Faye Kellerman_Decker & Lazarus 17

by The Mercedes Coffin

  “Fucking A right about that! Why were you interested in talking to me in the first place, Decker?”

  “I was stuck with a cold case. We were routinely interviewing everyone who was interviewed at the time. I told you that the first time we spoke.”

  “Who the fuck remembers? What cold case?”

  “Dr. Bennett Little.”

  “Nobody ever interviewed me for Bennett Little’s murder. I told you, I barely remember it.”

  Decker said, “Well, your name came up somehow. Who the hell knows? We haven’t made any progress on it, so we’re shelving it again. What’s going on inside there, Rudy?”

  “Assholes. A guy can’t even fuck in peace anymore. How the hell did you find me?”

  “Find you?” Decker paused for effect. “I didn’t know you were missing.” A beat. “What’s going on, Rudy? I was rudely awakened from a sound sleep and told to get my ass down here. I’m getting all kinds of conflicting information. I want to hear from you.”

  “Don’t give me that fucking sincere jackass bullshit! What you want is for me to step outside so you can shoot my ass off.”

  “If that’s what you think, don’t step outside.”

  The negotiator was gesticulating like a wild man. Decker looked down at the notepad and promptly passed up his suggestion. “Hey, Rudy, you called me.” A beat. “Talk to me, man. Maybe I can help you.”

  “You tell those motherfucking, asshole pricks that if I go down, I’m going down in a blaze of glory! You fucking assholes don’t know who the hell you’re dealing with!”

  Decker began to improvise. “Rudy, everyone knows who you are. The Doodoo Sluts went platinum, buddy. We all know who we’re dealing with.”

  “Who put you up to this?”

  “To what?”

  “To looking for me?”

  “I told you, Rudy, I wanted to talk to you about Bennett Little. But that case is dead—”

  “You talked to that bitch, didn’t you? Fucking cunt thinks I had something to do with her asshole boyfriend’s death. I was nowhere around! I was at a party.”

  “Which woman are you talking about?”

  “C’mon, c’mon. I don’t like games. You play me for a fucking fool, I fucking blow holes in these bitches’ heads!”

  Decker took a chance. “I don’t know who you mean. Do you mean Melinda Little?”

  “Melinda Little?” A pause. “What does she have to do with it?”

  “I told you, I was working on the Bennett Little case. She’s the only woman I know.”

  “Not Melinda Little. Marilyn Eustis.”

  “Who’s she?”

  “You’re shittin’ me.”

  “No, I’m not. Who is she?”

  “Primo Ekerling’s girlfriend.”

  “Ekerling isn’t my case, Rudy.” Decker hoped his lie was smooth. “It’s Hollywood’s case. The only thing I know about it is what I’ve read in the newspaper. I know you two were business partners, I know you two were bandmates. I had no idea that Hollywood wanted to talk to you.”

  There was a long pause.

  Decker said, “What’s going on, Rudy?”

  “What’s going on is that piece of fat lard shit came after me with a gun! Suddenly I’m surrounded by a bunch of fucking Nazis! What’d I do except try to defend myself!”

  “Rudy, they tell me that the lard ass has been shot. Is that true?”

  “I was trying to defend myself.”

  “I know, and I completely believe you. But if the asshole was shot, it would be good if you sent him out here so the paramedics can take a look at him.”

  “Paramedics, my ass. You fucking assholes want to storm-troop the place.”

  “How about this, Rudy? I’ll stay out on the front lawn with my hands up in the air. You send out Lard Ass while you keep a bead on me. If you think I’m trying to snow you, shoot my head off.”

  “I don’t even know what the fuck you look like?”

  “I’ll be the only one standing in the middle of the lawn with a helmet on my head and my hands in the air.”

  “How can I shoot your head off if you’re wearing a helmet?”

  “Aim for the chest.”

  “You’re probably going to be wearing a bulletproof vest.”

  “Absolutely, I’ll be wearing a bulletproof vest. The point is, you’ll have the gun but I’ll be unarmed. You have the advantage, and I don’t want to die.”

  “And while I’m keeping a bead on you, trying to decide where to plug you, some motherfucking sharpshooter has a bead on me.”

  “Rudy, I have no idea what room you’re phoning from.”

  “And I have no idea where you’re phoning from. I don’t see anyone out there on the phone.”

  “I’m in a police mobile unit. But I have my cell phone. How about this? I’ll walk into the center of the lawn with my helmet and my vest and call you from my cell.”

  “Don’t call me, I’ll call you.” He cut the line.

  The Kevlar vest and a helmet were waiting for him. The vest fit, and although the helmet was a little tight, he could get it over his skull.

  Cressly said, “Try not to get picked off.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “We’ve got guys from all angles—SMPD, LAPD, and our sharpshooters.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Decker thought about being shot, and his mind immediately raced back to the few times he actually had been shot. Banks was a psycho, but on the psycho scale he was nowhere near Hersh Schwartz, and he was universes away from Chris Donatti. He left the van and walked into the middle of the front lawn. Flashbulbs were popping in his face…bursts of light like tracers. When his cell rang, Decker jumped. With shaking hands, he answered the call. “I take it you see me?”

  “Yeah, I see you. You look like you’re ready for Iraq.”

  “I’m just a cautious guy.”

  “Either you’re a real dumb ass or I’m a real dumb ass.”

  “How about if none of us are dumb asses and you let Mr. Lard Ass out.”

  “Your hands aren’t up.”

  Decker wedged the cell between his cheek and his shoulder. Then he raised both hands in the air. “Okay?”

  Rudy didn’t answer.

  “Hello?”

  “I’m still fucking here…as long as the fucking phone company allows my nighttime minutes.”

  The two of them went on for a few more minutes. Decker’s arms began to ache. “I’ve got to put my arms down, Rudy. I’m going to move very slowly. Don’t get any bad ideas.” Bit by bit, he lowered his limbs until they were at his side. His feet were cold and tired, but he soldiered on. “See? I’m still harmless and still talking to you. Open communication. How about letting Lard Ass go?”

  “How about not?”

  They continued to talk for another hour. Decker’s patience was rewarded when Cecil Dobbins came out huffing and puffing, holding his injured arm. Immediately the paramedics went to work.

  Decker said, “That was really smart, Rudy. Really, really smart. Do you mind if I back away?”

  “Afraid I might get Itchy Finger?”

  “The thought occurred to me.”

  “Why do I need you? I’ve got three in here for target practice.” As Decker started to back away, Banks said, “Stay where you are.”

  Decker stopped abruptly. His feet were like two blocks of ice. It had been hot in the Valley, but the beach was always ten to twenty degrees cooler in the summer. His shoulders were throbbing, brought on by the extra weight of the vest, the tension in his muscles, and the chilled saline spray carried over by the ocean breezes.

  Rudy said, “I like seeing you.”

  Decker said, “Fine. I won’t move. I just want to shift positions. My balance is off.”

  “Move slowly. If you make a wrong move, you’re dead.”

  “I hear you.” Decker rocked on his feet until he evened his weight distribution. “Thank you.”


  “You’re welcome.”

  Decker couldn’t believe the bastard had actually said something nice. Rapport, rapport. “So what’s going on?”

  “You fucking tell me.”

  “I wish I knew all the facts. You asked to talk to me, I’m here. You tell me to stand in the middle of the lawn, I do it. You’re in control right now.”

  “Fucking A right about that. You tell Hollywood Police that I had nothing to do with that bastard’s death. I’m glad that he died, but I didn’t kill him.”

  “Not to be dim-witted, but are you talking about Primo Ekerling?”

  “Fuck yeah, I’m talking about Ekerling. They have the guys who did it. Frankly, I’d like to give them a medal. The son of a bitch was a lousy drunk and a real bad bass player. Fucking bunch of no-talents. If it hadn’t been for me, they wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.”

  “Rudy, everyone knows you were the group.” Another twenty minutes passed as Decker continued to praise Banks while Banks swore back in agreement. Finally Decker took a step forward. “We all know you’re a smart guy, Rudy. You let out Lard Ass. That was smart. Be smart again and let someone else go. Why bother with three bitches when it’s easier to keep an eye out on only one.”

  “’Cause in case one escapes, I got one for backup.”

  “Okay, so let one of them go.”

  “Which one?”

  “You decide.”

  There was sudden noise in the background, women screaming. Decker’s heart was doing a steeplechase, and it took all his nerve not to rush the building. Since he didn’t hear any guns firing in the background, he willed himself to stand still. Five minutes later, a naked young woman came running out of the building, holding a shirt against her chest to cover her breasts. Immediately, she was scooped up by the waiting paramedics.

  One down and two to go. Decker said, “That was really smart, Rudy. You keep being smart, I’m going to get you out of this mess.”

  “Don’t fucking bullshit me!”

  “I’m going to do my best.”

  “Start by telling all those cops to get the hell out of here. Once they’re gone, I’ll come out. Then we’ll talk, just you and me.”

  “I can probably get them to back off a little.”

  “Not back off. I want the motherfuckers to leave!”

  “They’re not going to do that. Not until you send out the hostages. Once you do that, I can probably get them out of here.”

  “If I send out the bitches, they’re going to fucking rush me. I can stay holed up a long time, Decker. I got food, I got women. I’m an independent kind a guy.”

  He had to sleep, Decker thought. Some time within the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours, his adrenaline was going to deplete, and fatigue was going to get the better of him. He said, “I’m not rushing you. You tell me what you want, I’ll try to get it done.”

  “I want the fucking circus out of here!”

  “I can get the news vans away. The paramedics are going to stay. So will the fire trucks.”

  “I’m not burning anything down.” Decker didn’t answer. Banks said, “Get the cops out of here.”

  “Let me see what I can do. I’m going to back away from the house, Rudy. I have to talk to people if you want me to get it done. It might take a little time. Call me if you have questions, okay?”

  “Okay.” Rudy cut the line.

  Decker backed away until he was out of range, then he ran into the police van. He took his helmet off and rubbed his aching temples. “My feet are freezing, and I’ve got a monster headache. I need a thick pair of socks, Advil, and some caffeinated coffee. I’ve got to get back.”

  Cressly handed him a bigger helmet and said, “Get the lieutenant what he needs.”

  “Thank you.” Decker tried on his new head protection. Much better. “Banks wants the heat to back off. Make a show of doing something while I think of my next move. Any advice?”

  Ellenshaw said, “No advice. You’re doing fine.”

  Cressly said, “We’ll try to pull as many cars off as we can, but we don’t want to leave you naked in the wind.”

  “Just do something to give me some credibility.” Decker downed the tablets and poured himself a giant cup of coffee.

  A few minutes later, Cressly got off the phone with SMPD. He said, “We’re taking away some of the visible units. He’s not stupid, though. He’ll know we’re still out there.”

  “Yeah, but sometimes seeing is believing.” Decker had wolfed down two muffins and had chugged two cups of coffee. He tightened the chinstrap of his helmet and adjusted the bulletproof protection across his heart. In addition, he had put on a double-ply pair of gym socks and a bomber jacket. He was sweating. “I should be getting back.”

  “Good luck,” Cressly told him.

  “Thanks.”

  Decker jogged back out to the front of the lawn as black-and-whites began to retreat from the front of the house. Five minutes later, his cell rang. “Decker.”

  “That’s the best you can do? There’s still a fucking army out there! Lemme count…one, two, three, four, five…I count at least a half-dozen cars in my sight. I know they’ve probably got about twenty surrounding the place.”

  “What’s the least amount of cop cars you can deal with?”

  “None.”

  “How about two?”

  “Start with two.”

  A half hour later, two lone cruisers sat in front of the Sand Dune. Decker said, “I did what I could for you, Rudy. How about showing some good faith and letting another gal loose?”

  It took another half hour of prodding for a second naked woman to emerge from the seedy motel.

  Two down, one to go. “That was smart, Rudy.”

  “I was a fucking moron to let her go. As soon as the last bitch is out of my hands, I’m dead.”

  “Rudy, I know you’re going to think that what I’m saying is pure bullshit, but no one wants to shoot you.” Decker paused. “What if I come in and the three of us go out together?”

  “I’m a fucking moron but not that big of a fucking moron.”

  “What’s making you nervous?” Decker asked. “I’ll strip down buck naked so you can see that I’m not hiding weapons.”

  “How many snipers do you have out there, Decker?”

  “I’ll walk in front of you. They won’t shoot me to get to you.” Decker raised his eyes. “At least I hope they won’t do that!” No answer. “I’m just trying to make this as easy as I can. But if you want, you can hole out there for as long as you want.”

  “Fucking A right about that!”

  The next hour was chitchat. It was a little past three in the morning. Despite the socks, Decker’s feet remained cool if not cold and ached like hell from standing so long. The rest of his body was bathed in sweat. Exhaustion was overtaking him, and he had to fight to keep awake and alert. Finally, he said, “Rudy, you can stay where you are as long as you want, but I’m going to need some sleep.”

  “So lie down and go to sleep.”

  Decker said, “Let me come in there, and we’ll all go out together. You put the girl in front of you, I’ll walk behind. We’ll surround you until we get you safe and sound.”

  “And arrested.”

  “If all you did was shoot Lard Ass in self-defense, the only thing you’ll be charged with is illegal possession of a firearm.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I’ll guarantee it,” Decker said.

  “You don’t have that kind of power!”

  “I got the cops pulled back, didn’t I?”

  “I’m not a fucking moron; you don’t have that kind of power.”

  Decker repeated himself. “If all you did was shoot Lard Ass in self-defense, we can only charge you with illegal possession of a firearm. Can you live with that?”

  “Of course, I could live with that, but you assholes are going to charge me with attempted murder.”

  “You shot him in the arm, Rudy. Not the chest, not the head, not the
stomach. In the arm. Every one of us knows you weren’t aiming to kill.”

  It took time to convince Rudy of Decker’s sincerity, but he finally agreed to some kind of surrender plan. More time passed as Banks went back and forth on how to handle giving himself up.

  First Decker had to take off his bomber jacket and strip down to his vest. Then Banks told Decker to take off his shoes, show his ankles, and turn his pants pockets inside out. He managed to sneak a glance at his illuminated watch. It was almost five in the morning. The sun would be up within the hour.

  Banks said, “I’m taking the bitch down to the lobby. I’ll tell you when you can come in.”

  “You’ve got it.” He waited over the line as he heard a female voice plead for her life. She was sobbing and mewing and Decker wished she would just shut up. He didn’t want Banks to become unnerved. Finally, Rudy’s voice came through his cell. “You can come in. Do it slowly.”

  Decker inched his way into the dark lobby. As his eyes adjusted, he saw the woman first, then the gun at her head, then someone taller in back. Curly dark hair with burning eyes. A square chin and high cheekbones. The same Rudy Banks he had seen on the Web, but with the look of a feral animal.

  Rudy talked softly. His voice was surprisingly calm. “I just thought of something. If you’re in back of me, what’s stopping you from jumping me?”

  “I won’t jump you. But if that plan makes you nervous, let the girl go and put the gun to my head.”

  “Hard to do when you’re wearing a helmet.”

  “I’m not going to take off the helmet. Let me repeat. You have the gun. I am unarmed.”

  “You’re a big man. As soon as I let her go, you’re going for my gun.”

  “If I was going to charge you, I would have come in with ten sharpshooters. I also know what it feels like to be shot. I’m not anxious to experience it again.”

  “You’ve been shot before?”

  “Twice.” Decker waited to hear his next move.

  No one spoke for what seemed like eternity. Rudy weighed his options.

  “I’m not going to let go of the girl. She’s the only protection I have against getting my head blown off.”