Compulsion

probably get her a position at Harari or one of the places on Rodeo through Royal. He was in garment manufacturing. Owned a huge company that did contract work for some pretty big couture names.”

She played with her unlit cigarette, reached for a white onyx lighter. Milo got there first.

“Katrina’s job,” she said, between puffs, “is a dead-end position. Like every other job she’s held. If you ask me, down deep she thinks she deserves no better because she lacks formal education. She dropped out of high school, finally got her GED, did a semester at Santa Monica Community. The plan was to finish two years and transfer to a UC. Instead she dropped out and worked selling shoes at Fred Segal. They fired her for poor work habits. I told her to make lemonade out of lemons and return to SMC, all she needed was one and a half more years. No go.”

I said, “Sounds like Katrina’s a bit of a rebel.”

“A bit?” Raspy laughter. “Gentlemen, I love my daughter dearly but I do believe that she thinks bucking me is the key to her identity. She was always a difficult child. Colicky baby – face cute as a button but screaming twenty- four hours a day. When that finally ended, she began walking early, was into everything. She always hated school. Even though she’s smart. She can sing, but wouldn’t go out for chorus. Has a lovely figure, could’ve gone out for cheerleading.” She sighed. “Maybe eventually she’ll mature.”

Milo said, “Let’s go back to that night. Katrina went out clubbing with two friends. Beth Holloway and…”

“Rianna something foreign.”

“Which club did they go to?”

“Some dive in West L.A., more like a barn than a bona fide nightclub.”

“You’ve been there?”

“I went over yesterday and talked to some monstrous men – bouncers. Ugly industrial area off Pico – one of those side streets. I also talked to the manager. No one was helpful. They said the place was packed, they have no memory of Katrina or any other specific individual, and there are no security cameras on the premises. Isn’t that stupid, Lieutenant?”

“Not the way I’d run things,” said Milo. “What’s the name of the club?”

“The Light My Fire.”

“As in the song.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you have phone numbers for Beth and Rianna?”

“No, but I can tell you where to find them both. Beth said she sells jewelry at a place near La Femme and Rianna works the cosmetics counter at Barneys.”

“Do you have the name of the jewelry store?”

“Somewhere near Katrina’s work – San Vicente near Barrington. I’d be concerned if this was anyone but Katrina. Even with it being Katrina, I’m getting a bit nervous. What will you do for me, Lieutenant?”

Milo said, “What’s the longest she’s ever been gone?”

“Ten days. Hawaii – she visited all the islands, never called once, came back with the deepest tan I’ve ever seen, you’d think she was a Mexican or something. Another time she spent nine days in Cozumel, some sort of discount special.”

“So this is within her usual pattern.”

“Does that mean you won’t do anything?”

“No, I’ll look into it, ma’am. Did Beth Holloway say how Katrina happened to be separated from her friends?”

“She did after I asked twice. The plan was for Rianna to be the designated driver but they went in Katrina’s car because this Rianna girl’s car was broken. Rianna and Beth got picked up by two men and asked Katrina if it was okay for them to go their separate ways. They claim Katrina was fine with that. That’s the last time they saw her.”

“You have doubts that Katrina was fine with the change?”

“My daughter does not take well to disappointment, Lieutenant. Low frustration tolerance her teachers called it. What concerns me is that she decided to do them one better by meeting a man herself. Then ran off to God- knows-where.”

“Without her passport.”

“If you’re out for fun, you can find it anywhere,” said Monica Hedges. Relaxing her posture for a second, as if reminiscing.

Milo said, “Rianna being the designated driver meant Katrina was drinking that night.”

“And Katrina loves her Long Island Iced Teas. Which is a hodgepodge cocktail, just a kitchen-sink mess that does God-knows-what to your brain. I always tell her stick with the classics, they won’t pollute your mind. Martini or Manhattan, never on the rocks. That way you know how much you’re getting. But try telling Katrina that. To her, anything with fruit liquor and a kick is a Martini.”

“Has she been known to overindulge?”

Monica Hedges shifted her weight. “That has happened from time to time.”

“You’re concerned she might have driven home intoxicated.”

“What if God forbid she had an accident? But I called the highway patrol and they reported nothing on the freeway that night.”

“Is the 405 her customary route home?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Easiest way to get to the Valley, isn’t it?” Frowning. “She used to have a place near the U. that she shared with another girl – some Indian student who hit the books all the time. Which isn’t Katrina’s style, it didn’t last long. Katrina complained that everyone in the building was a student and it made her feel old. I suspect her own lack of education embarrassed her. I was hoping that might motivate her but it didn’t. She wanted her own place, said the rent this side of the hill was too steep. I told her I’d help. She never took me up on my offer, just picked up and moved to Van Nuys. Though she keeps insisting it’s Sherman Oaks. Is that logical, Lieutenant? Turning down a sincere offer?”

“Kids,” said Milo.

Monica Hedges puffed manically. “You didn’t answer my question. What exactly are you going to do for me?”

“What would you like us to do, Mrs. Hedges?”

That startled her. Ashes dropped to the granite floor. “I’d like you to detect where my daughter is. Use that computer you’ve got – tracking airline tickets, credit card receipts, phone usage. Put out one of those APBs.”

“Ma’am, without evidence of a crime, that would be an invasion of Katrina’s privacy.”

“Oh, puleeze,” said Monica Hedges.

“Sorry, ma’am, but that’s the way it is. If she were a minor, it would be different.”

“Psychologically, she’s about fourteen.”

Milo smiled.

“You’re telling me there’s nothing you can do?”

“We’ll do everything we can, legally. That means talking to her friends, stopping by the club-”

“I already did all that.”

“Sometimes repetition helps, ma’am. We’ll also look for her car. Is she still driving the yellow Mustang that’s currently registered to her?”

“Yes, but not for long. I just got a notice that she’s missed the last two payments. That loan I did co-sign for. The agreement was I made the down payment and the payments were to be her responsibility.”

“Give me the finance-company data and I’ll see if it’s been picked up.”

“I did that myself, and no, it hasn’t.”

“Sounds like you’ve accomplished a lot.”

“Want something done well, do it yourself. So that’s all you’re going to do? It doesn’t sound very promising.”

“Let’s start and see where it leads, Mrs. Hedges. Call me anytime if you think of something.”

“Oh, I will, you’d better believe I will.”