Robert Crais - The sentry

"Yeah. They're going to email some things."

"Do they have the executioner's picture?"

"Uh-uh. They're sending what they have, but there isn't a picture."

"Keep me advised."

Pike closed his phone. It had been reasonable to think someone at the body shop would hear from Azzara, but now Azzara was dead, so Pike focused on Rainey. With twelve million dollars, Rainey could have homes, apartments, and cars stashed all over the city. He might even be sailing out of the marina as Pike sat on the side of the street.

Pike thought about how Dru called him, but had been pretending to call Rainey. If she had never reached Rainey, he might not know the Bolivian had her.

Pike dug out Rainey's cell number and gave it a try. The phone rang once, then immediately went to voice mail. Pike closed his phone, then had a follow-up thought, and dialed Rainey's number again.

This time when the voice mail answered, Pike left a message.

"He has her."

Pike left his number, then phoned Cole.

"Is Straw still at Azzara's?"

"He left before us. He's going to check their video and compare it to the disk we got from Laine. That was a good idea."

"He's doing that now?"

"Yeah. It's going to take a long time. He wanted to get started."

Pike decided to offer his help. He drove directly to Straw's stakeout across from Rainey's shop. The shop was now busy with police, but Pike ignored them. He went through the tattoo parlor as he had before, and once again climbed the rear stairs.

No one answered when Pike knocked. He knocked harder, then tried the knob and found it unlocked.

The two-room office suite was empty. The bedding and trash bags and gear were gone. Even the black sheet with its rectangular cuts was missing. The shakedown crew had moved on, and taken their video with them.

Pike ran back to his Jeep for Straw's number, and called.

"Jack Straw."

"Where are you?"

"Who is-Pike, is that you?"

"What's going on with the video?"

"I have a man going through it right now."

"Straw, I'm at your stakeout. It's empty."

"You need to relax, Pike. We closed that place down. The shakedown op is history. Most of my crew is already on their way home."

"Louisiana doesn't have a picture of the Bolivian."

Straw was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was measured.

"I know they don't. I spoke with an agent down there twenty minutes ago. So I've got Kenny looking at the recordings right now. If he sees anyone who looks suspicious-anyone who even remotely might be our guy-he will let me know. You better settle down, man. You sound like you're losing it."

Straw hung up.

Kenny. One man to look at hundreds of hours of video.

Pike settled back, and scanned the surrounding buildings and the gawkers on the sidewalks outside Rainey's shop. Rainey probably wouldn't return, but you never knew-Rainey had been running for years, but this time he hadn't. Rainey had broken his pattern, and people never changed without a very good reason. Instead of running again, Rainey and Dru had moved in with Azzara, but left several things at Brown's house, suggesting they felt the move would be temporary and they planned to return. Maybe Rainey left something at the house he needed before he would leave.

Pike drove to the house. The police had blocked the surrounding streets, so Pike left his Jeep on the boulevard and tried to cross the pedestrian bridge. The police had blocked the footbridges at both ends of the alley, so Pike found himself with three neighborhood women and six children at the construction site where Gomer had been murdered. They watched the activity as uniformed and plainclothes officers searched Brown's house.

Pike spent little time looking at the police. Gawkers had gathered at the bridges and bike paths, and residents with a view of the scene were in their backyards. Pike searched the faces for Rainey, but knew the Bolivian killer might also be among them. If the killer was still hunting for Rainey, he might return to the house for the same reasons as Pike.

Pike found Lily Palmer's card in his wallet, and called.

Jared answered, his voice low and dull.

"Hullo."

"It's Pike. Remember?"

Jared perked up.

"Oh, man, you should see this place. The cops are everywhere."

"I know. I'm across the canal."

"No shit? Man, did you know? Wilson and Dru are criminals. Did you know that?"

Jared came out to the edge of their pool and waved when he saw Pike.

"Hey, dude, there you are! I see you!"

Pike said, "Has anyone been next door?"

"At Steve's place?"

"Yes."

"Dude, look at it. The place looks like a cop convention."

"Not now. Before the police."

"Right, yeah, the cops asked that, too. No, uh-uh, I didn't see anyone."

"Not just today. What about yesterday and last night?"

"Nada, man."

"Did you hear anything?"

"No, dude. And you know me-all eyes all the time. No evil shall escape my sight."

"Get something to write with. I'm going to give you my number."

"Sure, dude. Hang on."

Jared jogged into his house, and reappeared a few moments later.

"Okey-doke, we are ready to copy, Houston."

Pike recited his cell.

"If you see anyone next door after the police leave, I want you to call me. Will you do that?"

"Sure, dude. We're supposed to call the cops, too."

"That's fine. Call them, but call me, too."

"You got it, bro. No problemo."

"And Jared-do you have alarms on your house?"

"Yeah."

"Lock up tonight. Don't leave any windows or doors open. Lock it and arm up."

"Dude, you are freakin' me out. Wilson's cool with me. We joke around."

Pike wasn't thinking about Rainey.

"Lock up, Jared. If you see someone or hear something, call 911, then me. Tell your mother. Give her my number."

The excitement left Jared's voice.

"Yes, sir. I'll tell her."

Pike closed his phone.

Jared stared at him for a moment, then waved again and walked slowly back into his house.

Pike studied the near bridges and surrounding houses. If Rainey showed up because he wanted to enter the house, he would leave, but return later when the police were gone. Pike had nothing else, so he settled in to wait.

Forty minutes later, Pike's attention was drawn when two men stepped from the crowd at the head of the pedestrian bridge. Special Agents Straw and Kenny showed their badges to the officer blocking the bridge, who immediately let them pass. They disappeared when they reached the end of the bridge, but Kenny reappeared a few minutes later in Rainey's backyard. Pike wondered why he was here with Straw instead of checking the video.

Kenny walked to the fence, then turned toward the house. A few seconds later, Straw joined him. They spoke for a moment, then Straw went to the kayak hanging on the dock. He rocked it absently back and forth, then spoke to Kenny, who only shook his head in answer. They stared at the house as if trying to solve an unsolvable puzzle, and neither appeared ready to leave.

Pike wondered if Kenny had finished checking the video or if Straw had simply lied.

Pike called Straw on his cell. He listened to Straw's phone ring, and watched as Straw checked the incoming call window, then returned the phone to his pocket without answering.

Pike said, "Mm."

Pike dialed again, and again watched as Straw checked the incoming call without answering. This time he said something to Kenny, who shook his head as he walked away.

Pike immediately dialed again, and this time Straw broke. He answered his phone.

"Hello?"

"It's Pike. How's it coming with the video?"

"You're becoming a pain in the ass, you know that? We're getting there."

"I'll pitch in. Maybe Kenny needs some help."