Jazzi kept a spare in a black magnetic box under the first step on the stairs leading up to the apartment. Amber found the box, hurried upstairs, and let herself in.
Amber was so close to getting away she giggled, but she did not slow. She grabbed her spare keys from the kitchen, and ran to her bedroom.
Amber shoved pants and tops and bras and underwear and shoes into an oversized beach bag. She grabbed clothes without thinking about them, packed only enough to get by, and didn’t care. She dragged the bag to the closet, and went for the cash.
The ninety-two thousand dollars was spread between a rain boot, two shoe boxes, and a pink brocade box she stole from a house in Brentwood. Handfuls of cash went into the beach bag with her clothes, and each handful brought her closer to waving bye-bye. She upended the shoe box of jewelry, decided it would take too long to pick the pieces she liked, so she scooped handfuls of jewelry into the bag.
Amber opened more boxes, checked inside shoes, and turned pockets inside out for the last of her money.
Almost finished.
Almost had everything.
She stuffed the last pack of hundreds under the clothes, thought for a moment to make sure she wasn’t forgetting a secret stash, then zipped the bag.
Amber was so focused on gathering all of her cash, she did not hear the entry door open.
50
ELVIS COLE
I IDLED PAST DEVON’S AUDI, checking the street for the black sedan. Amber’s Mini was in the garage, and Jasmine’s building appeared quiet. I turned around at the end of the block, drove back, and called Pike.
“No reason to watch the Connor house now. Pick up Tyson, and take him to the safe house. I’ll meet you with Amber. Once the surrender goes down, you and I can set up for Loan.”
“Once they surrender.”
“Yeah. Cassett will take the kids, and we’ll deal with Kenny Loan.”
“You’ve been a target since you gave him the jewelry. I should be watching your back.”
Pike didn’t like it.
“I’m here. I’ll get Amber, and we’ll meet at the safe house. First things first.”
Pike was silent.
“Joe?”
Pike hung up, clearly unhappy.
I wanted to get in, get out, and leave as quickly as possible. I opened the gate with Amber’s keys, and crept up the stairs. I listened, and the keys worked again. Scrapes and bumps came from the bedroom, and Amber shuffled sideways through the door, an enormous beach bag catching the jamb. When the beach bag pulled free, she saw me and shrieked.
“You scared me! Jesus, I wet myself!”
“You’ll dry. C’mon.”
I hooked her arm, and pulled her into the living room. She pulled back, and tried to twist away.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Tough.”
“I’ll pay you. I’ll hire you to let me go.”
I stripped the bag off her shoulder, tossed it aside, and dragged her toward the door.
“That’s my money! I’m not leaving my money!”
“You’re not safe here, Amber. We have to leave.”
“I was leaving. I would be gone if you’d let me go.”
She twisted, and squirmed, and pried at my fingers.
“You’re going to surrender like we planned. You want to jump bail after that, and play Bonnie Parker, knock yourself out.”
“Who’s Bonnie Parker? Just kidding. I’m kidding!”
I got her to the door, managed to get it open, and that was as far as we got.
Two men with guns filled the space. One big, one bigger, both bigger than me. Nice-looking jackets and ties. Nice-looking pistols.
I said, “We were just going out. How ’bout you catch us later?”
The smaller man tipped his gun.
“How ’bout you put your hands on your head and lace your fingers?”
I put my hands on my head, and laced my fingers.
“Five steps back, stop.”
I took five steps backward, and stopped.
They came inside, and immediately moved apart. Professional. Alec Rickey’s roommate told me the larger man was Neff, which made the smaller man Hensman.
Neff closed and locked the door. Hensman’s eyes never left me. They were rawboned men with broad shoulders, blocky hands, and tight collars. Early thirties, or younger.
Hensman’s pistol tipped down.
“Do not remove your hands from your head. Turn around.”
I turned.
“Kneel.”
I kneeled.
“I’m going to take your hands, and lower you forward onto your belly. Clear?”
“I know how it’s done.”
He lowered me to my belly, told me to release my fingers and extend my arms above my head. When I was stretched on the floor like Superman flying, he took my pistol and wallet, slipped them into his pocket, and stepped away.
“If you move your hands to your body or try to get up, I’ll kill you.”
I twisted my head enough to see him.
“Is your name really Hensman?”
The larger man took out a phone.
“Is your name really Elvis?”
Turd.
The larger man called someone, and backed away mumbling.
The smaller man circled Amber, and stopped directly behind her. He tapped his thigh with his gun.
“Hello, Amber Reed. Do you like music?”
Amber said, “Excuse me? Who’s Amber Reed?”
The bigger man finished his call, and gave the finger to his phone.
The smaller man grimaced.
“Don’t tell me.”
“He’s coming. Ten out, twelve tops. We gotta wait.”
The taller man took a seat on the couch, scowling.
The smaller man finished circling Amber, and stopped in front of her. He looked down the length of her body, tapping his leg with the gun.
Amber didn’t like it, and I didn’t like it either.
Amber said, “Stop it. You’re creeping me out.”
“You look like your sister.”
I twisted enough to see him. Smaller than the larger man, but tall as a tree.
“What about me? Who do I look like?”
The smaller man kicked me in the ribs, then kicked me again. He kicked me so hard I heard them break.
He said, “You look like someone in pain.”
The bigger man laughed, and the smaller man moved back to Amber. She glanced at me, but I couldn’t tell if her eyes held pity or fear.
Pike had been right. Waiting to deal with Loan had been a mistake. I felt bad for Amber, and me, but mostly for Amber. I wanted to live long enough to tell Pike he was right.
51
JOE PIKE
PIKE RAN TO HIS JEEP, checked the time, and called Devon. Her phone rang seven times before her voice mail answered.
“Call Pike.”
He killed the line, and immediately tapped out a text.
CALL NOW
Devon returned his call in less than a minute, and sounded afraid.
“Is anything wrong?”
Pike’s voice was calm.
“Just checking in. Everything okay?”
“So far so good. I’ve been on the phone with the lawyer. I spoke with Detective Cassett. There’s so much to consider, but she’s trying to help.”
“Feel good about it?”
“Yes. Considering the situation, this is something I can live with.”
Pike checked the time again, and figured the travel time from Devon’s home to Jasmine’s apartment.
“Good. Is Tyson okay?”
“He’s still with Carl. I guess you or Elvis will bring him home.”
“Elvis says they didn’t fi
nd anything.”
“I don’t understand it. How can these people be doing all this for nothing?”
“Maybe an expert will find something.”
“I don’t even care. I just want Tyson safe, and this horrible mess behind us. If the police find something, fine, but I just want him safe.”
“Me, too.”
Pike put the Jeep in gear, and rolled away from her house.
“I have to hook up with Elvis, but I’ll pick up your boy after. That okay?”
“Of course. Did Elvis find Amber?”
“Yes. And your car. One of us will bring it.”
Pike pushed the Jeep faster.
“I’m getting a call. The lawyer.”
Pike said, “We’ll see you later.”
So calm, he might have been taking a nap.
Pike knew exactly how long it would take to reach Jasmine’s apartment, and pushed the Jeep harder. He screamed through the streets, racing to make up the time he had lost, racing to get there in time.
52
ELVIS COLE
WE DIED when Kenneth Loan stepped through the door. Amber didn’t know we were dead, but Loan wouldn’t leave us alive to testify. The bigger man let him in. The smaller man pulled me to my feet. Lightning flashed from the ribs, but I swallowed the scream.
“This is the thanks I get, Kenny? Didn’t Mrs. Hoop like her jewelry?”
Loan ignored me, and spoke to the smaller man. He seemed anxious, like a man in a hurry.
“You got it?”
“It isn’t here. We checked before.”
Amber said, “Are you a billionaire?”
Loan glanced at Amber as if she didn’t exist, then came over, and faced me. He stood with his fists on his hips, a slim little .38 Snubby clipped to his waist.
“Be straight, and we’ll work this thing out.”
The bigger man was on the far side of the room. His partner hovered to my left, closer, but out of reach. Kenneth Loan was close. The ribs would slow me down, but I might be able to get his gun. I might get me and Amber shot to death, but our choices were limited.
“What would this thing be?”
“Who are you working for?”
“The boy’s mother. She found a watch in his room he couldn’t explain. Hired me to find out where he got it.”
Amber pooched her lips.
“She messed up everything.”
I said, “How about you, Kenny? Who are you working for, yourself or the Hoops?”
Loan glanced at the bigger man.
“Harvey.”
Harvey walked around behind me, and punched me in the back. He hit me so hard I stumbled and fell to a knee.
Amber shouted.
“What is wrong with you people? Are you ill?”
Loan flicked a hand, irritated.
“C’mon. Pick him up.”
Harvey started to lift me, but I pushed his hand away and got to my feet. The ribs grated, and hurt even worse.
Loan said, “We won’t discuss Mr. Hoop. The Hoops are off limits.”
“Sure.”
“All right, then. I believe you. The boy’s mother hired you, and one thing led to another.”
“That’s it.”
“I’m not here for more jewelry. You know what I want?”
“Hard not to know, what with Dr. Doom and Lex Luthor here asking half the city about a laptop. And since these animals are killing people, I’m thinking it’s worth plenty.”
“Fair enough. And I’m thinking you have it, which is why you came to my office. You’d like to sell it.”
“Jewelry. They sold off the laptops they stole at a flea market.”
Harvey shook his head.
“No way. Stemms and I compiled an excellent accounting. Alec and Amber here sold many things, but never a laptop.”
Compiled. I wondered what they compiled from Louise August.
I focused on Loan, trying to stall.
“I’d love to sell it to you, Kenny. As bad as you want this thing, I could retire, but it’s gone. They sold the electronics.”
Loan frowned, and seemed to be going for it when Amber spoke up.
“He’s lying. We have it. What’s your best offer?”
I glanced a warning at her and tried to laugh it off.
“They dumped the electronics. The boy told me. She’s confused.”
“Do I look confused, Mr. Sexist? The thing with the trackball, with the pictures of Derek Hoop. Make me an offer.”
Derek’s name hit them like a hand grenade. Derek’s name told them we had it. Loan smiled. Stemms flashed dimples so deep they could swallow a Buick.
“You are blowing my mind.”
“Rock my world. How much?”
I tried to stop her.
“Amber.”
Amber bugged her eyes at me.
“I so totally know what I’m doing. Trust me.”
Loan left me, and went to Amber.
“I’m buying. Where is it?”
“They took it to this hacker guy. They think secret stuff must be on it, and he’s like a genius, The Carl. He’s checking it right now.”
Loan flushed bright red, and the smile stiffened to a stricture. He breathed so loudly the two men stared.
“Where?”
I interrupted, trying to draw him away.
“She doesn’t know. He’s my contact, not hers. But my guy has it, and he’s probably found whatever you’re trying to hide.”
Stemms backhanded the pistol at my head. I caught most of it on a forearm, and stepped in close to roll his arm, but Harvey came out of nowhere and hit me again.
Amber shoved herself between us.
“The Carl is Tyson’s friend, okay? I don’t know where he lives, but Tyson was staying here until his mommy found us. His things are still here. I don’t know for sure, but The Carl’s address or phone number or something might be here. Let me look.”
She pointed at the bedroom, waiting.
Loan glanced at Stemms, and Stemms nodded.
“Yeah. They were shacked up.”
Loan motioned at Harvey.
“Go with her, and let’s get the hell out of here. This is taking too long.”
Harvey swaggered past Stemms with a big leering grin.
“Guess who’s hitting the rack-shack with Jasmine’s baby sister? Not you.”
He made a sniffing sound as he followed Amber into the bedroom.
Loan moved away, and took out his phone. Stemms stayed by me, and Harvey was gone. The odds were as good as they would get. Stemms was big, and fit, and looked like a guy who could handle himself, but he was staring at the bedroom. The gun dangled alongside his leg, and his grip wasn’t firm. Amber was talking, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying.
I edged closer, and lowered my voice.
“Stemms.”
His eyes were calm, and maybe sad.
“Were you kind?”
“What?”
I edged closer. Not much, just a little. I knew what I needed to do.
“When you killed Louise August, were you kind?”
I saw the play in my head like a dance straight from hell, but a single loud BANG exploded behind me, followed by a second BANG. Kenny Loan stumbled backward onto the couch. Stemms dived sideways, and tried to raise his pistol, but froze in mid-motion, and dropped it. Then I saw why.
Amber stood in the bedroom door behind me, clutching Alec Rickey’s pistol with both hands. A small silver pistol with a white plastic grip.
Her eyes were wild and bright.
“Get his gun! Get his gun!”
Then Harvey reared up behind her, and pulled Amber down.
53
JOE PIKE
PIKE SLID OUT OF HIS JEEP,
and three-sixtied the area. He saw Cole’s car and Devon’s car, but no black sedan. Turning, he noticed a gleaming white Mercedes, so clean it had to be new. Something about it bothered him. Pike drifted closer, and saw a temporary registration fixed to the corner of the windshield. Closer, he saw the dealer card, and touched the Python under his sweatshirt. Ekezian Motor Craft, same as the black sedan, a dealership that didn’t exist.
Pike ran for the gate. A muffled but unmistakable gunshot cracked from the building. One second later, a second.
Pike hit the gate at a sprint, and hoisted himself over.
ELVIS COLE
Harvey’s shirt glistened red when he appeared behind Amber, and he fell into her like a collapsing bear.
Stemms shouted.
“Harvey!”
I hit Stemms hard from the side, and drove him away from his gun. He rolled with the hit, and tried to spin free, but I locked his arm close, and moved with him, keeping the fight on the floor. My pistol was in his pocket. Stemms clubbed me with his free hand, and I clawed at the pocket with mine.
Amber’s pistol cracked again, and then again. She still had the gun, but Harvey held her hands away, and the bullets slapped the wall.
Behind us, Kenny Loan clawed at the wound on his chest, shouting as if the rest of us weren’t fighting for our lives.
“I’m shot. Call 911, for Christ’s sake. Look at my blood.”
He fell off the couch, and crawled toward the door.
Stemms hit me again, and then Amber shouted.
“Help! He’s getting the gun! Help!”
She was kicking and thrashing, but Harvey had her wrists and was working his way to the gun.
I pulled Stemms closer and shouted.
“Amber!”
Amber pushed her gun toward me.
I punched Stemms three hard, fast times, then released him, and went for her pistol.
A single loud gunshot froze the scene.
Kenneth Loan sat propped against the wall, burping red bubbles, and holding the Snubby. He tried to aim at me, but his gun swayed like a reed in the wind.
“You bastard. You bastard.”
The Snubby dropped, and Ken Loan tipped over.