“It ain’t healthy dealing in another man’s mix.”
“Who was this message for?”
“The guy sent Kealoha and Logo here.”
“And that would be?”
Atoa appeared as though he were undergoing a change of mind about cooperating. Hung repeated her question.
“Some guy in California.”
“Got a name?”
I was certain static distorted Atoa’s answer.
But Lo and Hung’s shock was obvious.
“Spell that, please,” Hung said.
Atoa did.
My face went hot as the room shrank around me.
I FELT A HAND ON MY SHOULDER.
Looked up.
Two blue eyes mirrored the confusion in mine.
“Did he say Al Lapasa?” Ryan asked.
“That’s what I heard.”
Voices continued buzzing through the speaker.
“Wasn’t the guy in the box at JPAC named Alexander Lapasa?”
I nodded glumly.
“The guy wearing Spider Lowery’s dog tag.”
“It has to be a coincidence.”
“A coincidence the size of Sierra Leone.”
“There must be dozens of Al Lapasas,” I said. “Besides, Atoa is talking about a Samoan from California. Lapasa was Italian, and from Honolulu.”
Ryan and I refocused on the interview. Hung was now asking about L’il Bud T’eo.
“L’il Bud’s one bad dog.” Atoa shifted in his seat. “People cross him, they pay.”
“People cross me they pay.” Even with poor transmission, Lo’s voice sounded cold. “But I don’t have them shot.”
“This is bullshit.” Atoa again rubbed his face.
“Talk about Al Lapasa,” Hung said.
“All I know is what I heard.”
“What did you hear?”
“Lapasa’s an OG. Owns a bar in Oakland.”
I felt my stomach clench. OG. Original gansta. Did that mean Lapasa was older than your average banger?
“SOS?” Hung asked.
Atoa nodded. Two vertical lines now burrowed up the bridge of his nose.
“Go on,” Hung said.
“Kealoha and Faalogo were tipped up with Lapasa.”
“And?”
“That’s all I heard.”
“You’ve got what I’d call selective hearing.”
Atoa’s gaze slid to Lo. Held. The detective stared back, face and body perfectly still.
Atoa’s mouth drew sideways in a half smile that suggested not a hint of humor. “I thought cops had height requirements.”
“I’m an exception.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
“Because I’m such a mean sonofabitch.”
