Garrett smiled and finished his sandwich. “You don’t look happy with your lunch, Decker. You on a diet or something?”

“Not really, although I could take off a couple of pounds.” Decker drank up his coffee. “You know how it is, Rip. Sometimes it’s just not a cottage cheese kind of day.”

THE CELL PHONE went off at five in the afternoon. The window told Decker that the number was private. The man on the line was screaming. “Who the fuck is this?”

Decker took a few moments to gather his thoughts. “Lieutenant Detective Peter Decker of the LAPD. Who’s this?”

“A lieutenant? Sal Crane’s got a lieutenant in his pocket? Well, I’ll be damned!”

“I repeat. Who is this?”

“Rudolph Banks. Did you know that on my phone plan I have to pay for incoming as well as outgoing calls?”

Decker wanted to say: Then you could have saved a few bucks by answering my calls the first time, buddy. Instead he said, “First of all, I’m not in anyone’s pocket, let alone Sal Crane. I used the name to get your attention because you hadn’t returned any of my numerous calls.”

“I haven’t returned anyone’s calls because I’ve been on fuckin’ jury duty for the last five days. As an alternate! Do you believe that shit! I have to sit through some bullshit trial that was a total waste of my taxpayer time and my taxpayer money and I can’t even be part of saying whether the son of a bitch is guilty or not guilty. No, no, no, I have to park my ass on a rock-hard bench outside the courtroom waiting for those twelve motherfuckers to render a verdict just in case one of them happens to keel over And for this privilege, I get paid fifteen big ones a day plus fifty-three cents a mile gas one way.”

“You’re doing your civic duty.”

“No, it’s them who did their doodie on me. Thank God it’s over. What do you want, Lieutenant?”

“Thanks for asking. I’m currently working Homicide, Mr. Banks-”

“So what do you want with me? Whoever got whacked, I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“I’d like to talk to you about Primo Ekerling-”

“They caught the bastards. It was in all the papers, Lieutenant. If you give me your e-mail address, I’ll send over the articles.”

“I have a few questions that you might be able to help me out with.”

“So ask.”

“These kinds of questions are better asked in person.”

“I didn’t whack him. End of conversation.”

“His murder was remarkably similar to another individual who died fifteen years ago. A teacher named Bennett Alston Little. I understand you went to North Valley High where Dr. Little taught history, civics, social studies…”

The slight pause was very telling.

“I went to North Valley. So did thousands of other teens. I dropped out in eleventh grade way before he died. What’s that gotta do with me?”

“Mr. Banks, it’s really in both of our interests if we get together and talk. When can I meet you?”

“Do you know how far behind I am on my work?”

“Sir, this really is in your interest. And the sooner we talk, the sooner you’ll be rid of me.”

Another slight pause. Decker heard the man take a breath. “I’ll call you in a week.”

“No, that’s too long, Mr. Banks. I guarantee you, it won’t take more than an hour of your time. I can even meet you, tonight if you want-”

“No, I don’t want, goddamnit. I know what you’re going to ask. You’re going to ask about Primo. Yes, I knew Primo. Yes, we were suing the shit out of each other. Yes, we’ve been going at it for a while. No, I did not murder him.

“As far as your victim, I don’t remember him, but I vaguely remember the murder. I was living in L.A. when it happened. That’s all I can tell you. At the time, I was not only fucking every girl I could get my hands on, I was perpetually stoned. Jesus, I could use a good doobie now.”

“How about if we meet some time tomorrow?”

“Why are you putting the screws on my balls?”

“Just a few simple questions, Mr. Banks. I can come to your place in Hollywood. I’ve already been there. I left you my card-”

“All right already. Fine. Come tomorrow at three. If I’m in, I’ll talk to you. Don’t bother ringing the bell, it’s broken. And if you knock, no guarantees that I’ll answer. Three in the afternoon is my low period. Sometimes I doze off, and when I do, I’m a sound sleeper. You come at your own risk.”

“I’ll expect you to be in, sir.”

“Expect? Just because you expect, I have to jump? Let me tell you something, Lieutenant, I expect lots of things. But I don’t always get what I expect. Instead what I get is a lot of fuckin’ a-holes breathing down my neck. What I get is ingrates suing me for no goddamn reason other than greed. What I get is jury duty as a fucking alternate. What I get, Lieutenant, is a bagful of disappointments because the hard truth is people are liars, hypocrites, and thieves. I know damn well that life is basically a tall mound of shit, but I’ll be a cocksucker before you or anyone else is gonna make me step in it!”

THE ELEVATOR STILL wasn’t working, and the stairwell hadn’t gotten any cooler. Decker was steaming, but not from the heat and the humidity in Banks’s hallway. Ten minutes of red-knuckle knocking passed without a response. Decker’s impulse was to kick in the door, but instead, he took a deep breath and tried to figure out his next move. Normally he’d wait around, but it was Friday and his religious observance prevented him from doing evening surveillance.

Maybe Marge or Oliver would be willing…

There were footsteps in the stairwell. The door opened, and Liam O’Dell ambled toward Decker as casual as denim. “Hey, mate.”

Decker was nonplussed but tried to hide it. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Just come back from Millie’s. You should try the enchilada special. It’s tasty.”

“What are you doing here, Liam?”

“Same thing as you, mate, and that would be lookin’ for Rudy.” He reached in his pocket and handed Decker a crumpled piece of paper. “You must rate. The bugger took the time to write.”

Smoothing out the paper, Decker read:

Emergency situation. Monday, same time, same place.

Don’t bother to call, I won’t call back.

“Bastard!” Decker whispered.

“You’re first discoverin’ it?”

“He could have called.” Decker shoved the note back into his pocket. “Now I’ve got to deal with rush-hour traffic back to the Valley.”

“If that’s the only way he’s screwed you, consider yourself lucky, mate.”

Decker regarded O’Dell. Today he chose to wear cutoff shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. Tattoos had been inked on every limb. “Do you stop by every day, O’Dell?”

“I thought I’d try one more time before heading back to Venice.” He smiled at Decker with stained teeth. “’Fraid I did the bastard in? You can kick in the friggin’ door and we can both see what’s going on.”

“I can’t kick in the door unless there’s suspicion that harm has come to Mr. Banks.” He gave O’Dell a meaningful look. “Is there a reason why you think Mr. Banks has met with harm?”

“I can’t say for sure, but eventually some harm is comin’ his way. You can’t be a bastard for that long to that many people and not suffer consequences.” He stared back at Decker. “If you’re concerned, kick in the door.”

“No need.” He took a pick from his key ring and played with the tumblers until the lock popped open.

O’Dell was round eyed with surprise. “You’re a handy gent.”

Decker said, “Stay back. If you step inside, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

“You call the shots, mate, I’m just a bystander.”

“I’m serious, O’Dell.” Decker stepped over the threshold and was immediately blasted with a waft of heat. The place had no air-conditioning. “Mr. Banks?”

No response.

The living room was blanketed in shade because the drapes were drawn. The area was nicely decorated, deco in style. There were oil paintings on the walls, and most of them were nudes.