"Crais, Robert - Elvis Cole 08 - L.A. Requiem 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Crais Robert)

Pike and I set up on either side of the door as a large, ruddy-faced man in a gray suit made the landing and looked in at us. Two uniformed LAPD officers appeared behind him. The man's eyes widened when he saw us, and he pawed under his jacket. "Police officers! Step away from the door and move to the center of the room. Now!"

The suit clawed out a standard LAPD-issue Beretta 9 as the uniformed cops drew their own weapons. Mrs. Acuna shouted something down in the courtyard, but no one listened to her.

I said, "Take it easy. We're working for her father, Frank Garcia."

The detective had the gun on us now, and the two uniforme'd cops were aiming past his head. One of them was young, and looked like his eyes were about to do the Pekinese pop-out. If I was the detective, I would've been more scared of them than me.

The detective shouted, "Step back from the door and move to the center. Hands from your bodies."

We did what he said. He toed open the door and stepped through, the two uniforms spreading to cover us from the sides.

"My name's Cole. We're private investigators working for her father."

"Shut up."

"My license is in the wallet. Her father hired us a couple of hours ago. Call him. Ask the woman who lives downstairs."

"Shut the fuck up and keep those hands where I can see them!"

The detective told one of the uniforms to see the woman, then edged forward, slipped out my wallet, and glanced at the license. He was more tense than he should've been, and I wondered why. Maybe he didn't like my shirt, either.

He brought my wallet to the phone, punched in a number without taking his eyes off me, then mumbled something I couldn't understand.

"We entered the apartment with a key the father provided and at his request. Would you lighten up?"

The uniform reappeared. "Hey, Holstein, they're cool. She says the father called her and told her to expect'm."

Holstein nodded, but the tension stayed.

"Can we put our hands down, or you like the view of our pits?"

"Sure, smart guy. Might as well relax. We're gonna be here awhile."

Pike and I dropped our hands. I guess Frank had raised so much hell that Hollywood Division had finally rolled out.

"I'm surprised you guys are on this. She's only been missing since yesterday."

Holstein painted me with empty cop eyes, then took a seat on the edge of Karen Garcia's desk.

"Not anymore. Karen Garcia's body was found up at Lake Hollywood about an hour ago."

I felt my breath catch. Joe Pike might've stiffened. He might've leaned forward just a hair, but if he did I could not tell.

I said, "Holstein? Are you sure?"

More voices filled the courtyard, speaking with the distinct cadence of police officers. Down below, Mrs. Acuna wailed.

I sat on Karen Garcia's leather couch and stared at the picture of her in the paper crown.