I figured he’d take her to the jail at the Westside station, but he drove east through the Palisades and turned in to Will Rogers State Park.

A little-girl voice from the back said, “I used to ride horses here.”

“Good for you,” said Milo.

Moments later: “What did I do to make you so angry?”

“How about assaulting an officer?”

“Oh . . . ,” she said. “I’m sorry I really am I don’t know what happened I just you scared me I thought you were sent by my husband to torment me one of those process servers he won’t let go one Halloween he sent a process server dressed up as a goblin and I opened the door for trick or treat and this goblin threw court papers at me and when I threw them back he grabbed me made contact with my arm that was real assault believe me much worse than what I did I’m an attorney I know what assault is when I see it listen I really didn’t mean to hit you I was defending myself you really scared me.”

No pause for breath. The neighbor had talked about Weider’s racing up and down the block. I remembered her as a fast talker and Marty Boestling had called her manic.

The only marathon was in her head.

“Really,” she said. “I know now what I did I see it clearly and I’m so so so so sorry.”

* * *

We parked in the nearly empty lot that faced the polo fields.

“No horses anymore everything goes to shit in this city please,” said Sydney Weider. “Just take off these things I hate to be restrained I really hate it.”

Milo switched off the engine.

“Please please I promise to behave appropriately.”

“Why should I trust you, Sydney?”

“Because I’m an honest person I know I acted irrationally but I already explained that to you it’s my ex he never stops he won’t give up making my life a living hell.”

“How long’s he been doing that?” I said.

“At least the foot thingies please? They hurt they’re bending my legs in a not-good way I’m constricted it’s hard to breathe.”

Milo got out and undid the plastic ties, sat her up, careful to maintain distance from her teeth.

Weider smiled and flipped her hair and looked pretty for a pathetic second. “Thank you thank you you’re a doll thanks so much now how about the cuffs too?”

Milo returned to the front seat. “So how long’s your ex been tormenting you?”