I followed him. Jesus, eager: “Carlotta don’t know who rented the room. She said she thinks it’s a young white guy. She said this wino rented the room for him, and the tenant guy said he had to have room 19. She ain’t seen the tenant guy herself. I ain’t either, but listen, I know that wino. You give me five dollars and a ride back to my car and I find him for you.”
Fork it over: two fives, the Lucille pix. “One for you, one for Carlotta. Tell her I don’t want any trouble and ask her if she knows this girl. _Then_ you go find me that wino.”
Chasco ran back, passed the five, flashed the mugs–Moms nodded yes yes yes.
Jesus, back to me: “Carlotta said that girl’s like a once-in-awhile–she rent short-timer and don’t fill out no rent card. She said she’s a prostie, and she always ask for number 18, right next to where I found that nice silver. She said the girl likes 18 ’cause she got a street view case the police show up.”
Think:
Room 19, room 18: the peeper peeping Lucille’s trick fucks. Room 19 jimmy marks–make some third party involved?
Granny jiggled a tin can. “For Jehovah. Jehovah get ten percent of all rent money spent on this sinful premises tithed back to him. I gots the slot-machine gambleitis myself, and I kicks back ten percent of my winnings to Jehovah. You a handsome young police, so for one more dollar for Jehovah I give you more skinny on that slummin’, thrill-seekin’ white ho’ Hay-soos showed me them pictures of.”
Fuck it, fork it–Moms fed the can. “I seen that girl at Bido Lito’s, where I was indulgin’ my one-arm-bandit gambleitis to tithe Jehovah. This other p0-lice, he was askin’ people at the bar ’bout her. I tol’ him what I tol’ you: she jist a thrill-seekin’, slummin’ white ho’. Later on, after hours, I seen that girl in the pictures do this striptease with this bee-you-tiful mink coat. That other police, he saw it too, but he actin’ cool, like he _not_ a po-lice, an’ he didn’
even stop her from makin’ that disgraceful display, _or_ act like he was too hot Side 63
Ellroy – White Jazz
and bothered.”
Think–don’t jump yet. “Jesus, go get me that wino. Carlotta, what did that policeman look like?”
Chasco breezed. Moms: “He had light brown hair done up with pomade, an’ he maybe thirty years old. Nice-lookin’, but not as high-steppin’ as you, Mister Police.”
Jump: Darktown Junior lead number two. Reverse jump: Rock Rockwell at Fern Dell–some quiff said Ad Vice was working the Park. Junior copped to it–“a favor”– he owed a pal working Hollywood Vice.
_Rattle rattle_–I shoved Moms some change. “Listen, have you ever seen the man staying in this room?”
“Praise Jehovah, I seen him from the back.”
“Have you ever seen him _with_ anyone else?”
“Praise Jehovah, no I hasn’t.”
“When was the last time you saw the girl in my photographs?”
“Praise Jehovah, when she did that striptease at Bido’s maybe four, five days ago.”
“When was the last time she brought a trick to this front room here?”
“Praise Jehovah, maybe a week ago.”
“Where does she solicit her tricks?”
“Praise Jehovah, I don’t know.”
“Has she brought the same man more than once? Does she have regular tricks?”
“Praise Jehovah, I has taught myself not to look at the faces of these sinners.”
Chasco walked a piss bum up. “I don’t know, but I think maybe this guy’s not so sharp with questions.”
“This guy”: Mex, Filipino–grime-caked–a tough call. “What’s your name, sahib?”
Mumbles, hiccups–Jesus shushed him. “The cops call him Flame-O, ’cause sometimes he sets himself on fire when he’s drunk.”
Flame-O flashed some scars–Moms took off going “Uggh.” Jesus: “Look, I asked him ’bout that guy he rented the room for, an’ I don’t think he remembers so good. You still gonna drive me-”
Back to room 19–my blinders on. Throw the lock, eyeball it– zoom–a connecting door.
Room 19 to room 18–Lucille’s preferred fuck spot. Jamb-ledge jimmy marks–different than the front door marks.
Think:
Peeper hits or tries to hit Lucille’s room.