The Sentry Part 15

Pike began with Mendoza's arrest two days earlier, and sketched the sequence of events up to and including his search for Mendoza and his call to Miguel Azzara. When he finished, Cole studied the snapshot of Mendoza before looking up.

"So you don't believe they went to Oregon."

"No. If Mendoza hadn't been seen at the house, then maybe, but Mendoza changes the game."

"So you think, what, he followed them home to threaten them, but it turned into an abduction? He forced Smith to make the call?"

Pike nodded, but did not voice his darker fear-that the abduction had become a body drop.

"Have you tried calling them again?"

"You call, you get voice mail. They don't call back."

Cole nodded, his face vacant as he thought the scene through.

"Which is what would happen if their phones were taken away from them."

"Yes."

Cole glanced over.

"Forgetting Mendoza for a minute-maybe they were so freaked out, they figured enough with the bad news and turned off their phones."

"Wilson, maybe, but not Dru. Dru would call if she could."

"She would?"

Pike realized Cole was staring.

"I know her."

"Ah."

Pike thought he probably should have phrased it another way.

"We had a beer."

"I see."

"We made a date. She asked me to call."

"I understand."

Cole asked for their numbers, saying he would try to learn about their account activity from the service provider. Pike recited the numbers, then gave him Mendoza's shoe box and Hector's phone. Cole fingered through the contents.

"Okay, good-I can work with this. What about the police? Are they treating it as an abduction?"

"They don't know about Mendoza."

Cole glanced up from the box.

"Why not?"

"I want you to see the house first. You have fresh eyes, you're faster, and you'll see things they miss."

Cole tried to look modest.

"That goes without saying."

"But you won't have much time. We get you set up, I'm going to b.u.t.ton. He'll move on Smith's house, so we have to move on it first."

Cole glanced at Mendoza's picture again, then handed it back.

"Let's get busy."

Pike led the way with Cole following in his own car. Because of the narrow lanes and difficult parking, they left their vehicles on Venice Boulevard and approached Smith's house on foot. Pike didn't want another conversation with the Palmers, so he stopped well out of their view to point out Smith's house. Pike had already warned Cole about Jared.

When Cole saw the house, he glanced at Pike.

"A dude trying to make a go of a sandwich shop owns this place?"

"They're house-sitting. It's owned by a retired TV writer."

"Were you inside?"

"Only to check for bodies. I entered through the side window at the laundry room, but I didn't disturb the scene."

Pike described finding no signs of forced entry outside the house, and no blood evidence or signs of struggle in the carport or courtyard inside the front gate. He wanted Cole to concentrate on the interior because their time would be limited once he went to the police.

"When I finish with b.u.t.ton, I'll call you, then I'll sit on the girlfriend's house. I put her and Azzara in play to stress Mendoza. When b.u.t.ton comes in he'll jack the pressure even more, and Mendoza might break for home."

Stressing the enemy was a tactic Pike had used in the field. Put enough stress on the target, he would panic and run. They almost always broke for home.

Cole said, "Sounds good. I'll see what I can find out about Mendoza and Gomer, and relieve you later tonight."

They were finished, and Pike knew he should roll out, but he stared at the house. He imagined Dru and Wilson inside after they returned from their shop. He saw Mendoza and the second man moving toward the gate, then put what he saw next out of his head.

Pike realized Cole had said something, but hadn't heard what. Cole was watching him with a curious expression, and when he spoke again, his voice was gentle.

"You okay?"

"I told her I took care of it. That they wouldn't be bothered again."

The sudden sympathy in Cole's eyes left Pike feeling embarra.s.sed. He looked away.

Cole said, "Hey."

Pike looked back.

"Am I not the World's Greatest Detective?"

Pike nodded.

"I'm on it, Joseph. We'll find her."

Cole walked away before Pike could respond.

Pike watched his friend for a moment, then headed back to his Jeep. Time was pa.s.sing, and time was the enemy.

Pike drove hard for the Pacific Community Police Station.

16.

The PCPS was a low, modern brick building surrounded by a block wall and wispy pine trees on Culver Boulevard less than a mile from Pike's home. A flagpole bearing the American flag stood proudly out front, across from a billboard advertising a bail bondsman. The middle-cla.s.s homes across the boulevard were neat and attractive. These neighborhoods-like the police station-made it difficult to believe that wars between rival gangs often filled the streets with blood only a few minutes away.

Pike pulled to the curb by the flagpole at seven minutes after three. The watch would change at four, so any detectives not in court or in the field would be inside finis.h.i.+ng up for the day. Pike needed to find out if b.u.t.ton was one of them.

He phoned Information for the PCPS detective desk number, then called.

"Pacific. This is Detective Harrison."

"This is Dale King at the PAB. Is b.u.t.ton still there?"

The Police Administration Building was the new administrative building that had replaced Parker Center.

Harrison said, "Yeah, hang on. I'll get him."

Pike waited until she put him on hold, then closed his phone. Believing b.u.t.ton would refuse to see him, Pike walked around the side of the station through the civilian parking lot, then hopped a low wall and went to the two-story parking structure where officers kept their cars. He didn't like losing the time, but he didn't have long to wait.

Fourteen minutes later, b.u.t.ton came out the rear of the station in a loose file of other detectives and uniformed officers on their way to their cars. He carried a briefcase with his jacket and tie over his opposite arm, and wore a light blue s.h.i.+rt with sweat rings under the arms. A small revolver was clipped to his belt.

Pike was behind a column when b.u.t.ton pa.s.sed, angling toward a tan Toyota pickup. b.u.t.ton s.h.i.+fted his jacket from his right arm to his left, and was fis.h.i.+ng for his keys when Pike stepped from behind the column.

"b.u.t.ton."

b.u.t.ton lurched sideways at Pike's appearance. He scrambled for his gun, dropping his briefcase and keys as he got hung up in his jacket.

Pike calmly raised his hands, showing his palms.

"We're good."

If b.u.t.ton was embarra.s.sed by his reaction, he didn't show it. He picked up his briefcase and keys, and continued toward his truck.

"This is an off-limits police parking area. Get out."

"They were abducted."

"What the f.u.c.k are you talking about?"

"Wilson Smith and Dru Rayne. They're gone."

b.u.t.ton unlocked the truck, and tossed his jacket and briefcase inside.

"They're on their way to Oregon, man. And another thing-Straw is f.u.c.king livid, not that it matters a d.a.m.n. f.u.c.king self-important Fed. He probably hates you more than I do."

"Reuben Mendoza and a second man who might have been Gomer were at their home at eight forty-five this morning. What time did Smith call?"

b.u.t.ton already had one leg in the truck, but now he backed out, squinting at Pike.

"How do you know he called me?"

"Hydeck. I was at Smith's shop when you spoke with her. From there, I went to Smith's house."

"Is this for real?"

"They have a locked front gate you have to go through to enter the property. The kid next door saw Mendoza and another man going through the gate at eight forty-five. Jared Palmer. Talk to him."

Pike saw the strain on b.u.t.ton's face as he weighed his hatred of Pike against what he was hearing, as if he had to climb a wall before he could move forward. He finally walked over, leaving the Toyota's door open.

"How's the kid know Mendoza?"

"He doesn't. I showed him this."

Pike held out the snapshot. b.u.t.ton gave it a glance, but did not touch it.

"One to ten, how confident was he?"

"Ten."

"He's sure about the time?"

"The mother pegged it to the Today Today show. Jared went out for some chocolate milk at the beginning of the eight-o'clock hour and got back a few minutes after the half-hour break. That puts Mendoza there at about eight forty-five. When did you hear from Smith?" show. Jared went out for some chocolate milk at the beginning of the eight-o'clock hour and got back a few minutes after the half-hour break. That puts Mendoza there at about eight forty-five. When did you hear from Smith?"

b.u.t.ton glanced at the snapshot again, and this time he took it to examine Mendoza more closely.

"What about the second man? Was it Gomer?"

"I didn't have a picture of Gomer. What time did you talk to Smith?"

"Around nine, right in there, maybe a few minutes after."

b.u.t.ton frowned as he thought about it and what it would mean if it were true, but he still didn't buy it. He shook his head.