“No, I’d bet on Tommy K. My guess is that Junior came on strong and Tommy got pissed. It happened at Bido Lito’s, so Tommy left the body there. The Kafesjians torched the place to destroy evidence.”
“You could be right. Wait, I’ll get you your coffee.”
He walked out. Kitchen sounds–I grabbed the tape.
Safe-combination bingo: 34L–1 6R–3 1 L. Squarejohn thinking: every rich stupe pulled that chair-reminder bit. I pressed the tape back and scoped the room: cold, expensive.
Exley brought coffee in on a tray. I poured a cup for show.
“You put me on the Kafesjian burglary to bait Dudley.”
“Yes. Has he approached you?”
“Indirectly, and I told him flat out that you were using me as some sort of agent provocateur. He let it go at that.”
“And he has you compromised with that movie you told me about.”
“PLEASE DON’T KlLL ME.”
“Get to it. Dudley and the Kafesjians.”
He sat down. “The burglary itself was just a coincidence, and I simply capitalized on the fact that Dan Wilhite sent you over to smooth things out with Side 201
Ellroy – White Jazz
J.C. I suspect that the burglary and the Herrick killings, which _are_
connected, are connected to Dudley at best tangentially. Essentially, after the Nite Owl reopening, I began querying retired officers about Dudley. I learned that he, not Chief Horrall, suborned the Kafesjians into the LAPD fold twenty-odd years ago. _He_ was the one who initiated the notion of contained narcotics peddling in exchange for a certain amount of Southside order and snitch information, and of course niany years later he went crazy with the notion of containment in general.”
“What about Phillip Herrick?”
“Your property-ownership lead is my first indication of a SmithHerrick connection. You see, I just wanted Dudley diverted. I knew he had things brewing in South-Central, and I knew he was taking a discreet percentage from J.C.
Kafesjian. I wanted the Kafesjians rattled, and I had hoped that your reputation would move Dudley to approach you.”
“Then you’d operate me.”
“Yes.”
Dawn breaking–my last free day. “I burned up Junior’s evidence. He had notes, your cancelled checks to those reporters, everything.”
“All my dealings with Duhamel were verbal. You’ve just assured me that there is no evidence on my operation extant.”
“It’s comforting to know that you’ll skate.”
“You can, too.”
“Don’t jerk my chain. Don’t offer me protection, and don’t mention sparing the Department.”
“You consider your situation beyond those things?”
Dawn light–my eyes stung. “I’m fucked, plain and simple.”
“Ask a favor then. I’ll grant it.”
“I got Noonan to lift his surveillance on the Kafesjians. They’ll be tailfree today only, and I think they’ll go after Richie Herrick. I want a dozen mobile tail men with civilian radio cars, and a special frequency set up to monitor their calls. It’s a shot at Dudley, which should please you no fucking end.”
“You’re assuming Richie can fill in some blanks on Dudley and the Kafesjians?”
“I’m assuming he knows all of it.”
Exley stuck a hand out–Dave, my buddy. “I’ll set up a radio spot at Newton Station. Be there at ten-thirty, I’ll have your men briefed and ready.”
That hand, persistent–I ignored it.
“You’re letting Narco go. The Department needs a scapegoat, and they’re it.”
That hand disappeared. “I have extensive dossiers on every Narco officer. At the proper time, I’m going to present them to Welles Noonan, as a way of affecting a rapprochement. And, parenthetically, Dan Wilhite committed suicide last night.
He left a note that included a brief mention of the bribes he’s taken, and I’m going to send Noonan a memorandum on it before too long. He was obviously afraid of having his more outrÈ secrets exposed, which is something you should consider should you decide to testify against the Department.”
Bad morning light–glaring.
“I’m past all that.”
Side 202
Ellroy – White Jazz
“You’re not past needing me. I can help satisfy your curiosity regarding those families, so don’t forget that your interests are identical to mine.”
Bad morning light–one day left.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
10:30–Newton Street Station. A briefing room–chairs facing me.
No sleep–phone work kept me up. Recap: early-A.M. check-in–the Wagon Wheel Motel.