“Do you have any contact with Isaiah?”
“Never inside. But outside on the streets, if we meet up, we speak.”
“Do you know if Isaiah is involved with the Pirus now?”
“He used to lay pretty low on the outside—in prison too, for that matter. If called on, he’d do what he had to do, but he was no leader or anything. The word is things are different now.”
“Different how?”
“They say he’s done something that moved him up.”
“Like killed a judge, maybe?” JP asked.
Brandon shrugged but made no response, leaving JP wondering if he didn’t know or just wouldn’t say.
Chapter 27
Sabre pulled into the Seaport Village parking lot and found a spot in the second row almost directly in front of Upstart Crow. She hesitated, wondering why she was doing this. She hated the discomfort of new relationships, but this wasn’t going anywhere anyway. He would be here for a few days and then he’d be gone. After all, it was just a cup of coffee. Like Clint said, “I’m not askin’ you to marry me. Just want to break a few breadsticks.” She smiled at the thought of his comment. At least he had a sense of humor.
She stepped out of the car and walked into Upstart Crow. She looked around and didn’t see Clint. Then she glanced at the time on her phone. It read 3:59. She should’ve been a few minutes late. She looked too eager. She considered turning around and leaving before he got there. If he called her again she’d tell him something came up and she couldn’t call because she didn’t have his number. Just as she turned to go, Clint stepped inside the front door.
“Nice place. Got here about fifteen minutes ago. Just been looking around. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“No, I just arrived.”
He placed his hand lightly on her shoulder and guided her toward the coffee counter, then removed his hand and lowered his arm. He ordered a large, black, house-blend coffee. Sabre got her usual decaf mocha with non-fat milk. He paid for both, as well as for a little bag labeled “Duck Food” that sat in a basket on the counter. They walked out back where a few tables and chairs gathered on the patio.
“We can sit here and watch the ducks,” Clint said. “What do you think?”
“Perfect,” Sabre said, as she looked toward the ducks. The temperature was seventy-two degrees, the air was still, and the sun was reflecting off the small pond. A wooden walkway formed a bridge over the water.
Clint set his coffee mug down on a table, pulled a chair out for Sabre to use, and then laid the bag of “Duck Food” on the table next to his cup. “San Diego is a beautiful city. Is your weather always this nice?”
“Most of the time. What’s it like in Texas?” Before he could answer, she added, “What part of Texas are you from, anyway?”
“Dallas. I’m afraid I’m a big-city cowboy, but a Texan just the same,” he said. “Have you lived here all your life?”
“Yes, I was born and raised here. Not in the city, though. We lived in the Poway area and there wasn’t much there when I was growing up. The town itself only incorporated a few years before I was born.”
“Any siblings?”
“Just one brother. How about you?”
“Two sisters. I was the youngest and the only boy, and I was quite spoiled according to my sisters. But now it seems I’m the one they call whenever there’s trouble. I don’t mind. I’d do anything for either one of them. Love ‘em both more than all of Texas.” He sipped his coffee. “Does your brother live here in San Diego?”
“No. He has moved on.” Sabre couldn’t explain where he really was and she didn’t want to talk about it. Their conversation felt like a game of ping-pong, both giving short answers. She decided to ask a more open-ended question. “So, what was life like growing up in Texas?”
“Texas is hot and muggy much of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Texas. But your weather and the ocean almost make me want to move here. My sister’s been bragging about it for years.”
“How is your sister, by the way?”
“‘Bout the same, I guess. Sarajean was told by the social worker not to see her boyfriend, but she is anyhow. I think I may be making the situation worse, though.”
“How’s that?”
“I don’t think her boyfriend would dare to do anything while I’m here and so my sister is thinking he’s changed. I’m afraid once I leave, all hell will break loose.”
“You’re probably right. And her children won’t be returned to her if she doesn’t do what the court orders.”
“Wish she would call you. Or maybe we should give her the number for that other feller, the one who was with you in the bar. That way, we wouldn’t be mixing business with pleasure.” He grinned at Sabre and gave her a quick wink. “I noticed that lawyer wore a wedding ring. You two just friends, right?”
“Yes, we’re very good friends.”
“Is he your law partner or something?”
“No, I’m a sole practitioner.”
“You work all alone? No investigator or anything?”
“I hire an independent private investigator for a lot of my work.”
“Always thought that would be an exciting job. Considered doin’ it myself for a while. Was never quite sure how to go about getting started, though. What does he do for you? I mean, how does it work exactly?”
“When I have a case I need more information on, I give it to JP and tell him what I’m concerned about, and then he interviews witnesses, does a lot of research online, and writes a report for me. He was a detective with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department for many years so he has a lot of experience.” Sabre set her near empty cup down. “So, what is it you do for work back in Texas, Clint?”
“Construction mostly. I like working with my hands and I enjoy the outdoors. Not much for being cooped up. Figured an investigator doesn’t spend much time inside, but the way you describe it, I might just be wrong. Guess I’ll stick to what I know.”
Sabre finished her coffee and pushed the cup forward on the table. “I should be going.”
Clint picked up the bag on the table. “Not before we feed the ducks.”
“Of course. We have to feed the ducks.”
They walked onto the little bridge. Three ducks floated around as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Clint opened the bag and then handed it to Sabre. “Go ahead,” he said.
Sabre tossed a few pellets from the package into the water. One duck swam immediately to the food. The other two followed when they saw what he was after, quacking as they approached. Before the next pellet hit the water, four more ducks had appeared. Before the food was gone, Sabre had created quite a frenzy in the water. One of the smaller ducks couldn’t seem to get his share. Sabre tried tossing it closer to him, but a larger, quicker duck snatched it up. She continued to throw the pellets at him, but she ran out before she was successful.
“Want me to get some more for the little guy?” Clint asked.
Sabre smiled. “No, I’m sure he isn’t going to starve.” She looked up and saw the sun starting to set on the water. “And I really need to be on my way.” She took a step forward.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Thank you.”
His bright smile flashed across his face. “It’s a selfish motive. Just my way of spending a few more minutes with you.”
When they reached Sabre’s car he opened her door for her. “I’ll call you soon, if that’s alright with you.”
Sabre was pleased that he made no attempt to kiss her. She nodded. “That would be fine.”
Chapter 28
The Tran Case
Child: Emma, age 18 mos. (F)
Parents: Father—unknown, Mother—Kim-Ly Tran
Issues: Neglect
Facts: Mother left eighteen-month-old girl in locked room and went to work. Apartment complex caught on fire.
“Thanks for coming with me,” JP said to Bob, as they sat down at a table in the dim light of Muff
s.
“We’re at a strip bar and you’re buying the beer and the lap dance. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
“I just hope your wife doesn’t kill me for it.”
“Marilee’s a good sport. She’s not upset at you.”
“So, you told her?”
“Are you crazy? Of course not. That’s how I know she won’t be upset. Of course, if she does find out, I’ll blame it all on you.”
“Of course you will.”
The waitress came to the table wearing denim short shorts, a low-cut blouse with more than ample cleavage, and four-inch heels. Bob ordered a tap beer and JP ordered a Corona.
“You know you can’t question Kim-Ly, right?” Bob said.
“I know. That’s why I made sure we came when she wasn’t here. At least she’s not scheduled to be here. I called earlier acting as if I wanted to see her dance and they told me she was off today. I thought we’d ask around and see what we can find out about her.”
“What’s this ‘we,’ Kemo Sabe?”
“If you’re going to have a lap dance, you may as well ask some questions.”
“And ruin the moment? Not a chance.”
JP looked around. “It seems pretty slow in here. I wonder if it’s an unusual night or if it’s always like this.”
“I wouldn’t know. I don’t generally frequent strip bars. They tend to overcharge for beers, especially imported ones, and I don’t see any point in looking at something you can’t touch.”
“Am I getting old or do these girls all look really young?” JP asked.
“They are young and yes, you are getting old.”
“I’m going to go snoop around.” JP stood up and walked to another area of the bar where three working girls, two blondes and a red-head, were standing around. He approached the bleached blonde with a purple streak in her hair.
“Got a minute?” he asked.
“Sorry, Sweetie, but I’m on stage in about thirty seconds. Come see me after my dance.”
JP waited for a few minutes to see if either of the other two girls was leaving. Then he approached the redhead, whom he guessed to be about thirty years old, considerably older than the rest.
“Can I talk to you for a few minutes?”
“Are you a cop?”
“No, I’m not.”
“If you want to pay for a lap dance, we can talk then.”
JP pulled out two twenty-dollar bills from his wallet and held them out in front of him. The redhead snatched it from his fingers and stuffed it into her skirt pocket. “This way,” she said and led him to an area somewhat secluded from the main bar where she pointed to a chair. A moment after he sat down, the redhead planted her stiletto heel on the corner of the chair.
“What’s your name?” JP asked.
“Ginger.” She started to lower her body toward JP’s lap.
“You don’t need to dance. I just want to ask a few questions.”
She sighed. “What?”
“How well do you know, Kim-Ly?”
“You mean, Lotus. Why do you want to know?” she asked, and continued to descend toward his lap. She moved her hips around in a circular motion.
JP reached out his hands to halt the motion, but stopped before he reached her waist, remembering that the rules didn’t allow any physical contact. “You really don’t need to dance. I’m paying you to chat. I’m an investigator and we’re trying to help Kim-Ly, er, Lotus.” JP didn’t want to mention the daughter in case it wasn’t public knowledge in the bar.
“Is she in trouble with the law?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“With the custody case, then?”
JP was a little surprised, but he didn’t show it. “What do you know about that?”
She stopped gyrating, brought her leg down from the chair, and said, “I just know that CPS has taken her kid. They think because you dance for a living in a strip joint, you can’t be a good mother.” She sounded bitter as if she had some personal experience in the matter. JP didn’t pry.
“How long have you known her?”
“She came to work here about a year and a half ago, shortly after her baby was born. But I don’t really know her very well. She’s very quiet. She comes to work, does what she has to do, and leaves.”
“Have you ever seen her with her daughter?”
“No.” Ginger scowled. “She’d never bring her baby here.” Then she added, “You may want to talk with Star. She knows her better than I do.”
“Which one is Star?”
“The blonde I was talking to when you walked up. Stay here. I’ll send her to you.”
“Thanks.”
Ginger left and Star, a voluptuous blonde, appeared within a couple of minutes. The hair appeared to be natural, her breasts not so much. JP removed the cash from his wallet for the dance.
“Ginger said you were paying to talk.”
“That’s correct. I want to know what you can tell me about Lotus.”
Star reached out her hand for the money before she answered. “She’s young, she minds her own business, and she goes home to her kid. Or at least she did until the social worker snatched her away. Personally, I’d be glad. I wouldn’t want to try to raise a kid if I was that young.”
“That’s the second time you said how young she is. Do you know her age?”
“No, but she sure ain’t no twenty-one as she claims.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Have you seen her? All those Asian girls look young, but she even acts young. She used to bring her teddy-bear backpack with her until Snake, that’s the boss, made her leave it at home. She tried to claim it was her daughter’s, but it was old and worn like she’d had it for a while and the baby was just a newborn.”
“Do you know anything about her family or friends outside of work?”
“No, we’re not, like, friends or anything. You should talk to Blossom. She spends more time with her than anyone.”
JP started to think he was being duped. Each girl passed him on to another, probably just to get the money. Either none of them really knew anything, or they were dividing the information up between them so he had to pay more. His hands were tied either way. He waited for Star to send Blossom.
She appeared within a minute or two. Each dancer seemed younger than the one before. Convinced Blossom was jailbait, JP made certain she didn’t get too close. He didn’t want to accidentally touch her.
He handed her forty dollars and asked, “How well do you know Lotus?”
“We’re good friends,” she said. She spoke so softly that JP had to strain to hear her. “And I wouldn’t talk to you at all except I don’t want her hurt.”
“Do you think she’s in danger?”
She wrinkled her brow. “What do you want?”
“I want to know anything about Lotus that might help her reunite with her daughter.”
“And if she doesn’t want to?”
“Has she told you that?”
Blossom raised her voice. “I thought you were here to help her.” She walked away before JP could ask her anything else.
JP rejoined Bob at the table.
“How’d it go?” Bob asked.
JP took a drink of his warm beer. “I have more questions than answers.” He set his bottle down. “You want a lap dance?”
“You’re not my type.”
JP shook his head.
Bob finished his nearly empty glass of beer in one swig and stood up. He took a quick look at the girl on stage. “Not really,” he said, and they left.
Chapter 29
The Durham Case
Child: Matt Durham, Defendant
Type: Delinquency case
Charges: Two counts of First Degree Murder
Victims: Hannah Rawlins & Mason Usher
Facts: Double homicide. Two teenagers bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat.
Sabre read through the Durham file again. She tried to think of this young man as an i
nnocent child, but the look on his face when he saw the photo of Hannah’s body haunted her. She couldn’t come up with any way to spin that even in her own mind. Dr. Heller’s assessment only reinforced what Sabre had witnessed herself. She had to concentrate on protecting his rights. No matter what he had done, Matt still deserved the best defense. It wasn’t her place to judge him. She would present the best case she could for him. That’s all she could do. She shivered.
Sabre took a deep breath. Things weren’t always what they seemed. Even if the kid did get some kind of perverse pleasure out of seeing the photo didn’t mean he was the one to kill Hannah and Mason. Maybe it was the shock from seeing dead people that made him react so strangely. She knew she had to go forward in that mindset or she wouldn’t be able to think clearly. After all, Matt claimed his bat was stolen and if it was, then how could he have committed the murders?
She read through JP’s report again. She looked at the time. Baseball practice would start soon. Then she picked up her file, stood up, and walked to her car. If she hurried she could make it to the school before practice started. Maybe she could discover something that JP had missed.
Sabre watched the boys walk onto the baseball field. She took a seat in the bleachers. A young man hobbled up on crutches and sat down on the same bench, leaving space between them.
“What happened?” Sabre asked, glancing at the foot he had been favoring as he approached.
“I slid into second base, the base dislodged, and I jammed my foot against the metal pole that holds it in the ground.”
“Sorry,” Sabre said. “Is it broken?”
“No, just sprained, but I can’t practice until it heals.”
Sabre looked out onto the field. “Which one is Coach Arviso?”
“He’s not there. Not sure where he is. It must be important, though, because he doesn’t miss many practices.”
After several minutes of small talk, Sabre asked, “Who do you think is the best hitter on the team?”
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