"Captain Burch, this is Eduardo Ibáñez, owner and number one chef of the famed Cabra Blanca food truck." Lucy stood tall and made the introduction as formal as she could, hoping Eddie would trust them enough to share information. "Eddie, this is my boss, Captain Burch."
"Señor Ibáñez." Burch sounded respectful and concerned. "Officer Lowell and I are investigating the recent attacks and the levantón. We are hoping to find out what has been happening in this neighborhood."
Lucy was impressed that Burch remembered the name given to the mass kidnappings by the folks on the street. She just wasn't sure Eddie could be convinced to roll on the East Los Locos.
"Bad days. Muy, muy malo." Eddie shook his head and stared down at the floor.
"They took my Lenore. The East Los. And I let them," he burst forth, voice cracking. "They said I have to give them food every day, or they hurt Lenore."
"Was Lenore okay when they took her or..." Lucy let her voice trail off.
Eddie looked up at her, his heartbreak palpable. "She's gone loba. Some of El Gallo's boys knocked her out with a beanbag gun and threw her in the back of their El Camino before she could hurt my customers. It was on Alvarado, middle of the day. It was good they were there. But now...They won't bring her back." The man mopped his forehead with a bar towel.
"When did they take her, Eddie?" Lucy asked.
"Three days ago. My wife reported her missing. I was going to report what really happened." It was clear to Lucy that Eddie was just saying that last part. He'd had no intention of reporting the kidnapping. She had no doubt that the East Los Locos had sprung up as enforcers, taking immediate advantage of what would rapidly turn into anarchy on the streets unless Rice and the National Guard could quell it.
"I understand, Eddie." Her tone said that she'd caught his lie but wasn't going to make an issue of it. "But now you have to help me. You know they won't let her go. If I can find Memo's hideout, maybe we can free Lenore and the other kids."
Eddie nodded but said nothing at first, considering his options. "No sé." He gave Lucy a hard look.
"Come on, Eddie. You do know." Lucy got very close and gently put her hand on Eddie's arm. He flinched away from her touch.
"No sé. No sé. No sé."
"Señor Ibáñez, please help us bring the kids back home. El Gallo is terrorizing the neighborhood," Burch broke in.
"El Gallo keeps us safe from the attacks. His boys ride around and hunt las Bestias with their machine guns..." Eddie trailed off and took a big, rattling breath. "I just want my Lenore back."
"Okay, I get it." Lucy hurried because she could see the man was overwhelmed and about to shut down. "You want to keep your family safe. But give me something. If you can't tell me, give me a name. Someone who knows something. Someone who would talk."
Eddie paused and fished a few ice cubes from his cup. He rubbed them on the back of his neck.
"I get all sorts of people at the truck. Some come every day." He paused unsure of how to say the next part. He leaned against the truck wall with a deep sigh. "Anita Magaña comes first thing every morning, always smells like tequila. Except the other night, she shows up sober. El Gallo drops her off in that crazy orange car of his."
"Memo Morales is known for his classic '66 Toronado, orange like the sun, mint condition," Lucy explained to Burch.
Eddie continued, "Anita is crying her eyes out. Says Miguel hates her. Says she's going to her sister Gyssell. Eats six goat tacos. Pays with pesos, never paid with pesos before."
Lucy hid her surprise and grunted noncommittally. If Eddie didn't know he'd just connected the dots for them, he wouldn't be able to spill his betrayal to anyone who'd tell Memo. Burch caught on right away.
"Señor, we were hoping for something specific. A fight between some drunk and her son is gossip, nothing more," Burch said and abruptly walked away from the truck and toward the road.
"Eddie, get yourself outta here as soon as you can." Lucy fought her instinct and didn't touch the man's sleeve this time. She knew he didn't want comfort from her. He wanted the truth. "We can't keep you safe." The blood drained from Eddie's face, and he stumbled back an inch.
That might've been too much truth.
Lucy unclipped the pepper spray from her belt. "This could buy you a minute," she said and set the container on the counter. "Sprays up to twelve feet, so don't get too close and point it away from your face." She gave him a curt nod, turned on her heels and followed Burch.
*
The metal cage dug into Xochitl's tender ribs as she lay in the fetal position, not daring to move. Ripped open, her borrowed blouse exposed her bruised chest and bloodstained bra.
The stench of urine, dog and sweat-soaked polyester assaulted her nose, making her want to vomit.
How long have I been here? Three, four days?
Xochitl had lost count. The only constants in her life now were the beatings Tuti gave her and the animal cage she occupied.
Why doesn't Memo just get it over with and kill me?
Xochitl peered through the grid of her cage. Several large, vacant kennels had been stacked in the room where she was being held.
This has gotta be the place Memo keeps the kids.
Xochi hadn't seen them. She hadn't seen Miguel either.
"Miguel, I'm sorry." Xochitl coughed, tasting blood in her mouth.
*
"Gyssell Sandoval? It's Officer Lowell. We spoke on the phone." The buzz told them to enter.
Burch had easily called up Anita's sister's address when they'd returned to the squad car. Like her sister, Gyssell had a colorful arrest record that highlighted her scintillating accomplishments — drunk and disorderly, solicitation, possession and shoplifting. Burch's information showed her remaining at the same address and staying out of trouble for several years.
"DCFS probably got to her. I see it all the time," Burch had added in the car.
The Department of Child and Family Services can sometimes help. Wish we had that option for crap dog owners.
Lucy looked around the ramshackle apartment complex as she and Burch ascended the outside stairs to the open door on the second floor. The white stucco walls, spotted with rust stains, had taken on a yellow hue. Bars secured each apartment window they passed, and security doors covered each entrance.
Gyssell, dressed in a short, pink terry cloth robe, stood in the doorway and cradled an infant in her arms. Lucy spotted another child babbling away happily in a secondhand playpen when Gyssell ushered them into her small but immaculate kitchen.
"Anita sleeping," she whispered, looking uncomfortable. "She don't want to talk, but I don't care." Gyssell held her baby close to her chest and tilted her chin up at Lucy and Burch. "I look out for mi familia first." She gestured for Lucy and Burch to sit at the creaky kitchen table and poured each of them coffee from a stained thermos. Lucy could see Gyssell's hand shaking as she poured. The coffee smelled odd and looked cloudy with fatty cream. Lucy brought the nauseating concoction to her lips but only pretended to drink.
"Gracias, Señora Sandoval." Burch attempted the charming angle but didn't touch the greasy-looking brew.
Doesn't help that you made that sound like "grassy ass." Your Spanish sucks, but at least it's sincere.
Gyssell smirked quickly, visibly relaxed and sunk down onto one of the metal kitchen chairs.
Burch, you sly dog. Pretending to be all incompetent. Maybe Gabe's charm isn't the only way to gain people's confidence.
Gyssell took a long indulgent drink from her cup. Lucy finally placed the odd smell as the slightly alcoholic sweetness of Irish cream.
Not exactly on the wagon, Gyssell. DCFS can figure that out on their own. I've got Werebeasts and gangbangers to sort out.
A few minutes passed. Gyssell scooted her coffee cup around, and fussed with the baby's brown curls. Lucy heard the kitchen clock tick away the seconds, the occasional coo from the baby in the playpen and a deep snore — Anita's most likely — echo from the back bedroom.
Momentarily Lucy flashed back to Bear County. Hanna had taken her when she was six. They'd ridden the teacups for hours and then picnicked in Frontierland. She'd laughed hysterically as only little kids can at the hidden snoring bears, and Hanna had made up an elaborate story of how they would go hunt for the bears after the park closed. Lucy stifled a smirk.
Burch cleared his throat and shoved a wad of bills across the table towards Gyssell.
If all else fails, I guess. That should speed things up.
Almost instantly Gyssell stopped her fidgeting. She snatched up the cash and stuffed it into her bra. Primly she pulled the front of her robe closed again and hugged the baby. She took a deliberate breath.
"All I know's neighborhood kids is missing after El Gallo's place got tossed. He's around but no one's seen him. East Los is here and there. But they no do nothing." Gyssell's breath caught, and Lucy saw the fear in her eyes return.
"That's not what we're hearing," Lucy pressed. "Where is Memo holed up, Gyssell?"
Gyssell shrugged her narrow shoulders.
"Then who knows?" Lucy looked at the back bedroom.
"Anita went," Gyssell admitted bluntly. "But you gotta promise to help me if I make her tell you. I hear stuff on the news and then my neighbor went lobo last week. He's just this guy one minute. Then he went all crazy and hairy and strong. Tore the shit outta his apartment, screaming and screaming. Some men came with guns — not Memo's boys. Los Choteros. Shot the guy down. Dumped the body in the empty lot. Burned it. We all watched." Gyssell shifted the baby to her hip. "I saw a black truck, the soldier kind, drive around and pick up people. Some turn lobo right then. Some's just regular like me. I'm afraid to leave my house." Gyssell crossed into hysterics. Burch looked helpless and reached out to pat Gyssell's hand.
"Listen," Lucy said and took the baby from Gyssell's arms. "You are doing the right thing here. I can help. I am the only one who can help, but you are going to have to help me. Do you understand, Gyssell?"
The young woman nodded, but Lucy could tell she wasn't convinced. Her eyes were dull, and no energy remained once the wave of hysteria subsided.
"Memo took my man. Yesterday. I don't know where. I don't know what to do. Las Bestias is gonna kill mis niños." Sobbing, Gyssell reached for her infant. Lucy returned the child and looked to Burch, who tipped his chin toward the back.
He's right. We can't coddle her. It's too serious.
Lucy steeled herself for the next move.
Without a word, she sprang from her chair and darted toward the back bedroom. She flung open the door and, seeing only Anita Magaña wrapped in her sheets with a pillow over her face, swooped into the room and pulled down the dusty quilt covering the window. The putrid smell of alcohol infused sweat filled the room.
"Hey, Anita. Wakey, wakey!" Lucy yelled and ripped the pillow from Anita's face. "Stories to tell. Get up!"
Anita screeched and pulled the thin sheet up to her wrinkled neck.
"I have to piss," Anita croaked through extreme cottonmouth.
"Piss on your own time!" Lucy hovered close to Anita's face, regretting it instantly. The woman's breath had the sharp stink of vomit and nicotine. Lucy took a quick step back.
"Get the fuck outta my house you chota whore." Anita spoke slowly as if trying to overcome the slurring. "I know my rights. You got to get out." She unsuccessfully fumbled for the pack of cigarettes on the shoddy nightstand.
"Memo has Xochitl, and you are going to tell me where he's keeping her!" Lucy's words came out harsher than she'd planned, but the sight of Anita made her blood boil. This was the woman Xochitl had had to deal with as a child. Lucy had seen too many of these types of "mothers" — abusive, destructive drunks making their kids' lives hell because of laziness and narcissism. These were the women responsible for the likes of Tuti, Flaco and Memo. These were the women who allowed their children to torture animals and terrorize the weak. This ruin of a person explained in one instant why a woman like Xochitl had ended up with trash like Memo. It spoke volumes that Xochitl was trying to extract herself from the neighborhood and the life. Lucy felt real rage rise in her.
Anita's eyes could barely focus, but for a heartbeat she leaned in and looked straight at Lucy. With a sharp intake of air, Anita shrank away, huddled closer to the wall like a hurt animal and mumbled, "Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos santificado sea tu nombre—"
"Cut that out," Lucy interrupted. In that moment Lucy realized how scared Anita looked and how pathetic. She also knew that given an inch, Anita would lie and wheedle and give her nothing. "You're going to tell me where Memo is. You're going to tell me now. If not for Xochitl, do this for Miguel."
Invoking Miguel's name shifted Anita's fear to deep sorrow.
"Miguel hates me." She nearly choked on her own tears. Lucy waited, listening to Gyssell in the kitchen curse Burch out in Spanish.
Guess we've overstayed our welcome.
Lucy couldn't care less. These women were the key to locating Memo and Xochitl.
"Okay, listen." Lucy took another run at convincing Anita. "Memo wants to hurt Xochitl. And what would hurt Xochitl more than Miguel being hurt? I bet Memo is using Miguel to get to Xochitl. So, if you know where Miguel is, tell me. I can help."
Anita let out a defeated sigh. "El Gallo's got a warehouse in North Hollywood. The address. I wrote it in my matchbook."
Lucy snatched the matches from the nightstand and folded back the small cover. She could make out an address in shaky handwriting.
7041 Vineland, North Hollywood
"Burch, we're leaving!" Lucy turned away from Carlos Magaña's widow, shutting away any trace of sympathy.
You made your bed.
Chapter 13
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Xochitl and Lucy raced outside the convenience store and were met by loud banging as if something was throwing itself against the steel frame of the horse rig.
Travis!
"We gotta get the rig away from the gas pumps!" Lucy yelled over the racket. "And quick...before someone calls the cops."
"Or the Catchers," Xochitl added, and they looked at each other sharing an "oh, shit" moment.
"Quick, keys!" Xochitl cupped her hands and caught the rooster key chain. "I thought he was supposed to stay sedated!" She made a beeline to El Gallo.
"Guess the trip took too long," Lucy said, running around the front of the Toronado.
Travis was working hard to rip his cage apart, and the pounding the horse rig was taking reverberated through El Gallo and into Xochitl.
"¡Hijo de puta!" Xochitl revved the engine and pulled the car forward, away from the gas pump island.
She threw El Gallo into park, turned off the ignition and shoved the keys into her pocket. The car rocked with the turbulence of an out-of-balance washing machine, tossing Xochi from side to side. She reached for the door handle but couldn't grab it.
"Lucy! I...can't...get...out!" Xochitl pounded her fists on the window, panicked.
Lucy yanked the door open and pulled Xochitl out of the car. She lost her balance and stumbled, but Lucy's grip kept her from hitting the pavement.
"We gotta tranq him again," Lucy said, a look of dread plastered on her face.
It was hard enough catching Travis with four people.
Xochi choked back the bile rising in her throat and nodded.
Her hands trembled as she removed the keys once more from her pocket and wobbled unsteadily to the back of the Toronado.
For the moment, El Gallo's rocking had waned, and Travis' relentless banging had ceased.
"Finally," Lucy said with a sigh.
Gripping her right
hand with her left, Xochitl steadied herself and unlocked the trunk. Inside she saw Rollins' modified tranq gun lying next to their green duffel of weapons. She looked over to Lucy who shrugged as if to say "I couldn't help myself." Xochi shook her head and tossed the tranq gun to her partner before selecting the smaller pistol tranq. She also grabbed her Remington and a few extra shells.
Just in case.
"Looks like we've got an audience." Lucy nodded to a small group of people gathered by the gas pump — a cook, a waitress, a couple of truckers and Todd, who had his cell phone out.
No doubt recording tonight's entertainment.
"Great." Xochitl set the shotgun on El Gallo's trunk and loaded her tranq gun.
As she and Lucy made their way to the back of the rig, the horse truck suddenly lifted a foot off the ground and slammed down on the cement with an enormous crack.
"Crap! The axle!" Xochi slapped her hands to her head.
As the spectators ran for cover, Xochitl and Lucy darted to the back of the trailer, guns locked and loaded.
Lucy stood a short distance away from the rig, her modified tranq gun aimed at the doors.
Setting the Remi on the pavement, Xochitl carefully and quietly unlocked the latch.
"On three." She held up three fingers and silently counted. "One...Two...Three."
Xochitl hoisted the latch, threw open the trailer door and ran back to Lucy.
Were Travis' eyes glowed an absinthe green though the darkness.
Lucy fired.
The dart hit its target. Travis reared up, howled ferociously and slammed against the trailer wall.
"Shit," Lucy whispered. "I think I got him."
"You did." Taking point, her tranq pistol aimed, Xochitl inched slowly forward in an effort to see where Travis had fallen.
Over her shoulder a light shone into the trailer, and she heard Lucy yell, "NO!"
Time slowed for Xochitl. Were Travis' eyes glowed florescent green as he charged toward her. All she saw was a giant Beast with tan fur leap through the air. Xochitl let off round after round until her pistol clicked empty.
A single shot suddenly rang out. Were Travis flew backward into the trailer.
The Werewolf Whisperer (The Werewolf Whisperer Series Book 1) Page 16