Robert Crais - The sentry

"Business like what?"

"He hadda go help some friends. Thass what he says when it's Trece."

"Gang business?"

"Thass what it means, helpin' some friends. He was callin' from jail, homes, the Sheriffs right there, you can't just say what you're sayin'. He said he hadda help some friends, and tol' me he would be home, only he never showed up and he ain't callin' back, and now I got you in my house. I signed off my home for that fuckin' bitch, and for all I know he jumped bail and left."

Pike believed she didn't know anything more, but he still didn't have anything that would help him find Mendoza.

"Where else does he stay when he's not here with you?"

"This is his home. I let him move in here. We're gonna get married."

"What kind of car does he drive?"

"An eighty-six El Camino. It's brown. Like a turd."

"Where does he keep his paperwork? Car registration, bills, things like that."

Pike followed her back to the bedroom where she pulled a cardboard shoe box from the top drawer of a scarred and faded cabinet. It contained a few family photos, birth information, and miscellaneous warranties and receipts. Pike found the bill of sale and registration information for the El Camino along with the tag and VIN numbers. He didn't waste time copying the numbers. He tucked the box under his arm.

"What you doin', man, thass his things!"

Pike noticed a large blue purse on the dresser. He went through it and found Carla's wallet.

"I ain't got no money in there."

Pike wasn't looking for money. Seeing Mendoza's family photos gave him an idea. Her wallet held a vinyl picture holder, and the first picture was Reuben Mendoza. Mendoza was smiling so wide he looked like a pumpkin. Pike took the picture, then placed the purse back on the dresser.

"You fuckin' thief. I'm call in' five-oh."

Pike decided there was nothing more to be had, and walked out of the room. Carla Fuentes trailed after him, anxiously pulling his arm.

"Let me ask you somethin'. If he skips on the bond, they really gonna take my house?"

"Yes."

"But it's not my fault if he runs."

"You signed the bond."

"Waitaminute. Wait, now, what about this? If he gets himself killed, will I still lose the house? If he's dead, they can't blame me for that, can they? They won't take the house?"

Pike stopped when he reached the door.

"No. You'll lose the bond fee and application, but the court will release the bond back to the bondsman."

"What does that mean?"

"You won't lose the house."

She thought it through, and some of the terror left her eyes.

"What you gonna do if you find him?"

"What would you like me to do?"

"Break his other damned arm. Break it real good, then beat him to death."

Pike stepped into the sun and headed back to the Monte Carlo.

Pike climbed into the Monte Carlo, but this time into the passenger seat, leaving Hector tied to the wheel. Hector once more scrunched as far from Pike as possible.

"Look at my hands, homes. Look at'm! They're turnin' blue!"

Pike fingered through the papers in the box, wanting to see what he had.

"You gonna let me go? You gotta let me go, bro, this shit here is kidnap-pin'. That's a federal offense."

"Shut up."

Hector fell silent, but grumbled under his breath.

Pike found cash receipts and instructions for three disposable phones Mendoza purchased from Best Buy. Pike wondered if his friend Elvis Cole could use the information to locate Mendoza or identify who he was calling. Cole was a private investigator, and had relationships with most of the cell service providers. He might also be able to help find Alberto Gomer.

Pike studied Reuben Mendoza's picture last, then dropped it into the box. A plan to flush Mendoza out of the weeds was forming, and the picture would help.

Pike said, "Hold still."

Hector's eyes bulged when Pike drew his knife. Pike clipped the ties, cutting him free.

"Get out."

"What get out? This is my car."

"Out."

"Bro, what, you takin' my car?"

"I won't tell you again."

Hector shoved open the door, and got out in a sullen funk. He slammed the door as Pike slid behind the wheel.

"This ain't right, stealin' my car. You takin' my wallet, too? You takin' my phone?"

Pike drove back to his Jeep. He left Hector's wallet in the Monte Carlo, but added his phone to Mendoza's box. Pike didn't take time to examine these things because he wanted to keep pressing.

Pike drove directly to Lily Palmer's house, parked in Wilson's carport, and rang the bell. She answered the second ring.

"I knew you'd be back. Did you find Wilson and Dru?"

"Not yet. Is Jared here?"

She sighed.

"Jared's always here."

She called into the house, and Jared's flip-flops announced his approach. He was freshly slathered with sunblock and carried a bottle of beer. He frowned when he saw Pike and tugged the iPod buds from his ears.

"Dude, you got it all. I don't know anything else."

"The man with the cast-"

Pike showed him the picture of Reuben Mendoza.

"Was this him?"

Jared glanced at the picture, then brightened with a surprised smile that made him look proud of himself.

"Dude! That's him! The Cast Man!"

"You're sure?"

"Fuckin' A."

Jared beamed, and continued to vomit up memories.

"Dude had khaki baggies and a gray plaid shirt, but it was open. Shirt was huge, dude, like fifty sizes too big, and a white T-shirt underneath. And he was bald."

Pike had seen witnesses have similar explosions of memories when he was an officer. If a witness was given a visual trigger, a memory that had been vague would often snap into focus. Psychologists called these memory cues, and the resulting cascade of recollections were memory chains.

"You remember anything about the second man?"

Jared thought for a moment, but his lips peeled from his teeth in frustrated effort.

"Not really getting him. He was in front, kinda already through the gate. The Cast Man was behind him. I remember black hair. And shades. He might've been wearing shades."

Jared finally ran out of gas.

"Sorry, bro. That's all I got."

Pike could now tie Mendoza to the scene with a picture ID. The second man was almost certainly Gomer, but Mendoza would be enough.

Pike went back to his Jeep to decide on his next play, but knew he would ultimately have to return to Button. Button was the last person to have contact with Smith. Pike wanted to know exactly what Smith said, how he had said it, and when. These things could be crucial, and so could having Button back in the game. The police would increase the pressure on Mendoza, but timing their entry was a trade-off. Once the police reinserted themselves they would block Pike's moves and kill his momentum. He had to cover the primary plays before they came in, and keep himself ahead of the curve.

Pike fished Hector's phone from the box, spent a few seconds figuring it out, then scrolled through the directory. He found Mendoza's number under R MENDOZA, but nothing for GOMER or ALBERTO. No numbers were listed for AZZARA, but he found a number for MIGUEL.

Pike pressed the send button, heard two rings, and Mikie Azzara answered.

"Don't bother me with crap at that body shop."

Answering this way because the caller ID told him it was Hector.

Pike said, "I am here."

Mikie hesitated.

"Who is this?"

"One of your boys wrote it on their wall."

Azzara hesitated again, but this time he recognized Pike's voice.

"How'd you get this phone?"

"I want Mendoza and Gomer."

Azzara lowered his voice, as if he was someplace where he didn't want to be overheard.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mendoza was at their home this morning. Now they're missing."