The Pallbearers

Chapter 46

We all met again in Sabas's conference room, with its depressing view of the weed-choked backyard and empty pool. Five pallbearers plus Alexa were gathered around his folding table, sitting on uncomfortable metal chairs.

"I don't think it's safe for you to go to F. C. Mesas party alone," Sabas said after Alexa told him her idea. "Besides, my guess is O'Shea's probably on the run, heading to Mexico."

I didn't think he was in Mexico, and I'd spent the last hour working on a better plan.

"Alexa told us that Team Ultima has a challenge fight coming up and that it's out of town somewhere," I said. "When is that?"

"Don't know. Soon," she said.

"Suppose we could get in touch with that other bunch-team-whatever."

"Spartacus," Alexa said.

"Right. Team Spartacus. We check them out, see if they'll let us ride under their wing to that challenge match, wherever it is. Since it s out of town and because there's a big purse, mv guess is O'Shea won't miss that fight. We'll have a SWAT team in reserve, and once they're all there, we make our move."

Diamond said, "You really think Rick O'Shea is gonna show up at that fight?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"Is he stupid?" Vicki asked.

"Very," Alexa said.

Everyone turned and looked at me, waiting for me to fill in the blanks, so I ran it down. "We got a warrant on Rick O'Shea, but as far as I'm concerned he's just one of many. I think all the guys who train at the NHB Gym are dirtv. Chris Calabro and all the others who are running nonprofits are probably also embezzling from their group homes. That's how they're paying their bills. I don't know how much E. C. Mesa has to do with this, but if you ask me, he's involved."

"But what ties Mesa in, besides the fact the man owns that gym and manages its fighters?" Diamond asked. "That's hardly against the law."

"In police work you learn to trust your hunches, and my hunch says he's in this. I just don't have the connection yet."

As I looked around the table, I could sense that I was losing them. I was sitting here, wrapped in tape and fiberglass, looking like an extra in a war movie, trying to get them to follow me. I could subtly feel Vicki, Seriana, and Diamond turning from me toward Vargas. "Let's take it a step at a time," I said. "We start with Team Spartacus. We find out where they train, go talk to them."

Vicki and Seriana, who had become our unofficial phone committee, started making calls. It didn't take long to find the gym.

Team Spartacus had an address on Atlanta Avenue in Huntington Beach. They worked out of a private gym named, appropriately enough, Gladiator School. After a short argument with Sabas, I agreed to let everyone come as long as either Alexa or I did all the talking. He nodded, but didn't comment.

We headed out of the conference room and stood quietly as Vargas gathered his things.

"I gotta pee," Vicki announced.

While his three chica office warriors glared at me, all of the women, including Alexa, trooped to the bathroom in girl formation, leaving me and Sabas facing each other.

"I couldn't be doing any worse than you," he reminded me.

"Good point," I admitted. "But I feel myself on an upward trajectory."

After the women rejoined us, we started through the front door. As we walked down the path outside, Alexa put something into my left hand. It was a. 38 bullet. Somebody had filed a deep X on the nose.

"Where did you get this?" I whispered.

She pointed at Vicki, who was heading down the path a few yards ahead, clutching her purse. "After she came out of the bathroom, I found it on the floor under the toilet," Alexa said softly. "I think she was in there reloading her Bulldog with homemade dumdums."