The sentry

38

Both ends of Azzara's street were blocked by black-and-white radio cars when Button and Futardo arrived. By then, LAPD barriers and yellow crime-scene tape ran from the house to the street, and Hector's Monte Carlo was hidden by a collapsible screen. Hollywood Station owned the crime scene, but the Malevos Pacificos and Venice Trece belonged to Button.

Button hammered Pike and Cole with questions as they walked through the scene, but Pike wanted him focused on Azzara.

"We believe he returned here from the airport because his car is missing. He drives a black Prius. Get his tag, and put it out to patrol."

"Did Azzara kill these people?"

Cole said, "We told you who killed them. Azzara probably has Rainey, and one or both of them can probably help find Rose Platt."

Cole showed them William Rainey's booking photo.

"I wrote Rainey's file number on the back. Call the Louisiana Department of Justice. They'll back up what we're saying."

Button's jaw worked as he stared at the photo, but he handed it to Futardo.

"Call down there and see if you can find someone who knows about this."

Futardo started away, but Button stopped her.

"Hang on-before you call, pull Azzara's DMV and give it to the patrol commander. Tell him Azzara is a suspect in a multiple homicide. Tell him I'll call him as soon as I can."

She started away again, but he stopped her again.

"Futardo. They give you any shit down in Louisiana, bring me the phone."

This time he let her go, and turned back to Pike.

"Twelve fucking million dollars, and this guy is making sandwiches in Venice?"

"Po'boys."

As Futardo left, a Pacific Station gang detective named Eduardo Valenti waved them over to the banger by the coffee table.

"I know this one, too. Bobby Ruiz, aka Lil Rok."

"One of Azzara's people?"

"You bet. Born and bred Malevos over by Ghost Town."

Valenti had already identified the banger by the kitchen island as a Malevos lifer named Trejo Hermanos, who was known as Crazy T.

Pike didn't care who they were. The entire Los Angeles patrol division would now be looking for Azzara's Prius, which was what Pike wanted, so now Pike wanted to continue the search himself. If Azzara had Rainey, then finding Azzara would give him Rainey, and Pike wanted Rainey.

Pike left Cole with Button and Valenti, and stepped outside to call Marisol.

"How's Artie?"

"Hold on-"

She was probably with Artie, and had to change rooms to speak freely. She came back on the line a few seconds later, her voice soft so Artie wouldn't hear.

"He's better, I think. I checked his temperature like you said. It's okay."

"What about the blood in his urine?"

"Kinda pink, but not as much. I've been giving him cranberry juice. You think that's okay, the cranberry juice?"

"Yeah. Sounds good."

Pike waited while a Coroner Investigator went by on his way to a dead Federale. While Pike waited, he saw Straw enter the great room. Straw badged a uniformed officer, who pointed him toward Button. Then the CI was gone, and Pike continued with Marisol.

"I'm at Azzara's house. That was a good address you gave me. It helped."

"You are with Miguel?"

"No. Azzara isn't here, but six people were murdered. Three of them are Malevos. It will probably be on the news, so I wanted you to hear about it from me, first."

"I understand. Thank you."

"Azzara took off with one of my friends when he found the bodies-a man from Louisiana. I need to find him."

"I don't know what to tell you."

"People run home when they're scared, and Miguel will be scared. If you hear something, will you call me?"

"May I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Did you kill them?"

"No."

"Did Miguel?"

"No. A man who wants to kill my friends killed them. That's why I have to find them first. Will you call?"

"Yes. Of course, I will call."

"Stay with Artie. Watch his temperature."

"You are a strange man."

Pike closed his phone, then went to the chaise lounge where Dru Rayne had lain in the sun. He sat where she sat, and stared at her bottle. It was still on the deck. Dos Equis. Pike took out his phone and called her. Voice mail. He put away his phone, and thought over his options as he watched Cole, Button, Straw, and Valenti talking. Straw saw him and raised a hand, but Pike did not respond.

The call from Dru told him the killer would keep her alive until he had Rainey. By letting her make the call, he was using her as bait, but this didn't mean he would kick back until Rainey showed up. He was a predator, so he would hunt. He was probably searching for Rainey even as Pike sat in the sun on Azzara's chaise lounge. Pike felt confident he understood what the killer would do, but he was less certain about Rainey.

Pike wondered if Rainey would deal with the killer or run. Dru's call suggested Rainey had the money, so Pike thought Rainey would probably run. Even if he wanted to stay, Azzara might not give him the choice. Whatever business Rainey had with Azzara and the Mexicans might force him onto a private jet.

Button came outside while Pike was thinking, and called him over.

"Stop sunning yourself and c'mere! Valenti has a question."

When Pike went inside, Valenti said, "The guy who looked like a veterano, you said he had a ghost on his arm? Was it Casper the Friendly Ghost? You know that cartoon?"

"Yes. It was Casper."

Valenti turned to Button.

"Jose Eschuara had a Casper. They called him the ghost because he'd sneak up behind people to shoot them-his vics never saw him."

Cole said, "Creative."

"Eschuara's a big deal-a senior member in La Eme's command structure in California. If Eschuara was here with the Federales-if these cowboys are really Federales-this was a high-level meeting. Way over Azzara's pay grade."

Button said, "Thanks, Eddie. Get us a picture of him. We'll have Pike take a look."

As Valenti walked away, Straw examined the dead cowboy on the couch.

"The person who did this is the same person who killed Mendoza and Gomer?"

"That's how it tracks. Cole says he's a Bolivian hitter. Rainey used to be in business with a Bolivian cartel."

Straw frowned at Pike.

"These people are Rainey and who?"

"Rainey and Platt."

Straw glanced from Pike to Cole as if he didn't believe it.

"You're sure about this?"

Cole said, "Positive. We had a vision."

Button laughed, but Straw seemed annoyed.

"Did your vision show you where Mr. Rainey is?"

Button weighed in like he was tired of Straw's questions.

"That's what we're doing here, Straw. We're trying to find these people. This is all late-breaking news. We'll know more when we talk to the Louisiana FBI office. They have the case."

Straw arched his eyebrows.

"Louisiana? Okay. I'll give them a call. They'll move faster for a fellow agent."

"Thanks. We can handle it."

Cole received a call on his cell, and moved away to talk. Straw watched him leave.

"I'll talk to them anyway. They might like to hear about Cole's vision. They also might have an ID on the lunatic who did this."

Pike said, "Did you ask your men if they remembered anyone?"

"I did. They didn't."

Button frowned, suspicious that they'd had a conversation he knew nothing about.

"What are you talking about?"

"A picture of the killer. If he cased the sandwich shop, Straw might have him on video."

"I'll have my guys check, but I told you, we only set up on the bangers. Unless this guy cruised the shop when Azzara's people were there, we won't have him. And I don't see how we'll recognize him even if we have him."

Pike had been thinking about it, and thought he knew how.

"Elvis has a security video from one of Rainey's neighbors. Look at both of them. If the same person shows up on both recordings, he's our guy."

Button said, "That's a pretty good idea, Straw. Makes sense."

Straw turned away to call his guys, and Pike went over to Cole.

"I'm going to look for Dru."

Cole nodded, telling whoever was on the phone to hold on.

"Where?"

"Venice. I'll start at the body shop."

"Okay. I'll call you if I get anything."

Pike turned away, then stopped.

"Thanks for not telling me her name is Rose."

Pike left before Cole could answer.