out. He got in his car and drove straight to the
Retreat.”
I groaned. –
“Wait, it gets better. Apparently they have big
iron gates at the front entrance that they keep’ locked.
Melendez-Lynch drove up and started screaming
for them to let him in. A couple of them came out’
to calm him down and it got physical. He absorbed
most of the damage. They went back in, he started
up his car and rammed the gate. At that point they
called Houten and he busted Melendez-Lynch for
disturbing the peace, malicious mischief, and .who
knows what else. Houten said the guy seemed like a
lunatic and he got to wondering if we’d be interested
in interviewing him. So he locked him up,
offered him an attorney, which he refused, and
gave him the proverbial one phone call.”
“Unbelievable.”
Milo laughed.
“Isn’t it? Between him and Valcroix and the stories
Rick tells me, I’m losing What little faith I had
184 oaatha#/(el/ermaa
in modern medicine. I mean, these guys are not
confidence inspiring.”
“Maybe the Swopes didn’t think so either.’.’
“That’s right. If they saw the kind. of flakiness
we’ve been uncovering I can understand them wanting
out.”
“Not as far out as they got.”
“Yeah. Once we’re sure the Saudi’s off the streets
their case will be my number one problem. But it’s
going to have to wait awhile because if we don’t
play close attention to Shitpants, he’ll weasel out
and be back in Riyadh before we know it.”
His .words chilled me. Human life meant a lot to
Milo, and if he thought Woody and Nona were alive
he’d find a way, Saudi or not, to pursue their case
aggressively.
I fought back my anger.
“When did you decide they were dead ?”
“What?–Jesus, Alex, stop-analyzing! I haven’t
decided a goddamn thing. I’ve got platoons going
through the canyons, I check the APB’s at least
two, three times a day. So, it’s not like I’m sitting
on my ass. But the fact is I’ve got a suspect in
custody in one case and zilch on the other. Where
would you put your priorities?”
“Sorry. I was way out of line. It’s ‘just that it’s
hard to think of that little boy as beyond hope.”
“I know, pal.’! His tone softened. “I’m on the rag,
too. Too much time spent with blood and crud. Just
be careful you’re not getting overinvolved. Ain.”
Unconsciously, I fingered my jaw..
“Okay. Now what’s the story with Raoul? I need
to tell his girlfriend something?’
“No story. I told Houten we didn’t care if he let
him go. The guy may be whacko but right now he’s
“-
185
not a suspect. Houten says
out of there.
lng since they locked him up,
him causing trouble the minute they let him out. If
you think you can keep him calm, l’il tell Houten t0
release him to your custody. Your being a shrink
would make it look better, too.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ve seen Baoul pull
tantrums but never like this.”
p to you. unless the guy calms down and agrees
to talk to a lawyer or someone comes to get him, he
could be there for a while.”
If wordgot out about Melendez-Lynch’s incarcer- ·
ation, his professional reputation would be compromised.
I knew of no one close to him except Helen
Holroyd and she was definitely not up to the task
of dragging him away from La Vista.
ney re canng me back, Alex,” Milo was saying,
“gotta hold my nose and jump into it.”
“All right. Call the sheriff. Tell him I’ll et down
there as soon as I can.”
“What a nice guy. Bye.”
I called Helen again and told her I’d secured the
release of the esteenled Dr. Melendez-Lynch. She
thanked me effusively and was starting to lapse
into tears before I cut her off. For her own good.
15
THE SEVlLLEglided onto the interstate shortly past
noon. The first half of the two-hour journey to La
Vista was a southward slice through the industrial
underbelly of California I sped past stockyards
and freight docks, mammoth auto .dealerships, grimy
warehouses, and factories belching effluvia’ into a