James Ellroy: L. A. Confidential

Ed in his dress blue uniform.

Parker smiled, pinned gold stars to his shoulders. "Deputy Chief Edmund Exley. Chief of Detectives, Los Angeles Police Department."

Applause, flashbulbs. Ed shook Parker's hand, checked the crowd. Politicos, Thad Green, Dudley Smith. Lynn at the back of the room.

More applause, a handshake line. Mayor Poulson, Gallaudet, Dudley.

"Lad, you have performed so grandly. I look forward to serving under you."

"Thank you, Captain. I'm sure we'll have a grand time together."

Dudley winked.

The City Council filed by; Parker led the crowd to refreshments. Lynn stayed in the doorway.

Ed walked over. Lynn said, "I can't believe it. I'm giving up a hotshot with seventeen million dollars for a cripple with a pension. Arizona, love. The air's good for pensioners and I know where everything is."

She'd aged the past month-beautiful to handsome. "When?"

"Right now, before I back down."

"Open your purse."

"What?"

"Just do it."

Lynn opened her purse-Ed dropped in a plastic bundle. "Spend it fast, it's bad money."

"How much?"

"Enough to buy Arizona. Where's White?"

"At the car."

"I'll walk you."

They skirted the party, took side stairs down. Lynn's Packard in the watch commander's space, a summons stuck to the windshield. Ed tore it up, checked the back seat.

Bud White. Braces on his legs, his head shaved and sutured. No splints on his hands-they looked strong. A wired-up mouth that made him look goofy.

Lynn stood a few feet away. White tried to smile, grimaced. Ed said, "I swear to you I'll get Dudley. I swear to you I'll do it."

White grabbed his hands, squeezed until they both winced. Ed said, "Thanks for the push."

A smile, a laugh-Bud forced them through wires. Ed touched his face. "You were my redemption."

Party noise upstairs-Dudley Smith laughing. Lynn said, "We should go now."

"Was I ever in the running?"

"Some men get the world, some men get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona. You're in with the former, but my God I don't envy you the blood on your conscience."

Ed kissed her cheek. Lynn got in the car, rolled up the windows. Bud pressed his hands to the glass.

Ed touched his side, palms half the man's size. The car moved-Ed ran with it, hands against hands. A turn into traffic, a goodbye toot on the horn.

Gold stars. Alone with his dead.