'Geisler gave me a prepared statement.'
'Read it.'
Fisk pulled Out a sheet. ''Pertaining to my relationship with Pierce Morehouse Patchett, I, Terence Lux, M.D., do offer the following notarized statement. To wit: my relationship with Pierce Patchett is professional: i.e., I have performed extensive plastic surgery on a number of male and female acquaintances of his, perfecting already existing resemblances to exact resemblances of several notable actors and actresses. Unsubstantiated rumors hold that Patchett employs these young people for purposes of prostitution, but I have no conclusive evidence that this is true. Duly sworn,' et cetera.'
Ed said, 'Not good enough. Duane, you take Yorkin and Rita Hayworth across the street and book them. Aiding and Abetting, and leave the arrest dates blank. Allow them one phone call each, then go down to Long Beach and seize 8819 Linden. That's a Fleur-de-Lis drop, and I'm sure Patchett's cleaned it out, but do it anyway. If you find the place virgin, bust it up and leave the door open.'
Fisk swallowed. 'Uh, sir? Bust it up? And no booking date on our suspects?'
'_Bust it up. Make a statement. And don't question my orders_.'
Fisk said, 'Uh, yes, sir.' Ed closed the door, buzzed Kleckner. 'Don, send Dr. Lux and Mr. Geisler in.'
'Yes, sir,' loud on the intercom. Whispered: 'They're pissed, Captain. Thought you should know.'
Ed opened the door. Geisler and Lux walked up--brusque.
No handshakes. Geisler said, 'Franidy, that lunch didn't begin to cover the hourly rate I'm going to have to charge Dr. Lux. I think it's reprehensible that he came here voluntarily and was kept waiting so long.'
Ed smiled. 'I apologize. I accept the formal statement you offered and I have no real questions for Dr. Lux. I have just one favor to ask and a large one to grant in return. And send me your bill, Mr. Geisler. You know I can afford it.'
'I know your father can. Continue, please. You're holding my interest so far.'
Ed to Lux. 'Doctor, I know who you know and you know who I know. And I know you deal in legal morphine cures. Help me with something and I'll pledge my friendship.'
Lux cleaned his nails with a scalpel. 'The _Daily News_ says you're obsolescent.'
'They're mistaken. Pierce Patchett and heroin, Doctor. I'll settle for rumors and I won't ask for your sources.'
Geisler and Lux went into a huddle--a step out the door, whispers. Lux broke it off. 'I've heard Pierce is connected to some very bad men who want to control the heroin trade in Los Angeles. He's quite the chemist, you know, and he's been developing a special blend for years. Hormones, antipsychotic strains, quite a brew. I've heard it puts regular heroin to shame, and I heard it's ready to be manufactured and sold. One in my column, Captain. Jerry, take the man at his word and send him my bill.'
o o o
Semipro, pro--his new lines all spelled HEROIN. Ed called Bob Gallaudet, left a message with his secretary: Nite Owl maybe breaking--call me. A picture on his desk hooked him: Inez and his father at Arrowhead. He called Lynn Bracken.
'Hello?'
'Lynn, it's Exley.'
'God, hello.'
'You didn't go to Patchett, did you?'
'Did you think I would? Were you setting me up to?'
Ed laid the picture face down. 'I want you to get out of L.A. for a week or so. I have a place at Lake Arrowhead, you can stay there. Leave this afternoon.'
'Is Pierce . . .'
'I'll tell you later.'
'Will you come up?'
Ed checked the Vincennes script. 'As soon as I set something up. Have you seen White?'
'He came and went, and I don't know where he is. Is he all right?'
'Yes. No, shit, I don't know. Meet me at Fernando's on the lake. It's right by my place. Say six?'
'I'll be there.'
'I figured you'd take some convincing.'
'I've already convinced myself of lots of things. Leaving town just makes it easier.'
'_Why_, Lynn?'
'The party was over, I guess. Do you think keeping your mouth shut's a heroic act?'
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Bud woke up at the Victory. Dusk out the window--he'd slept through half a night and a day. He rubbed his eyes; Spade Cooley locked right back on him. He smelled cigarette smoke, saw Dudley sitting by the door.
'Bad dreams, lad? You were thrashing a bit.'
Nightmare: Inez trashed by the press, his fault--what he did to nail Exley.
'Lad, in repose you reminded me of my daughters. And you know I care for you no less.'
He'd sweated the sheets through. 'What's with the job? What's next?'
'Next you listen. I've long been involved in containing hard crime so that myself and a few colleagues might someday enjoy a profit dispensation, and that day will soon be arriving. As a colleague, you will share handsomely. Grand means will be in our hands, lad. Imagine the means to keep the nigger filth sedated and extrapolate from there. One obstreperous Italian you've dealt with in the past is involved, and I think you can be particularly useful in keeping him in line.'
Bud stretched, cracked his knuckles. 'I meant the reopening. Talk straight, okay?'
'Edmund Jennings Exley is as straight as I can be. He's trying to prove bad things against Lynn, lad. Salt on all the old wounds he's given you.'
Live wires buzzing. 'You knew about us. I should've known.'
'There is precious little I don't know, and nothing I would not do for you. Coward Exley has touched the only two women you've loved, lad. Think of grand ways to hurt him.'
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
They made love straight off-- Ed knew they'd have to talk if they didn't, Lynn seemed to sense the same thing. The cabin was musty, the bed unmade--stale from last time with Inez. Ed kept the lights on: the more he saw, the less he'd think. It helped him through the act; counting Lynn's freckles kept him from peaking. Slow on the act, both of them, making up for their tumble off the couch. Lynn had bruises; Ed knew they came from Bud White. For a tightrope act they were gentle; their long embrace after felt like payback for their lies. When they started talking they'd never stop. Ed wondered who'd say 'Bud White' first.
Lynn said it. Bud was the fulcrum that convinced her to lie to Patchett: the police investigation was a joke, they were grasping at straws. White knew of Patchett's milder doings, she was afraid he'd get in trouble if Pierce fought back. Pierce might try to buy his friendship, he thought everyone had a price tag, he didn't know her Wendell couldn't be bought. Bud got her thinking; the more she thought the more she hurt; a certain police captain kissing a certain ex-whore at the only moment she would have let him just added to the party's over, Pierce made me but he's bad deep down, if I let him go then maybe I'll get back some of the good things he's killed in me. Ed winced through the words, knew he couldn't return her candor--now Jack Vincennes was going in barefoot, he'd counted on Lynn to push Patchett to panic, past Fisk taking a fire axe to the drop, past his people grilled and arrested. Lynn met his silence with words--excerpts from her diary, a show-and-tell for fugitive lovers her pronouncement. Funny, sad--old tricks derided, a monologue on carhop hookers that almost had him laughing. Lynn on Inez and Bud White--he loved her here and there and mostly at a distance because her rage was worse than his, drained him, a night here and there was all he could take. No jealousy--so his own jealousy jumped up, almost forced him to shout questions: heroin and extortion, astounding audacious perversion, just how much do you know? The gift she gave him wouldn't let him; soft hands on his chest made him throw out a parity in candor before he started interrogating or lying just to have something to say.
He went straight to his family, spiraled past to present. Mama's boy Eddie, golden boy Thomas, the jig he danced when his brother stopped six bullets. Being a policeman/patrician from a long line of Scotland Yard detectives. Inez, four men killed out of weakness; Dudley Smith going crazy to find a suitable scapegoat that Ellis Loew and Chief Parker just might accept as a panacea. A headlong rush to the great Preston Exley in all his
