A call to the state Franchise Tax Board on Dabson came up empty. But a brief chat with a helpful clerk at the county assessor brought a smile to his face.
“
A dive back into NCIC came up empty.
I said, “‘Trammel’ means ‘to hinder.’”
“Building word power every day.” He phoned Sean to check on the toss of the Brentwood house.
Empty, clean, no cars in the garage.
As he shut his eyes and leaned back, something caught my eye at the edge of a strip mall near Orange Drive.
“Rise and shine.” I pointed.
He jerked upright. “Pull over.”
CHAPTER 32
This time Tasha ran.
“Oh, great,” said Milo, as she ducked off Santa Monica onto Orange and veered into an alley.
He jumped out of the car and I circled the block to Mansfield. When I got to the mouth of the alley, Tasha was racing toward me, skinny-legged sprint easily outstripping Milo ’s openmouthed lumber.
Shoes in hand, panty hose shredding.
Milo ’s arms churned air. His face was crimson.
Tasha looked back at him, picked up speed. Saw me. Looked back again. Stumbled.
She went down hard on her back, purse landing just out of reach from a splayed arm.
As she got to her feet, Milo caught up, sucking air. He flipped her over, did a quick frisk and cuff, snarled a command not to move. Snagging the purse, he dumped the contents. Tissues, condoms, cosmetics, and a packet of Oreos landed on the asphalt. Then a clatter as a pearl-handled straight razor slid out.
Still panting, Milo stomped the weapon hard, ground pearl into dust. Hauled Tasha up hard.
“Idiot,” he said.
She grew limp in his grasp. Her face crumpled. Bits of gravel clung to her pancake veneer.
She began working up a smile.
Milo ’s snarl killed that. He put her in the back of the car, used the seat belt for further confinement.
This time he got in front.
Tasha jangled the cuffs. “You can take these off. I won’t run, sir. I promise, sir.”
“Open your mouth again” – pant pant – “and I’ll hogtie you.” To me: “ Hollywood station.”
“Sir, that’s not necessary!”
Milo strained so hard for oxygen that his bulk rose off the seat.
I drove.
Tasha said, “Least it’s a nice ride. Love these old Caddy-lackers. What was it, confiscated from some-”
“Shut the hell
“Sorry. Sir.”
“Are you
Five blocks from Wilcox Avenue: “Sir, don’t get mad but you’re still breathing hard. You sure you’re okay?”
“Why the hell did you rabbit?”
“I got scared.”
“Did we hurt you the first time?”
“No, but…”
“But
Silence.
Milo said, “God forbid you should miss a trick.
“A girl’s got to make a living.”
“You’re not gonna
“Someone got cut?”
“You really
Long silence. “You’re not saying Tony?”
“You’re ready for
“Tony got
Milo said, “Quite the opposite.”
“You mean-”
“We’re talking one trick that won’t be giving you any repeat business.”
“Omigod, ohsweetlord-”
“It happened right after he saw you,” said Milo. “We’re figuring someone was watching besides us.”
“What’s that, your owl imitation?”
“Think ugly suit and seamed stockings.”
“You know something about him we don’t?”
“No, sir, no…”
“But?”
“I just never knew someone who… did that.”
“All those years on the street?” said Milo. “Spare me the innocence.”
“I seen fights, sir. Seen a man beat another man to death over a wrong look. Seen people all doped up, losing their lives ’cause a… seen plenty of badmen, sir, but no, not that, never something like that…”
“Not what?”
“Something… all controlled.”
“How do you know it was controlled?”
“Wannaboos,” said Tasha. “It’s all about the game. Tony didn’t do nothing to nobody, right?”
“Why not?”
“Tony was weak, there was no anger in him, just sadness.”
“You’re right about one thing,” said Milo. “This was
“I don’t wanna
“Fine, but we
“Nothing else, I swear, nothing.”
Milo turned to me: “This is not going well, pard.”
Tasha said, “Just what I
“How many parties have you been to with Tweed?”
“Just that one.”
“Why not more?”
Silence.
“What was the problem?” said Milo.
“It’s not a place I gone to again.”
“That’s no answer.”
