Serpentine

Chapter 35

Red everywhere on Waze, as if the city were bleeding. Time to settle back for the ride and pretend it was leisurely by choice.

Milo said, “Nasty woman, rides horses, maybe poisons a dog just for the fun of it. Add whoever was in the Caddy, the bodies she piled up with Leigh, and possibly Seeger, and she’s a one-woman crime wave.”

He shook his head. “Despite what we said about psychopaths, people like that aren’t good at relationships, right? How’d she and Galoway manage to stick together all these years?”

I said, “Two hammers looking for nails.”

He hooked north on Veteran Avenue, driving through a maze of residential streets that traced the U.’s western periphery. More foot traffic than usual for L.A. as skinny-jeaned, backpacked adolescents darted across the street, plugged in and unfocused.

Denying the concept of danger except when it came to ideas.

I thought of Martha Maude Hopple, fifteen and focused. On all the wrong things.

A lifetime of deception and cruelty. Making a career out of it.

When we pulled up in front of my house, Milo said, “When’s that sushi coming?”

An hour to go, Robin still out in the studio.

Milo comforted himself with an orange and a banana, tossed the peel and the rind, drank water from the kitchen tap and sat down at the table. Using the time for what a corporate-type would call networking.

First, he cross-referenced police records with Dudley Galoway’s Tarzana address but found no incidents. Then he called a detective he knew in Valley Division just to be sure. No idea who Galoway was.

Muttering, “Weekend, she won’t be in,” he tried his captain.

Ann-Margaret Meecham was a recent transfer from Central admin, not at West L.A. long enough for Milo to complain about her.

She answered her own phone after one ring. “Meecham.”

“Milo Sturgis, ma’am.”

“Lieutenant.” As if she found the fact amusing and possibly short of credible.

“Long day, ma’am?”

“Obviously for you, as well. What do you need?”

“The people I asked you for, if I could have them a bit longer.”

“Reed, Bogomil, and that rookie.”

“Arredondo,” said Milo. “Good group. Coherent and—”

“You need them because...”

“There’s been a break in the case.” Keeping it as spare and clear as possible, he explained about Galoway.

“Ex-D,” said Meecham.

“I know, ma’am, it’s tricky.”

“Understatement. More like messy. More like a pigsty that hasn’t been cleaned in weeks.”

“Exactly,” said Milo. “That’s why I need to take special care. Starting with surveillance. His residence doesn’t make it easy.”

“Give me details.”

When he was finished, Meecham said, “All I’m hearing is theory.”

“I know it sounds that way—”

“Your instincts, I get it. Your stats do help you in that regard. What won’t help you is what happens if a bunch of 211s break while you’ve got your little repertory going and Bancroft and Mendoza or whoever’s on shift need personnel for real-time investigations?”

“I understand that,” said Milo.

“Do you, Milo?” Slipping into first-name basis. A good sign? If so, Milo’s face wasn’t reflecting it.

“They can always be pulled off, ma’am.”

“Not the same as being there on the ground,” said Meecham. “Speaking of your little covert deal, I got a call from downtown.”

“Did you.”

“Martz,” said Meecham. Not using the deputy chief’s title. Definitely a good sign. Milo perked up.

He said, “About the case in question?”

“In a manner of speaking. She and I were in the same class at the academy.”

“Old friends, huh?”

“Not a foregone conclusion,” said Meecham. “She wants me to keep an eye on you. I don’t operate that way with my people but I told her I would. Have I ever done that? Intruded?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Meg is my preferred term of address from anyone above sergeant.”

“You haven’t intruded, Meg.”

“Glad you appreciate it. Does Veronique know about this new development?”

“No.”

“Let’s keep it that way,” said Meecham. “Something actually happens it’s going to be a West L.A. deal, not some downtown dog-and-pony with her taking credit.”

“Got it. So I can—”

“Unless an exigent situation evolves. You really need the rookie?”

“Given what I’m planning—”

“You take care of her. You make that a priority. The slightest sign she’s not cut out for the job, you let her go.”

“I will. Meg.”

“You learn fast. Good.”

“One more thing?” said Milo.

“Isn’t there always,” said Meecham.

“Detective Binchy’s due back from vacation in two days. If he’s not needed elsewhere—”

“Don’t get pushy,” said Meecham. “I’m going to start doubting your cognitive skills.”

Click.

I said, “Tough but fair, huh?”

“I’m sure she likes to think of herself that way.” He texted Moe and Bogomil and asked them to show up tomorrow morning at ten if they didn’t have weekend plans. Added a request for Alicia to contact Jen Arredondo with the same instruction.

Two rapid replies:

I said, “It’s so nice when the kids behave themselves.”

Milo looked at his watch and got another orange.