the First Rule (2010) by Robert - Joe Pike 02 Crais Read Free Book Online

Beach, which Lonny robbed. When two longshoremen tried to stop him, Lonny shot and killed the bar's owner and an innocent bystander. Lonny Tang was arrested less than three hours later, passed out in his car after scoring enough dope to deaden the pain. He was tried on two counts of first-degree murder, convicted, and was currently serving twenty-five years to life at the California State Prison in Corcoran.
    Pike didn't know what else to say, so he decided to tie off the conversation.
    Lonny, listen, the police are investigating Frank,
    They're not going to find anything.
    When they go through his phone records, they'll see he talked to you.
    I don't care. I'll tell'm just what I told you.
    Tell them whatever you want about Frank. Don't tell them about me.
    You didn't call me. My lawyer called.
    That's right.
    You going after these people?
    I gotta get going.
    I hear you, brother.
    Pike was about to hang up when he remembered something else.
    Lonny, you there?
    I'm here. Where else am I going?
    One more thing. The police told me Frank had my ink.
    You didn't know?
    No.
    That was years ago, man. This time he came to visit, he showed me. He'd just had'm done.
    The arrows.
    Big ol' red arrows like yours. Cindy was livid. She damn near threw him out of the house.
    Lonny laughed, but Pike felt embarrassed.
    He say anything?
    Why he got them?
    Yeah.
    Remember all the shit she gave him about being a contractor, and how she wouldn't marry him unless he settled down?
    Sure.
    The rest of us were all over him to dump her, what, you're going to give this chick your balls? But Frank said you told him to go for it. Told him, if he wanted that kind of life, he had to make it happen. He really appreciated that, Joe. It was like you gave him permission.
    Pike considered that for a moment.
    Was he happy?
    Yeah, brother. Hell, yeah, he was happy. It was like he woke up in someone else's life. What's the word? He was content, man.
    Pike said, Good.
    Said somethin' weird, though. Said he'd wake up sometimes, scared God was going to realize he made a mistake, say, a_~Hey, that's not your life, Frank, you belong back in the shit,' and take everything away. He was joking when he said it, but still.
    Pike didn't respond, thinking that sounded like something Frank would say.
    You think that's what happened? God realized he made a mistake?
    Someone down here made the mistake, Lonny.
    I hear you. Joe? Thanks for calling about Frankie. I don't get many calls.
    I have to go.
    Joe?
    I gotta get going.
    You were a good leader. You really took care of us, man. I'm sorry I let you down.
    Pike closed his phone.
    THE EARLY-EVENING SKY PURPLED as Pike turned toward Frank Meyer's house for the second time that day. He drove slowly, buying time for the twilight sky to darken. Pike loved the night. Had since he was a boy, hiding in the woods from his raging father; loved it all the more as a young combat Marine on long-range patrols, then again when he was a police officer. Pike felt safe in the darkness. Hidden, and free.
    Frank's house was dark when Pike drove past. The bright yellow tape across the door was now ochre in the gloomy light, and the SID wagons and criminalists were gone. A radio car remained out front, but Pike noted the windows were up and the glass was smoked. Pike recognized the car as a scarecrow vehicle, left to discourage intruders, but posted without a crew. This made Pike's task easier.
    Pike circled the block, then parked in the deep shadow of a maple tree two houses away. He moved quickly and without hesitation, sliding out of his Jeep and into a row of hedges. He crossed the neighbor's yard, then hoisted himself over a wall. He followed the side of Frank's garage into the backyard, then stood for a moment, listening. The neighborhood was alive with normal sounds, cars shortcutting to Beverly Glen on their way home to the Valley, a watchful owl in the maple tree over Frank's pool, a faraway siren.
    Pike went to the edge of the pool,