The Last Detective by Robert Crais Read Free Book Online Page B

idea of making a list seemed silly; Fields, Abbott, Johnson, and Rodriguez were dead, and no one else in my company had reason to hate me or steal a ten-year-old boy. No one I had known in Vietnam would.
    Lucy called just before eleven. The house was so quiet that the sudden ring was as loud as a gunshot. My pen tore the page.
    She said, “I couldn't stand not knowing. Did he call back?”
    “No, not yet. I would have called. I'll call you right away.”
    “God, this is awful. It's a nightmare.”
    “Yeah. I'm trying to make this list and I'm sick to my stomach. How about you?”
    “I just got off the phone with Richard. He's flying out tonight.”
    “How was he?”
    “Furious, accusatory, frightened, belligerent—nothing I didn't expect. He's Richard.”
    Losing her son wasn't bad enough, so now she had this. Richard hadn't wanted Lucy to move to Los Angeles, and he had never liked me; they fought often about it, and now they would fight even more. I guess she was calling for the moral support.
    She said, “He's supposed to call from the plane with his flight information, but I don't know. Jesus, he was such an asshole.”
    “You want me to come by tomorrow after Starkey leaves? I can do that.”
    Richard could shout at me instead of her.
    “I don't know. Maybe. I'd better get off the line.”
    “We can talk as long as you want.”
    “No, now I'm worried that man will try to call you again about Ben. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”
    The phone rang a second time almost as soon as I put it down. The second time, I didn't jump, but I let it ring twice, taking the time to ready myself.
    Starkey said, “This is Detective Starkey. I hope I didn't wake you.”
    “Sleep isn't an option, Starkey. I thought you were him.”
    “Sorry. He hasn't called again, has he?”
    “Not yet. It's late; I didn't think you'd still be on the job.”
    “I waited to hear from the phone company. They show you received a call at six fifty-two this evening. Does that time out about right?”
    “Yeah, that's when he called.”
    “Okay, the call was made from a cell number registered to a Louise Escalante in Diamond Bar.”
    “I don't know her.”
    “I figured you wouldn't. She says her purse was stolen this afternoon, along with her phone. She says she doesn't know you or anything about this, and her billing records support that the call to you was out of her pattern of use. I'm sorry, but I think she's a dead end.”
    “Did you think about calling the number?”
    Her voice cooled.
    “Yes, Mr. Cole, I did. I've dialed it five times. They've turned off the phone.”
    Stealing a phone meant the man who took Ben had criminal experience. He had anticipated the line trace, which meant he had planned his action. Smart crooks are harder to catch than stupid crooks. They are also more dangerous.
    “Mr. Cole?”
    “I'm here. I was thinking.”
    “You getting those names together for me?”
    “I'm doing that now, but I'm thinking about another possibility, too. I've had run-ins with people, Starkey, doing what I do. I've helped put some people in jail or out of business, and they're the kind of people who would hold a grudge. If I make a list, would you be willing to run their names, too?”
    “Sure. Not a problem.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate this.”
    “I'll see you in the morning. Try to get some sleep.”
    “Like that could happen.”
    The darkest part of the night stretched through the hours, but little by little the eastern sky lightened. I barely noticed. By the time Starkey arrived, I had filled twelve legal-sized pages with names and notes. It was six forty-two when I answered the door. She was early.
    Starkey held up a cardboard tray with two cups from Starbucks.
    “I hope you like mocha. This is how I get my chocolate fix.”
    “That's nice of you, Starkey. Thanks.”
    She passed one of the cups to me. Morning light filled the canyon with a soft glow. She seemed to consider it, then glanced at the Game Freak. It was on the