The Sentry Part 32

"Louisiana? Okay. I'll give them a call. They'll move faster for a fellow agent."

"Thanks. We can handle it."

Cole received a call on his cell, and moved away to talk. Straw watched him leave.

"I'll talk to them anyway. They might like to hear about Cole's vision. They also might have an ID on the lunatic who did this."

Pike said, "Did you ask your men if they remembered anyone?"

"I did. They didn't."

b.u.t.ton frowned, suspicious that they'd had a conversation he knew nothing about.

"What are you talking about?"

"A picture of the killer. If he cased the sandwich shop, Straw might have him on video."

"I'll have my guys check, but I told you, we only set up on the bangers. Unless this guy cruised the shop when Azzara's people were there, we won't have him. And I don't see how we'll recognize him even if we have him."

Pike had been thinking about it, and thought he knew how.

"Elvis has a security video from one of Rainey's neighbors. Look at both of them. If the same person shows up on both recordings, he's our guy."

b.u.t.ton said, "That's a pretty good idea, Straw. Makes sense."

Straw turned away to call his guys, and Pike went over to Cole.

"I'm going to look for Dru."

Cole nodded, telling whoever was on the phone to hold on.

"Where?"

"Venice. I'll start at the body shop."

"Okay. I'll call you if I get anything."

Pike turned away, then stopped.

"Thanks for not telling me her name is Rose."

Pike left before Cole could answer.

39.

Pike did not think Azzara would go to the body shop, but it was his last best place to start looking. La Eme La Eme gangs were families. If Azzara wanted a different car or help getting out of the country, he would go to someone he trusted. gangs were families. If Azzara wanted a different car or help getting out of the country, he would go to someone he trusted.

Pike spent thirty-five minutes driving to Venice, and was still five minutes from the body shop when Elvis Cole called.

"Where are you?"

Pike told him where he was going and why.

"Don't bother. Azzara and Eschuara are dead."

Pike took his foot off the gas and steered toward the side of the street.

"Rainey?"

"No sign of Rainey. They were found five minutes from here on a side street off Doheny. Shot."

"The Bolivian?"

"I'm heading there now to take a look, but it sounds like Rainey killed them. They were shot with a large caliber-at least a nine millimeter. The vics at Azzara's were shot with a twenty-two. Hang on-"

Pike heard a voice in the background that was probably b.u.t.ton, then Cole came back on the phone.

"I guess Rainey and the bangers couldn't agree on a plan. Looks like he shot them, pushed them out of the car, and took off. There's no sign of the Prius."

Pike thought for a moment, trying to decide what to do.

"Did b.u.t.ton get through to the investigators in Louisiana?"

"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 k.n.o.b 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 ca.n.a.l."

"No s.h.i.t? 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."