The Death of Friends by Michael Nava Read Free Book Online Page B

crusader.”
    I didn’t know what to make out of Zack’s association with Bligh, but I could imagine how it would play in the media; murdered judge’s porn star boyfriend. This information and the missing murder weapon made it more important than ever that I get to Zack Bowen. I called Bligh’s number from my car phone, en route to Josh’s apartment.
    A male voice answered. “Hello.”
    It was Zack Bowen.
    “Zack,” I said. “This is Henry Rios.”
    A pause. “How did you find me?”
    “That’s not important. I have to talk to you.”
    “You were going to call the police,” he said, accusingly.
    “No, I told you I wasn’t. You have to trust me, Zack.”
    “Why?” he demanded.
    “Because you’re in trouble. It’s just a matter of time before the police figure out who you are and they’ll be looking for you.”
    “Who’s going to tell them?”
    “People know about you and Chris,” I said. “Your boss at Azul, for one. And Bay Chandler, or didn’t Chris tell her about you when he left her?”
    “He told her,” he said. “He said they had a fight. It was really bad.”
    “The cops have probably already talked to her,” I said. “They might already be trying to find you.”
    “What should I do?” he asked fearfully.
    “Go to them first,” I said. “I’ll go with you. Tell them what you saw when you went to Chris’s courtroom yesterday.”
    “They’ll think I killed him.”
    “If and when that happens, we’ll deal with it then,” I told him. “You’re only making it worse by running.”
    He breathed unsteadily into the phone. “I’m afraid.”
    “Zack, if you didn’t do it, you don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
    “I didn’t do it!” he shrilled.
    “Okay, then let’s go to the police and help them find who did. Where are you now? What’s the address?”
    “I need some time to think,” he said.
    “We don’t have much time.”
    “I need to talk to Sam.”
    “Sam Bligh? What’s your relationship with him?”
    “He’s my friend,” he said, defensively.
    I didn’t want to scare him off, so I dropped it, for now. “Okay, you talk to Sam. When can we meet?”
    He drew a deep breath. “Later,” he said. “I’ll meet you at midnight at that coffeehouse on Robertson. The Abbey? You know where it is?”
    “I’ll find it,” I said. “Zack, you’re doing the right thing.”
    “You’ll go to the police with me, right?”
    “Yes,” I said. “And Zack, one last thing. The story about Chris in the Times this morning said the police didn’t find the weapon that was used to kill him. You said you left it there. You have any idea what happened to it?”
    “No,” he said. “It was there when I left.”
    “Well, give it some thought. I’ll see you tonight. All right?”
    “All right,” he said, sounding relieved. “All right, I’ll see you.”
    I put the phone down. It was just after eleven. Twelve hours until I met him. All I could do now was hope he actually showed up.
    No one answered at Josh’s apartment. Worried, I let myself in with my key and found the place empty. I looked at the calendar in the kitchen where he wrote down his medical appointments, and saw that he was scheduled for a visit to his doctor at eleven. Ordinarily, I drove him to his appointments, but sometimes he cadged a ride from a friend. I left him a note asking him to call me when he got home. Then, because I’d been avoiding it all morning, I called Bay Chandler.
    The maid answered. I asked for Bay, and she said, “Mrs. Chandler’s not talking to nobody but family.”
    “Would you just ask if she’ll talk to me?” I said. “Henry Rios.”
    “Wait,” she said, and put the phone down with a thunk.
    A moment later, Bay came on the line. “Henry,” she said. “I’m glad you called.”
    I was in an awkward position, possessing, as it were, insider information. I didn’t want to deceive Bay, but I didn’t want to upset her either, nor, until I talked to him again, did I