“Yes. How’d you know that?”
”
I decided not to cite Raoul’s suspicions.
of his name would set her off. Besides, I had suspi- ·
cions of my own.
“I talked to him last night. He was sniffing the
whole time. At first it looked like a cold but later I
started wondering about coke.”
“He’s into coke pretty heavily. Grass and downers,
on the side. Sometimes speed when he’s on
call. He talked about dropping acid in med school
but I don’t’ think he does that anymore. He does
booze, too: I started drinking heavilywhen I was
with him and kept it up ever since. I know I have
to stop.”
I gave her a squeeze.
“You deserve a lot better, hon.”
“It’s nice to hear that,” she said in a small voice.
“I’m saying it because it’s true. You’re intelligent,
you’re attractive, and you have a good heart.
That’s why you’re hurting so badly. Get the hell
away from all the death and misery. It’ll destroy
you. I know.”
“Oh, Alex,” she sobbed into my shoulder, “i’m so
cold.”
I gave her my jacket. When the tears stopped I
walked her back to her car.
11
NEITHER THE Swopes’ disappearance nor Richard’
Moody’s rat fell under Mfio’s jurisdiction, Out of
friendship he’d helped me with both and I was
reluctant to bother him so soon with the information
on Va]croix.
But what Beverly had told me the night before
was disturbing. As Raoul had claimed, the Cana
dian was unethical and a drurlk, and his familiarity
with the Touch visitors fleshed out the suspicion of
a conspiracy to remove Woody Swope from treatment.
I felt some obligation to let him know what
was going on, but I didn’t look forward to it because
he was sure to flip out. Before the. pyrotechnics
began I wanted to consult a professional.
Milo, bless his soul, sounded genuinely glad to
hear from me.
“No sweat. Iwas gonna call you anyway. Forde-brand
went out to the Bedabye to breathe on Moody
but when he got there the asshole was gone. Left
behind a room full of bommit would have been a
139
battle of the stinkers–and candy wrappers. Foot-
hill will keep an eye out for him and I’ll have the
boys here do the same, but be careful. Also, I got a
call back from that Carmichael character–the one
who messengered with the Swope girl. Normally I
might have just talked to him on the phone but this
guy sounded very uptight. Like he’s sitting on some-
thing. He’s also got a record–busted for prostitu-
tion a couple of years ago. So I’m gonna head out
an,dTld a ‘face t° face’ N°w what’s °n y°ur mind?”‘
‘s
go with you to Carmchael and tell you in
the car.”
He absorbed the information on Valcroix while
speeding along the Santa Monic,F,,reeway
“What is he, some kind of stu ·
“Far from it. An old, ersatz hippie. Saggy face,
flabby body, kind of a slob really.” , n
“No accounting for taste. Maybe he shu g like a
horse.”
“I doubt the appeal’s strictly physical. He’s a
scavenger, Milo. Moves in on women when they’re
under stress, plays Mr. Sensitive, gives them what
passes for love and understanding.”
He put a finger to his nose and sniffed
“And a little blow, too?”
“Could be.” –
‘Tll tell you what, after we’re finished with
Carmichael we’ll head out to the hospital,and interview
him. I’ve got a little slack because the gang
thing resolved nicely–confessions all around. The
shooters were fourteen years old. They’ll end up at
the Youth Authority. The liquor store cutting due
to close any day–Del Hardy’s interviewing a snitch
who looks promising The main thing pending is
the stomach-shitter
on that.”
He exited at Fcurth Avenue, headed’
Pico, took Pico to Pacific, and continued
ward into Venice. We passed Robin’s studio, an
unmarked storefront with the windows painted
opaque white, but neither of us mentioned it. The
neighborhood changed from sleazy to slick as we
approached the Marina.
Doug Carmichael’s house was on a walk-street
west of Pacific, half a block from the beach. It
resembled a landlocked cabin cruiser, all peaks and