“Mercy!”
Jared braced for death, but did not die.
The painful knee vanished. The steel at his neck disappeared. The world was suddenly quiet.
Jared opened an eye.
A fearsome man with bright red arrow tattoos on his arms stood over Jared’s pursuer, who lay still as a rock and might well have been dead. The arrowed man held his gun.
Jared said, “Did the Lord send you?”
The arrowed man stepped close and extended a hand.
“Let me help.”
Jared accepted the hand and felt himself rise.
43
Elvis Cole
Two Northeast Station area cars arrived code three to pick up the gardener and secure his vehicle. Lou sent a third to transport Mr. Philburn.
I said, “He saw them, Lou. Maybe he couldn’t describe them, but he saw them dump her body.”
“Two guys in hats and a car box.”
“Show him the sedan. The pictures might help order his memory.”
“You think Donghai An Bo was one of them?”
“If Philburn IDs the car, it gives you something to work with, doesn’t it?”
“It gives me plenty. The People’s Police want him for murder.”
“In China?”
“We don’t have a People’s Police in America.”
“Keep going.”
“I reached out this morning about Bo and Chow Wan Li. Took a while for them to confirm I was who I said I was, but once they were satisfied they were very cooperative.”
“The People’s Police.”
“He’s good for a double homicide in Shanghai. They’ve been looking for him for the better part of a year, so they were thrilled to learn his whereabouts.”
“Crystal Future is headquartered in Shanghai.”
“Correct. So they were doubly surprised when I told them Donghai is here in L.A. working for Chow Wan Li. They didn’t like it. Offered to help on their side if we needed it.”
“What kind of help were they offering?”
“Didn’t ask.”
“Probably best you didn’t.”
“I’ll let you know what we get from your gardener. Maybe he’ll put the meatball in prison.”
“Maybe he’ll finger the Sandman.”
“Hold your breath.”
I still hadn’t heard from Lucy. I wanted to call but didn’t. She and Ben were probably back at the house. I felt anxious and irritated. I wanted to go home. When Philburn rolled away I turned to Joe.
“Have you heard from Lucy?”
“No.”
“I thought she might call.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. You guys talk so much.”
Pike said, “Mm.”
“I’m going home. You’re welcome to come. We have plenty of bagels.”
Pike said, “Maybe later.”
I drove home and felt even worse when I rounded the curve and didn’t find Lucy’s car. I let myself in and checked their room. Seeing their bags made me feel better. At least they hadn’t shipped off to LAX while I was gone.
I made a lox and bagel sandwich. I really piled it on. Heavy cream cheese. Six slices of lox. Sliced jalape?os for a little kick. I ate it at the sink.
The cat walked in and looked at me stuffing my face.
I said, “What of it?”
He left.
I washed cream cheese off my fingers, wiped my mouth, and went upstairs to shower. I dressed and sat on the couch. I didn’t know what to do. I looked at my phone as if a voice mail might magically appear. It didn’t. I felt listless and even more irritable. I toyed with the idea of another sandwich. Maybe add bacon this time. I was ravenous. The phone rang. I checked the caller ID so fast I almost sprained my neck. Wendy Vann. I answered with a snarl.
“What is it?”
“Corbin’s on the way. He’s two minutes out.”
“He’s coming here?”
“One minute.”
“How’d he know I’m home?”
“Please.”
Wendy hung up as gravel crunched out front. The same crunch Lucy would make when she arrived, only this wasn’t Lucy. I opened the door as Corbin Schumacher struggled to stand from the beautiful red Tesla. He had driven himself. I checked up and down the street and saw no one.
I said, “No helpers?”
He waved toward the door. Walking was difficult. He hunched over his cane and his balance seemed tenuous.
“Let’s go in.”
I held the door and followed him into the living room. He pivoted in an unsteady circle as he took in the room. He looked at the loft and up at the high peaked crest and out at the canyon and back to me. He was smiling. I had not seen him smile.