Mendez laughed out loud. “We’re supposed to believe that? Lauren Lawton moves here, then you move here. That’s supposed to be a coincidence?”

“I didn’t say it was a coincidence,” Ballencoa said. “I said I wasn’t aware the woman is living here. I can’t speak for her.”

“She’s stalking you?” Mendez said.

“I told you, she’s done it before.”

Mendez shook his head and paced, hands jammed at his waist.

“I haven’t committed any crimes, sheriff,” Ballencoa said. “I live a very quiet life—”

“Here or in San Luis?” Hicks asked. “There’s some confusion as to your renting a property there and living here. Why would you do that?”

“It’s none of your business,” Ballencoa said. “Renting multiple properties isn’t against the law, is it?”

“No, sir,” Hicks conceded. “It is suspicious, though.”

“Why would you even know about my house in San Luis Obispo?” Ballencoa asked, suspicious. “I haven’t done anything to warrant being investigated by your department. I consider this harassment—and so will my attorney.”

“You’re a known predator, Mr. Ballencoa,” Mendez pointed out. “You’ve got the record to prove it. We would be remiss in our duties to the citizens of Oak Knoll if we didn’t make it our business to know what you’re suddenly doing here.”

“I made some mistakes when I was a young man,” Ballencoa returned. “I paid my debt to society. I’m now a free man with a right to privacy.

“I’ve had to suffer this kind of treatment before, sheriff,” he said, turning back to Dixon. “I won’t stand for it. I want to file a formal complaint against this man,” he said, pointing at Mendez.

“That seems a little over the top, Mr. Ballencoa,” Dixon said. “I’m sorry if you were . . . inconvenienced . . . but I haven’t really heard anything here that warrants a formal complaint.”

Ballencoa picked up the cassette recorder and pressed the Play button. The voices that came out of the speaker seemed small and tinny, but there was no mistaking who they belonged to.

Dixon listened, his gaze hard on Mendez. Mendez wanted to turn and kick a hole in the wall. He was angry that Ballencoa had the balls to come in here and do this, but he was almost as angry with himself for not keeping a better handle on his temper. He couldn’t argue that he sounded threatening on the tape. He had meant to sound threatening. He had put his own dick in this wringer.

The tape ended. Ballencoa looked at the sheriff.

“That was a threat,” he said. “I won’t stand to be treated that way, Sheriff Dixon. I won’t hesitate to file suit against this department if this kind of thing continues.”

“Now who’s making threats?” Mendez grumbled.