“Why did you run? You know how bad that looks?”
“I didn’t run. I’m getting it done.”
“What are you getting done?”
“I have things to show you. I’m not far away.”
“What things?”
“Not over the phone.”
“Don’t be dramatic. I’m on your side. I had SID check the rust on Daryl’s watchband. It matches the rust on the roof, okay? He was there.”
“I can beat that. I have the missing disc.”
She checked Topping’s office. The door was still closed. Meeks was still on with his girlfriend.
“The Club Red disc? Where would you get the missing disc?”
“The manager kept copies. You want to see this, Joyce. Know why you want to see it?”
She knew what he thought, and gave him his own answer.
“Someone doesn’t want me to.”
“Yep. Someone up there with you.”
“Who would this be?”
“Ian Mills.”
“Are you crazy?”
“That’s what they say. Call North Hollywood.”
“I don’t need to call them. Where are you?”
“Left turn out of the building, walk across Spring Street. If it’s safe, I’ll pick you up.”
“Jesus, Scott, what do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know who to trust.”
“Give me five minutes.”
“Come alone.”
“I get it.”
When Cowly put down the phone, she realized her hands were shaking. She rubbed them together as Topping’s door opened, and the sudden surprise made them shake worse. Ian Mills came out, followed by the IAG rat and one of the Rampart dicks. Mills glanced at her, so she snatched up her phone and pretended to talk. He glanced at her again as he passed, but kept going and left the squad room.
Cowly continued her fake conversation, waiting to see if Orso emerged. She waited for thirty seconds, then put down the phone, slung her purse on her shoulder, and quickly left the building.
36.
Scott let the Trans Am idle forward. He watched the Boat’s entrance from across City Hall Park. Maggie was on the console, with the AC blowing in her face. The cold air rippled her fur. She seemed to like it.
Scott hoped Cowly would show, but wasn’t sure she would. Ten minutes had passed. He grew afraid she was telling Orso or the other dicks about his call, and the passing time meant they were figuring out what to do.
Cowly appeared beneath the Boat’s glass prow and walked quickly toward Spring Street. She stopped at the corner for the light to change, and started across. Scott watched the prow, but no one appeared to be following her. He pulled up beside her at the next corner, and rolled down the window.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No, I didn’t tell anyone. Can you get this dog out of the way?”
Maggie moved to the back seat when Cowly opened the door, almost as if she understood the front seat wasn’t large enough.
Cowly dropped into the car, and pulled the door. He could tell she was angry, but it couldn’t be helped. He needed her help.
“Jesus, look at this hair. It’s going to be all over my suit.”
Scott accelerated away, checking his mirror for a tail car.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come. Thanks.”
“I didn’t tell anyone. Nobody’s behind us.”
Scott took the first turn, and kept an eye on the mirror.
“Suit yourself. Where are we going?”
“Close.”
“This better be worth all the drama. I hate drama.”
Scott didn’t respond. He rounded the block, and a few seconds later badged their way into the Stanley Mosk Courthouse parking lot. Juror parking. They were three blocks from the Boat.
He found a spot in the shade and shut down the engine.
“There’s a laptop on the floor by your feet. We’ll watch, and you can tell me if I’m being dramatic.”
She handed the laptop to him. He opened it to bring it to life, and handed it back. The disc was already loaded. The recording’s opening image was frozen in the player’s window. It showed a bright, clear, high-angle image of the Club Red parking lot illuminated by infrared light. There were hints of color, though the colors were mostly bleached to grays. The angle included the club’s red entrance, the parking attendant’s shack on the far side of the entrance, and most of the parking lot. Scott had watched the disc seven times.
Cowly said, “The Club Red parking lot?”
“Outside camera. Before you see this, you need to know a couple of things. I have more than a disc. Daryl saw the shooting. He told a friend about it, and I have the friend.”
Cowly looked dubious.
“Is this person credible?”
“Let’s watch. Daryl told his friend one of the shooters took a briefcase from the Bentley. I’ve cued it to the end, when they leave.”
Scott leaned close, and touched the Play button. The frozen image immediately snapped to life. Pahlasian and Beloit emerged from the club, and stopped a few paces outside the door. A parking attendant scurried to meet them. Pahlasian gave him a claim check. The attendant ducked into his shack for the keys, then trotted across the parking lot until the camera no longer saw him. Pahlasian and Beloit remained outside the door, talking.
Scott said, “We can fast-forward.”
“I’m good.”
A minute later, the Bentley heaved into view from the lower right corner of the frame, moving away from the camera. The brake lights flared red, and Pahlasian stepped forward to meet it. The attendant got out, and traded the keys for a tip. Pahlasian got in, but Beloit walked past him to the street in the background. His murky image could be seen on the sidewalk, but he was too far out of the light to be seen clearly. Pahlasian closed his door, and waited.
Scott said, “It goes on like this for twenty-five minutes.”
“What?”
“Beloit is waiting for someone. This is the missing time.”
“I’m fine.”
Two young women as thin as reeds arrived in a Ferrari. A single man left in a Porsche, followed by a middle-aged couple who left in a Jaguar. When the cars entered or left, their headlights flashed over Beloit, who paced back and forth on the sidewalk. Pahlasian remained in the car.
Scott said, “It’s coming. Watch.”
A car on the street slowly passed Beloit, and stopped. Beloit was lit by its brake lights, and could be seen moving toward the car. Once he passed the brake lights, he could no longer be seen.
Cowly said, “Can you tell what kind of car that is?”
“No. Too dark.”
A minute later, Beloit walked from the darkness into the parking lot with a briefcase in his left hand. He got
