Faye Kellerman - Blindman’s Bluff

A simple shrug. “It looks good.”

“So you have all the tats, but you’re not a gang member.”

“No, sir.”

Oliver said, “That doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

The boy didn’t answer. Marge had finished her search and was walking toward the two of them. She gave Oliver a slight shake of the head.

Approaching the boy, she said, “What are you doing in this area?”

“Just hanging, ma’am.”

“Esteban, what were you doing in your car in the middle of a residential area about twenty miles from home?”

The boy picked at one of his pimples. “I can sleep here and not get shot.”

Marge and Oliver exchanged glances. “You sleep in the car?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes I listen to my iPod. Sometimes I read.”

“Did you find reading material inside the car?” Oliver asked Marge.

“Two comic books and a graphic novel.” She studied Cruz’s face. Portraits in the museum held a lot more life than he did. “You shouldn’t be hanging around. It makes you look like you’re doing something bad.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You should be in school.”

“I dropped out of school.”

“You like to read,” Marge said. “Why’d you drop out of school?”

Esteban didn’t answer right away. Finally, he offered an opinion. It’s not a school, it’s a zoo.” A flash of anger had abruptly emerged from his face: frightening in its intensity, but within seconds it had faded into nothingness.

“If you like reading, you should go to the library,” Marge told him.

“You can’t sleep in a library,” Esteban told her. “They kick you out.”

“Well, find a better place to read,” Marge said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She handed him back his wallet. “The reason we pulled you over is that your taillight doesn’t work very well. Get it fixed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Silence.

“You can go,” Marge told him.

“Yes, ma’am.”

After the kid had driven off, Marge regarded Oliver. “Did you notice the anger when he talked about the school? A flare-up in an otherwise monotone conversation.”

Oliver rolled his eyes. “That’s one cool demon spawn. I could see him shooting you in the face and not blinking an eye.”

“Which reminds me…” Marge called up Rina. “Where are you?”

“We’re almost at the station house. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. We’ll be there in a few minutes.” She hung up the phone and looked back at Oliver. “There weren’t any weapons in the car. If the kid was hired to hit Harriman, he was scouting his target with an objective eye.”

Oliver nodded. “That would make Mr. Politeness even scarier.”

DECKER WAS IRATE. “What do you mean you opened the door! Why’d you do that?”

Rina said, “Because he was outside all alone and he seemed vulnerable.”

“You didn’t know that he was alone. He could have brought in a posse of killers.”

“Since someone bothered to install a video camera, I had a bird’s-eye view of the street.” She took in a breath and let it out. “Harriman went to the police, Peter, and asked to speak with you. Someone told him that you’d be contacted and you’d call Harriman back. Didn’t anyone deliver the message to you?”

Decker didn’t answer. No one bothered to contact him because they thought Harriman was psycho.

“I’m a busy person, Rina. I’ve got better things to do than to check up on some weirdo.”

Rina said, “So you’re completely discounting his fears. No wonder he feels marginalized, especially after he helped you by identifying Alejandro Brand.”

“You’re not his shrink, you’re my wife. The idiot put you in jeopardy.” Decker had a burning urge to punch something. “If the bastard was being followed, he led the bad guys to your doorstep. Now you have no choice. You’ve got to move in with your parents until we know what’s going on.”

“How do you know that the kid in the Accord was after Harriman? You’re the lead detective on the Kaffey case. Maybe he’s after you.”

“If he’s after anyone, it’s Harriman. Stop arguing with me and listen for a change-”

“For a change? That is not fair! I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me.”

“You answered the door! Why the hell did you do that?”

“Because Harriman seemed distraught. I wasn’t going to throw him to the wolves. You’re not the only one with intuitions. And, I repeat, if Harriman had felt that someone in the department had taken him seriously, maybe he wouldn’t have had to resort to trying to track you down. And stop yelling at me!”

Decker took a deep breath. “Move in with your parents, all right?”

“Fine.” She hung up the phone, her hands shaking from adrenaline. The cell rang again. She blew out air and answered it. “Yes?”

“You hung up on me!”

“There’s nothing left to say.”

Decker spoke in a measured voice. “I’m nervous.”

“Peter, I’m sorry that I made you anxious. I’ll pack up and move in with my parents. I’ll see you whenever you get home.” A pause. “When are you coming home?”

“I was planning on coming home tonight, but something’s come up and I have to stick around in Ponceville.” A pause. “I mean I don’t have to stick around but-”

“Do what you need to do. I’ve got to go.”

“Rina, I’m sorry I yelled.”

“And I’m sorry if I used bad judgment, but since you weren’t around for guidance, I did the best I could.”

“I should have had someone dealing with him before it got to this point.”

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, she thought. “I’ll be careful. You be careful, too.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“If I’m not there, don’t worry. I’m going down to the range to practice.”

“Good idea.”

“It’s not because I think I’ll need to fire a weapon. Right now, I need to attack something and so far as I know, a bull’s-eye doesn’t fire back.”

MARGE KNOCKED ON the door to Decker’s office, then came inside. Rina’s face was a mixture of anger, frustration, and weariness. She got up from the desk chair, smoothed her denim skirt, and adjusted the scarf that covered her hair. “You need to use the office, Marge?”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

She stood up. “You probably think I’m an idiot. It was dumb to open the door, but it’s the way I’m made. I look for the good in humanity, Peter looks for the kinks.”

“You’re a very kindhearted person, Rina. And you have good instincts. In this case, it worked out fine. Just be careful from now on until we get some answers.”

Rina sighed. She couldn’t expect her husband to be as empathetic as Marge, but a girl could dream.

“Thanks for all your help.”

“Anytime.” Marge placed a hand on her shoulder. “And don’t pay attention to the Loo. He’s been snarling at anyone who comes near him. He’s just worried about your back.” The desk phone rang.

“That’s him. Should I tell him anything for you?”

“Tell him to watch his back.” Rina waved a bye. “His is a lot bigger than mine.”

With the desk chair vacated, Marge took up the empty seat. It was close to three in the afternoon and she hadn’t eaten all day, but basic drives would just have to wait. “Hey, Rabbi. This is what I found out about Esteban Cruz. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” Decker answered.

Marge said, “No wants, no warrants, no priors. Just an average high school dropout. Oliver and I are going to drop by his former high school…try to find out who he associated with. You don’t have that many B12 tattoos on your skin without making a few friends with the homies.”

“Did you run the name by Henry Almont or Crystal McCall in Juvenile at Foothill?”