Ellroy, James – Big Nowhere, The THE BIG NOWHERE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Mal was watching Buzz Meeks eat, thinking that suicide love must be good for the appetite: the fat man had devoured a plate of stuffed shrimp, two double-thick pork chops with onion rings, and was now killing a huge piece of peach pie buried in ice cream. It was their second meal together, with INS file work and his run by Jake Kellerman’s office in between; at lunch Meeks had wolfed a porterhouse, home fries and three orders of rice pudding. Mal picked at Side 133

Ellroy, James – Big Nowhere, The a plate of chicken salad and shook his head; Meeks said, “A growin’ boy’s got to feed. What time’s Upshaw due?”

Mal checked his watch. “I told him midnight. Why, do you have plans?”

“A late one with my sweetie. Howard’s usin’ his spot up by the Bowl, so we’re meetin’ at her place. I told her I’d be there by one at the latest, and I mean to be punctual.”

“Meeks, are you taking precautions?”

Buzz said, “We use the rhythm method. Her place when Howard’s rhythm moves us.” He dug in his coat pockets and fished out an envelope. “I forgot to tell you. When you were at your lawyer’s, Ellis came by. I gave him your memo, and he read it and wrote you one. Apparently, your boy traded blows with some LAPD dick. Ellis said to read this and abide by it.”

Mal opened the envelope and pulled out a slip of paper covered with Ellis Loew’s handwriting. He read:

M.C.–

I agree wholeheartedly with everything but your assessment of Dudley’s methods. What you don’t realize is that Dudley is so effective that his methods minimize the chance that potential witness will balk and inform on us to UAES.

Also, I can’t give you command of the investigation, not with the obvious dislike that exists between you and Dudley. It would ruffle the feathers of a man who up until yesterday shared your rank with many more years in grade.

You’re equals in this investigation, and once we go to court you’ll never have to work with him again.

Something has come up on Deputy Upshaw. A Sgt. Breuning (LAPD) called to tell me that Upshaw got into a fistfight with another City officer (Sgt. G.

Niles) this afternoon, over a stupid remark Niles made about “queers.” This is, in light of the interagency command we set up for Upshaw, intolerable. Breuning also stated that Upshaw demanded four officers for surveillance work, and that Dudley, wanting to keep him happy, found the men. This is also intolerable.

Upshaw is a young, inexperienced officer who, however gifted, has no right to be making such demands. I want you to sternly inform him that we will tolerate no more fisticuffs or prima donna behavior.

Sgt. Bowman is now looking for Dr. Lesnick. I hope he didn’t die on us, too–he’s a valuable addition to our team.

EL.

P.S.–Good luck in court tomorrow. Your promotion and current duties should help you secure a continuance. I think Jake Kellerman’s strategy is sound.

Mal wadded the paper up and hurled it blindly; it bounced off the back of the booth and landed on Meeks’ butter plate. Buzz said, “Whoa, partner”; Mal looked up and saw Danny Upshaw hovering. He said, “Sit down, Deputy,” ticked until he noticed the kid’s hands were shaking.

Danny slid into the booth next to Meeks. Buzz said, “Turner Meeks” and gave him a shake; Danny nodded and turned to Mal. “Congratulations, Captain. And thanks for the jug.”

Mal eyed his decoy, thinking that right now he looked not one iota cop.

“Thank you, and my pleasure. And before we get to business, what happened with Sergeant Niles?”

Danny gripped an empty water glass. “He’s got a crazy idea I B&E’d the place where the second and third victims were found. Essentially, he’s miffed at taking orders from me. Jack Shortell told me the watch commander yanked him off the case, so I’m glad he’s out of my hair.”

The answer sounded rehearsed. Mal said, “That’s all of it?”

“Yes.”

“And did you B&E?”

“No, of course not.”

Mal thought of the “queer” remark, but let it pass. “All right, then consider this a reprimand, from Ellis Loew _and_ myself. No more of that, _period_. Don’t let it happen again. Got that?”