Devil’s Waltz. By: Jonathan Kellerman

ø”If I knew I wouldn’t be asking you.”

“Heavy-big-you know-like from working out. On the yard.”

-“Muscular.”

“Yeah.”

“Would you remember this guy if you saw him again?”

“Why?” Another alarm flash. “You do got someone?”

“No. Would you remember him if you saw his picture?”

“Yeah, sure.” Flippantly. “I got a good memory. Put him in a lineup

and I’ll give you a beaucoup ID, you treat me good.”

“You trying to hustle me, Robert?”

Gabray smiled and shrugged. “Taking care of biz.”

“Well,” said Milo, “let’s take care of some now.”

We took Gabray across the rear lot, walked through a rubble-filled

-ditch on the east side of the building, and got back on the street.

The line at the front door hadn’t shrunk much. This time the bouncer

noticed as we walked by.

Gabray said, “Yo, fuckin’ King Kong,” under his breath.

Milo said, “The guy with Ms. Herbert as big as James?”

Gabray laughed. “No-no way. That’s not human. That they got outa the

fuckin’ zoo.”

Milo pushed him forward, questioning him all the way to the car without

extracting anything further.

“Nice wheels,” said Gabray when we stopped at the Seville.

“Get it from impound or something?”

“Hard work, Robert. That old Protestant ethic.”

“I’m Catholic, man. Used to be, anyway. All of that religion shit’s

bullshit.”

Milo said, “Shut up, Robert,” and opened the trunk.

He removed the hard-shell case, put Gabray in the rear seat of the car,

and got in next to him, leaving the door open for light.

I stood outside and watched him open the case. Inside was a book that

said lDENTIKIT. Milo showed Gabray transparencies with facial features

drawn on them. Gabray selected some and put them together. When he

was finished, a bland-looking Caucasian face gazed up. A face out of a

Dick and Jane primer. Someone’s dad.

Milo stared at it, fixed it in place, wrote something down; then he had

Gabray designate spots on a street map with a yellow marker.

After a few more questions, he got out of the car. Gabray followed.

Despite the warm breeze, the barkeep’s bare shoulders were fuzzed with

goose bumps.

“Okay?” he said.

“For the time being, Robert. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this,

but I’m gonna anyway: Don’t change addresses. Stay where I can reach

you.”

“No prob.” Gabray started to walk away.

Milo blocked him with a straight-arm. “Meanwhile, I’m gonna be writing

letters. One to your 1:0. saying you worked here without telling him,

another to Mr. Fahrizad and his buddies informing them you finked on

them and that’s why the fire department’s closing them down, and a

third to the IRS telling them you’ve been taking cash for God knows how

long and not declaring it.”

Gabray bent at the waist as if seized by a cramp. “Oh, man-” “Plus a

report to the prosecutor on your weed thing, letting him know you were

uncooperative and obstructive and a poor risk for plea bargain. I

don’t like writing letters, Robert. Writing letters makes me grumpy.

If I have to waste my time looking for you, I’m gonna get even grumpier

and all of those letters get hand-delivered. You behave yourself, I

tear them up. Comprende?”

Aw, man, that’s rude. I been strai-” “No problems if you behave

yourself, Robert.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.”

“Will you?”

“Yeah, yeah. Can I go now? I gotta work.”

Are you hearing me, Robert?”

“I’m hearing. Stay in one place, be a fucking boy scout. No jamming,

no scamming. Okay? Can I go?”

“One more thing, Robert. Your lady.”

“Yeah?” said Gabray, in a hard voice that turned him into something

more than a sniveling loser. “What about her?”

“She’s gone. Flew the coop. Don’t even think about going after her.

And especially don’t think about hurting her for talking to me.

Because I woulda found you anyway. You’ve got no gripe with her.

Gabray’s eyes widened. “Gone? What the-whaddya mean?”

“Gone. She wanted out, Robert.”

A”‘, shit-” “She was packing her bags when I spoke to her. Pretty

shaken up by your approach to domestic life.”

Gabray said nothing.

Milo said, “She had enough of being pounded on, Robert.”

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