lineage as I worked my way past the gate, and past the front door, and into the courtyard of his vast white-stucco- and-red-tile home, into the presence of Vincent del Rio.
'Senor Spenser,' he said.
Del Rio was wearing a white suit today with a crimson silk shirt open at the neck.
I said, 'Jefe.'
Del Rio smiled and sipped from a glass of iced tea. Bobby Horse was leaning against the courtyard wall with his thick arms folded. He nodded at me. I nodded back. Chollo was there, seated with del Rio under an olive tree, at a round, red wood table with a brick-colored tile top. They were playing chess. Chollo was as he had been, still medium height and slender, with his long hair in a ponytail. Even seated, he managed to look languid, which he wasn't. On the table were a pitcher of iced tea and a dish of sliced lemons, several glasses, and the chessboard.
'Sit down,' del Rio said.
I sat between him and Chollo.
Chollo said, 'Amigo.'
I said, 'Chollo.'
'You want some iced tea?' del Rio said.
'Gracias.'
'Cut the crap,' del Rio said. 'What do you want?'
He had no trace of an accent.
'Two sugars, some lemon.'
Chollo pushed the pitcher over toward me.
'Help yourself,' del Rio said.
I fixed myself up some iced tea and took a sip.
'Mango,' I said. 'Very good.'
Nobody said anything. Del Rio folded his hands across his stomach and leaned back in his chair. He looked sort of stagy, like an Anglo playing a Mexican, with a Pancho Villa moustache and his dark hair slicked back.
'Family okay?' I said.
'Yes, my daughter is married now and lives in La Jolla.'
'You approve?' I said.
'If I did not, it would not have happened.'
'Husband in your business?' I said.
'No. He is a marine biologist.'
'Does he know your line of work?' I said.
'He did not marry me,' del Rio said. 'You have business with me?'
A small fountain made a soft falling-water sound in one corner.
'I need two favors.'
'Perhaps you're confused,' del Rio said. 'This is not Travelers Aid.'
'One, I'm interested in a guy named Tannenbaum,' I said.
Del Rio looked up from his chessboard.
'Really?' he said. 'Why?'
'A guy who works for him threatened to beat me up the other night on Olympic Boulevard.'
'And?'
'And he didn't,' I said. 'But I'd sort of like to know why.'
'I can see why you would,' del Rio said. 'But why do I care what you'd like?'
'Because I'm a fine person?'
'Do you know the name of the man who threatened to beat you up?'
'Jerome Jefferson,' I said. 'Guy with him called Tino.'
Del Rio shook his head. He looked at Chollo. Chollo shrugged.
We don't know them,' del Rio said.
'Small-time guys,' I said. 'Don't waste the name players on a stiff from Boston.'
Del Rio nodded.
'It is good that you understand your position here,' he said.
'How about Tannenbaum?' I said. 'Is he a name player?'
