LA Requiem

When we reached the bottom of the stair, Harvey Krantz and two SWAT cops with Ml 6s were waiting.

The SWAT cops covered Joe Pike like he was a coiled cobra. They spread to the sides for crossing fire, their black

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rifles zeroed on Pike's chest even from ten feet away. Behind them, a cop shouted our location to the people on the road.

Krantz wasn't holding a gun, but his eyes were on Pike as if he were a down-range target. I expected him to start with our rights, or tell us we were under arrest, or maybe even gloat, but he didn't.

Krantz said, 'Go for it, Pike. Shoot it out, and you might get away.'

The SWAT cops shifted.

Pike stood with his weight on the balls of his feet, hands away from his body, as relaxed as if he were in a Zen rock garden. He would have a gun somewhere, and he would be wondering if he could get to it, and fire before the SWAT cops cut loose. Even wounded and weak, he would be thinking that. Or maybe he wasn't thinking anything at all; maybe he would just act.

Krantz took a step forward, and spread his hands. 'I don't have a gun, Pike. Maybe you'll get me.'

I looked from Krantz to Joe, and knew in that moment that something more than an arrest was happening. The SWAT cops traded an uncertain glance, but didn't lower their guns.

'What's wrong with you, Krantz?' I put up my hands. 'Raise your hands, Joe. Goddamnit, raise them '

Pike didn't move.

Krantz smiled, but it was strained and ugly. He took another step. 'Time's running out, Joe. More officers are on the way.'

'Raise your hands, damnit! If you don't, then Krantz winsl'

Pike took a single breath, then looked past Krantz to the SWAT cops, talking to them now. 'My hands are going up.'

He raised them.

'Gun in my waistband under my shirt.'

Krantz didn't move.

One of the SWAT cops said, 'Krantz, get his damned gun.'

Krantz took out his own gun.

Stan Watts trotted up the path, breathing hard, and stopped when he saw us.

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ROBERT CRAIS

The SWAT cops said, 'Hey, Watts, get this bastard's gun.'

Stan Watts took Pike's gun, then took mine, and he stared at Krantz, standing there with his gun at his side. 'What in hell's going on, Krantz? Didn't you tell them?'

Krantz's jaw rippled as if he were chewing hard candy, and still his eyes didn't leave Pike. 'I wanted Pike to spook. I was hoping he'd give us the excuse.'

I said, 'Take his gun, Stan. Please take his gun.'

Watts stared at Krantz, then the gun Krantz held. Krantz's fingers worked at the gun like they had a life of their own. They kneaded and gripped the gun, and maybe wanted to raise it. Stan Watts went over and pried the gun away, and then pushed Krantz back hard.

'Go wait in the car.'

'I 'm your superior officer!'

Watts told the SWAT cops they were done, then told us to put our hands down. He wet his lips like his mouth was dry. 'You're not under arrest. Branford s dropping the charges. You hear that, Pike? Branford's with your attorney right now. SID put Sobek's vehicle at Dersh's house. That's enough to get you off the hook.'

I gripped Pike's arm, and held it. John Chen had come through.

Krantz pushed past Watts and jabbed his finger at Pike. It was exactly the same move he'd made at Lake Hollywood the first time I saw him. 'I don't give a rat's ass what SID says, Pike; you're a murderer.'

Watts said, 'Stop it, Harvey.'

Krantz jabbed again.

'You killed Wozniak, and I still believe you killed Dersh.'

Krantz jabbed again, and this time Pike grabbed his finger so quickly that Harvey Krantz did not see him move. Krantz shrieked as he dropped to the ground, screaming, 'You're under arrest, goddamnit! That's assaulting an officer! You're under arrest.'

Pike and Watts and I stared at him there on the ground, red-faced and screaming, and then Watts helped him up, saying,

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'We're not going to arrest anyone, Harvey. Go back to the car and wait for me.'

Krantz shook him off, and walked away without another word.

I said, 'Get him off the street, Watts. He came up here to murder Pike. He meant what he said.'

Watts pursed his lips, watching until Krantz was gone, then considered Pike. 'You could make a complaint, I guess. There's grounds.'

Pike shook his head.

I said, 'That's it? We're just going to forget what happened here?'

Watts put the frying pan face on me. 'What happened, Cole? We came up to give you the word, we did.'

'How'd you know we were here?'

'We've been running taps twenty-four/seven on phones Pike's employees are known to use. The wire guys heard Pike's boy tell you about this place, and figured it out.'

Watts glanced back to the road where Harvey Krantz was waiting in their car, alone.

Watts handed back our guns, holding on to Pike's as Pike reached for it. 'What Krantz said about hoping you'd give us an excuse, that's bullshit. He's just upset. I don't play it that way, and he wouldn't either. Bauman said you hadn't been in touch, so we figured if there was a shot at reaching you up here, we should take it.'

I said, 'Sure, Watts.'

'Screw you, Cole. That's the way it is.'

'Sure.'

Watts followed after Krantz, and pretty soon the police mounted their cars, and left great brown clouds of dust as they drove away. I guess Harvey Krantz hated Pike so much he had to believe Pike was guilty no matter what. I guess that kind of hate can make you do things you ordinarily wouldn't do.

'Watts can say whatever he wants, but Krantz wanted it. You don't bring tactical officers to tell some guy he's off the hook. You don't even roll out. If Krantz didn't want it, he

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could've put the word through me and Charlie and the guys at your shop. You would've heard.'

Pike nodded without comment, and I wondered if he even gave a damn. Maybe it was better not to.

I said, 'What are you going to do?'

'CallPaulette.'

'Does it bother you, what Krantz said about Wozniak? That you're still carrying the blame?'