“Tollrance has bought himself some celebrity, too,” I said. “I wonder how long that’ll satisfy him.”
“Meaning he’ll want true realism?”
I shrugged.
“Well,” he said, “so far, he hasn’t made any slipups.” He tapped the upper edge of the painting. “Not a single print. Maybe you’re right, a careful head case.” He angled the painting toward me. “Does seeing this give you any other ideas?”
“Not really,” I said. “Rage toward Mate. Ambivalence about Mate. You don’t need me to tell you that.”
His phone rang. “Sturgis—Oh yeah, hi.” His expression brightened, as if an internal filament had ignited. “Really? Thanks. When? . . . Sure, that would be better than convenient. I’ve got Dr. D. with me— Yeah, sure, great.
“Talk about karma,” he said, hanging up. “That was Petra. Seems she came up with some stuff on Donny. She’s on her way to a trial at the Santa Monica courthouse, will stop by in ten minutes. We’ll meet her out in front.”
We waited by the curb. Milo paced and smoked a Tipar-illo and I thought about the Doss family. A few moments later, Petra Connor drove up in a black Accord, parked in the red zone, and got out with her usual economy of movement. I’d never seen her when she wasn’t wearing a black pantsuit. This time it was a slim-cut thing with indigo overtones, some kind of slinky wool that flattered her long, lean frame and looked beyond a D-II’s budget. On her feet were medium-heeled black lace-ups. Her black hair was cropped in the usual no-nonsense wedge cut, and slung across her shoulder was a black leather bag the texture of a wind-whipped motorcycle jacket. No gun visible beneath the tailored jacket, so she was probably toting it in the bag.
The bad September light was somehow kind to her ivory skin, setting off her tight jaw, pointed chin, ski-slope nose. Pretty, in a taut way, but something about her always warned, Keep Your Distance. The dedication with which she’d followed Billy Straight’s recovery told me there was warmth tucked behind the searching brown eyes. But that was inference on my part; she was all business, never talked about herself. I figured she’d jumped high hurdles to get where she was.
“Hi,” she said, flashing a cool smile, and I knew what I was supposed to ask. “How’s our guy?”
“Doing great from what I can tell. Straight A’s, and he tested out a full grade ahead—amazing, considering most of what he knows is self-taught. A true intellectual, just like you said at the beginning.
What about his ulcer?” I said. “Clearing up slowly. He fusses about taking his medicine, but for the most part he’s compliant. He’s also
making some friends. Finally. Other ‘creative’ types, quoth the principal. Mrs. Adamson’s big worry is he doesn’t want to do much other than study and read and play with his computer.”
“What would she prefer him to do?”
“I’m not sure there’s anything specific—she just seems to be nervous. About doing everything right. I think she feels she needs to report to me. She calls me once a week.”
“Hey, you’re the long arm of the law,” I said.
Small smile. “I know she really cares about him. I tell her not to worry, he’ll be fine.”
She blinked, wanting confirmation.
“Good advice,” I said.
Rosy coins appeared on her cheeks. “All in all he’s getting plenty of attention. Maybe too much, considering that he’s basically a loner? Sam shows up like clockwork on Friday, takes him to Venice on weekends. San Marino all week, then the freak scene. How’s that for contrast?”
“Multicultural experience. I’m sure he can handle it.”
“Yes—good. If any problems come up, I assume it’s okay to call you.”
“Anytime.”
“Thanks.” She turned to Milo. “Sorry, I know you’re waiting for this.” Out of the leather bag came a folder. “Here’s the info on your Mr. Salcido. Turns out he’s a known quantity to us. Because of the Hollywood redevelopment thing, Councilwoman Goldstein’s office ordered us to keep tabs on transients—the Bum Squad, we called it, lasted a month. Salcido’s name came up in one Bum Squad file. No arrest, all they did was canvass squats, find out what the squatters were up to. If they saw drugs or any other crime, they could make an arrest, but basically it was to appease Councilwoman Goldstein.”