California Fire And Life

67

The Mustang can move.

It ain't Nicky's Porsche, of course, but then again you ain't gonna be doing a hundred and forty on the PCH either. Not on the stretch between Monarch Bay and Dana Point, so the classic '66 is doing just fine, thank you.

See, what Jack does is he drives down to Monarch Bay, ignores the guard and does a U-turn at the gate. Comes to a complete stop.

He checks his watch.

Says, "Go."

Stomps on the gas pedal and leaves a satisfying streak of rubber behind him. Pulls out on the PCH, takes a right and heads south toward Dana Point. Hits the red light at Ritz-Carlton Drive (fuck you, Ritz-Carlton, you get your own friggin' traffic signal), then stomps on it again. Makes it clear down to where the PCH South splits and becomes Del Prado, and turns right on Blue Lantern. Takes Blue Lantern to the top of Harbor Drive and takes another right and bingo, he's at the Vale driveway, 37 Bluffside Drive.

Eight minutes, fifteen seconds.

Jack sits back and takes a little breather.

"Go."

The reverse route. Left onto Harbor. Left on Blue Lantern. Wait for the light and then left onto the PCH. A straight shot back to the gate.

Nine minutes flat.

The guard comes out of the kiosk this time.

"May I help you, sir?" is what he says. What he means is What the fuck do you think you're doing?

"Maybe," Jack says. "Hi, I'm Jack Wade, California Fire and Life."

"Mike Derochik."

"Mike," Jack asks, "were you on duty last Wednesday night?"

"I came on at midnight," the guard says.

"Did Mr. Vale go out at anytime during the night?"

The guard says, "We don't discuss the comings and goings of our residents."

Jack hands him his card.

"If Mr. Vale came out of here during those hours," Jack says, "it was probably to kill his wife. You probably knew her, too, right? Nice woman with two little kids? Think it over, huh? Give me a call?"

Derochik puts the card in his pocket.

Jack's about to drive off when the guard says, "I didn't see him go out."

"Okay."

It was worth a try.

"But I saw him come in."

Whoa.

"What time?" Jack asks.

"About a quarter to five," the guard says.

Gotcha, Call Me Nicky.

Caught you in a lie.

Incendiary origin.

Motive.

Now opportunity.

Now if I can just buy a little more time.