, he’s gone.”

“Try. Try to hang in there, okay, Steve?”

Once again, Steve tosses the gun from one hand to the other, a playfulness that’s not at all playful, from what Zack can see.

48.

48.

“Hey, Emily,” Zack says when she picks up his call.

“Zack, aren’t you in the middle of your shift?”

Zack’s previous manager, Chris, had followed through on his promise, getting Zack a few shifts at another GreenGirl ten blocks away. Nobody knows him there. Nobody knows the first thing about him. No unannounced visitors from his hometown. He’s completely anonymous.

“Yeah I’m working but I’m worried,” says Zack. “I’ve been calling and texting Steve and not getting any answer.”

Silence on the other end.

“It’s not like him at all, Emily. He’s usually Mr. Responsive, Mr. Connected. You saw him playing with that gun, Em.”

“You afraid he’s gonna hurt himself?”

“Not just himself.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m afraid he’s going after Joey.”

“How would he ever find him? Unless you’re wrong about Joey staying away from us and Steve saw him ’cause he was looking for Steve…”

Zack doesn’t answer. Doesn’t go there. Doesn’t want to tell her about the GreenGirl incident.

“Steve’s a techie, Em. Maybe he figured out from police communications or some other way where Joey is staying. If he really set his mind to it, he could probably figure it out…”

Zack keeps picturing that gun in Steve’s lap. Maybe Steve didn’t want to just leave it in his lap.

He hangs up with Emily and takes off his apron.

“You’re leavin’ in the middle of your shift?” says his new manager, flabbergasted. Zack’s been here less than a week.

“I’m so sorry, man. I’ve got an emergency.”

The manager shakes his head.

Zack’s GreenGirl career isn’t off to a very good start.