Mercy

went straight to voicemail. That meant that the cell phone was switched off. And that troubled Nat.

He was glad that he had been vague with Alex and Juanita about where he was going. Because that gave him a window of opportunity to stay out of the office for longer than just a few minutes. He wasn’t sure that his trip was worthwhile. But he wanted to make sure.

However, he felt hot and sweaty in his clothes. It had been a long day. So he decided to take a small detour and drive to his own home first for a change of clothes.

He pulled up in the street, not bothering to pull onto the driveway. He would only be a few minutes. Also he was tired. So tired that he didn’t notice the faint glow of the flashlight inside the living room.

It was only when he had unlocked the door and pushed it open that he sensed something was wrong. He noticed a faint light go out just as he opened the door. A trick of the light, he thought as he stepped inside and switched on the living room light before closing the door behind him.

It was then that he heard a sound. He raced into the bedroom just in time to see a man on the bed clambering out the window. Instinctively he leapt forward and grabbed the leg that was still inside the room. He yanked hard and the man let out a cry of pain. It was then that he noticed for the first time that the man was rather old — well in his fifties at any rate.

The man pulled away and tried to kick his leg free. But Nat had locked the man’s leg in a tight overarm grip. The man tried to use one of his hands to push Nat away. But youth and strength triumphed over age and the man — who was not of particularly large build — found himself being dragged back.

He still had the other leg over the window ledge, locked round it and creating a grip that made it hard to dislodge him from there. But when Nat shifted his attention from the man’s leg to his torso, using both his arms and hands to grab the man, all the fight went out of the intruder and he allowed himself to be dragged back in.

He looked at Nat’s panting mouth and his intense eyes and — obviously fearful of Nat’s intentions — he pleaded with him not to hurt him.

“I’m not resisting. Just tell the cops I didn’t resist, okay?”

Nat well understood what was going through this man’s mind. He was a burglar, caught in the act of breaking into domestic premises. Under the three strikes rule that was a very serious offense.

“Okay, I’ll put in a good word for you,” said Nat with a smile, whipping out his cell phone. “I might even be able to get you a lawyer.”

“I’ve already got — ”

He broke off abruptly. Nat, though, wasn’t listening and had keyed in 911 and reported the break-in to the police, adding that he had caught the burglar, but that the “perp” was cooperating. The police told him to wait there with the suspect. After the call ended, Nat closed the window and allowed the burglar to assume a sitting position on the bed.

“What’s your name?” asked Nat.

“I’m in custody. You’re not supposed to question me until you’ve read my Mirandas.”

“I see you know the ropes,” said Nat with a smile.

“I’ve been round the block a few times.”

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” The burglar said nothing. “But I’m not a cop. Anyway, whatever you say to me now will not be used against you.”

The burglar nodded, still showing signs of fear.

“So what is your name then?” Nat persisted.

“Kelly.”

“Kelly what?”

“No, Kelly’s my last name. Lee … Lee Kelly.”

Nat froze. That name sounded familiar. He remembered his conversation with David Sedaka two hours ago.

Lee Kelly was the burglar that Alex had taken a detour to represent at the arraignment.

What a coincidence that he should break into my place now.

21:57 PDT

“Yes, he’s all right, apart from a broken nose. I just wanted you to know. It looks like someone is trying to sabotage us.”

Alex was on the phone to Juanita as he pulled up outside the building that housed Jonathan’s apartment.

“Be careful, boss. Whoever it was must be pretty desperate.”

“My thoughts exactly. That means we’re onto something. You be careful too. If anyone comes to the office when Nat and I aren’t round — ”

“Oh do me a favor Alex! I grew up around the Mission where they eat suits like you for breakfast!”

“Sorry, you’re right. I’m sure you can handle yourself. But stay alert.”

Alex ended the call and parked the car. As he walked up to the entrance he noticed a Suzuki motorbike parked just outside. It reminded him of the one that had overtaken him earlier.

He walked up the stairs of the building and knocked on Jonathan’s door.

“Who is it?” a tense, nervous voice called out from inside.

“It’s Alex Sedaka!”

“What do you want?”

This was strange. Jonathan hadn’t been so cagey last time Alex was here. Then again, last time Alex had phoned first. But still…

“I just want to talk!”

“Just a minute!”

Alex heard a faint thumping and thudding, like doors or drawers were being opened and closed. He assumed that Jonathan had locked the door and taken the key out and was now trying to find it.

After almost a minute, the door opened and Jonathan stood there looking sweaty and agitated.

“I have to talk to you,” said Alex. “This has gone on long enough.”

“Come in,” said Jonathan swallowing nervously.

He moved aside to let Alex across the threshold. As soon as Alex was in Jonathan shut the door behind him. Something in Jonathan’s face drew Alex’s eyes, to the hand at his side.

The next thing Alex saw was the hand lurching toward his torso and a sparkle of pocket-sized lightning, matched by a crackle of miniaturized thunder.

And the next thing he felt was jolt of pain as his muscles stopped functioning, his vision became blurred and his legs gave out.

22:04 PDT

“The police are taking a long time,” said Nat, trying to pass the time and conceal his own fear as to why Lee Kelly was here.

“You know what they say: you can never find a cop when you need one.”

“So how come you didn’t take anything?”

Lee felt a stab of fear, but recovered quickly. He was a pro after all.

“I didn’t have time. You caught me, remember.”

Nat wasn’t sure whether to face up his hole card. It might shock Lee into admitting something. But it would also tip his own hand — probably to Alex. And he wasn’t ready for that just yet.

He regretted calling the police. If he had a little longer with Lee he might be able to get some answers out of him. But the police could arrive at any moment. Besides, he was kidding himself. He wouldn’t harm or kill this man, even if he had the opportunity. There were limits to how far he would go.