L A Woman

The cat skull was still attached. They hit a bump and Meat’s head jerked off the gurney. I smiled. Two police cruisers showed up and the officers talked to people in the parking lot, and then went inside. There were also a half-dozen vehicles cruising the area and everyone in them was talking on their cell phones. Twice I watched Ajax talking on his as he drove by, with John Wesley in the passenger seat. Neither one looked happy.

The police left, and when I thought things had settled down enough, I walked along Wilshire to Archie’s Corvette.

The first thing I saw was that the trunk was sprung. I hurried to it and looked inside. The MAVs were missing.

CHAPTER 18

I underestimated Berenko. He’d known I was driving Archie’s Corvette, and had popped the trunk sometime after I parked it on Wilshire. I also knew that he would have an inside man run the plates to give him my friend Archie’s name and home address. Berenko probably knew where everyone I cared about lived and worked.

“Way to go smart guy,” I said to myself. My move today put every friend I had in danger, not to mention putting the MAVs in criminal hands. I had delivered the weapons on a plate to Berenko.

As I drove, I call

ed CIA Agent Harris.

Harris said, “You were at the Page Museum today, weren’t you?”

“Yes, and Berenko got the MAVs.”

“Shit! Damn it Baca, I told you-“

“I know, but you need to do everything you can to find Berenko before he gets those things out of the city.”

Harris was quiet for a few seconds, “Yeah. I’ll put out BOLO’s with all the agencies and we’ll blanket the airports and marinas and major highways out of town and anything else I can think of.”

“Good,” I said.

Harris said, “You’re up shit creek on this.”

“I know. Catch Berenko, then come get me. I’ll be around.”

“I will.”

I drove the Corvette to Gaylord’s shop so they could repair the trunk.

Gaylord said, “Holy crap, Baca, do you ever drive a car that you don’t damage? Not that I’m complaining. All your business let me and my wife sign up for that world cruise we’ve always wanted.”

I was feeling really bummed out, “Can you fix it and drop it off with Archie? I’ll pay.”

“Sure, I can get it to Arch.”

I looked at him and made a small cough. “Do you think you might have…?”

“Oh, Ohhhh! You want another loaner. I shoulda known.” Gaylord shook his head, “Okay, since you’re so good for business.” He tossed me some keys and said, “The GTO’s in back. You wreck it, don’t bother bringing it back, just go ahead and hang yourself from the nearest tree.”

I drove the GTO to the office and started to unlock the door when I noticed it was already unlocked. Inside, Jett stood behind Hondo, reworking a white bandage on his head while he sat at his desk loading bullets into clips for his pistol.

She stopped and came around the desk, put her arms around my neck and kissed me on the lips. “You are one amazing guy,” she said.

I pointed at Hondo, “How about him? Should I start calling him Lazarus?”

Hondo said, “It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”

“Sure,” I said, “having a blade of steel stuck in your back, that’s nothing.”

“It caught on my ribs. Went in less than an inch.”

I touched my own head and said, “And your noggin?”