The Sentry - By Robert Crais Page 0,80
going through it right now.”
“Straw, I’m at your stakeout. It’s empty.”
“You need to relax, Pike. We closed that place down. The shakedown op is history. Most of my crew is already on their way home.”
“Louisiana doesn’t have a picture of the Bolivian.”
Straw was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was measured.
“I know they don’t. I spoke with an agent down there twenty minutes ago. So I’ve got Kenny looking at the recordings right now. If he sees anyone who looks suspicious—anyone who even remotely might be our guy—he will let me know. You better settle down, man. You sound like you’re losing it.”
Straw hung up.
Kenny. One man to look at hundreds of hours of video.
Pike settled back, and scanned the surrounding buildings and the gawkers on the sidewalks outside Rainey’s shop. Rainey probably wouldn’t return, but you never knew—Rainey had been running for years, but this time he hadn’t. Rainey had broken his pattern, and people never changed without a very good reason. Instead of running again, Rainey and Dru had moved in with Azzara, but left several things at Brown’s house, suggesting they felt the move would be temporary and they planned to return. Maybe Rainey left something at the house he needed before he would leave.
Pike drove to the house. The police had blocked the surrounding streets, so Pike left his Jeep on the boulevard and tried to cross the pedestrian bridge. The police had blocked the footbridges at both ends of the alley, so Pike found himself with three neighborhood women and six children at the construction site where Gomer had been murdered. They watched the activity as uniformed and plainclothes officers searched Brown’s house.
Pike spent little time looking at the police. Gawkers had gathered at the bridges and bike paths, and residents with a view of the scene were in their backyards. Pike searched the faces for Rainey, but knew the Bolivian killer might also be among them. If the killer was still hunting for Rainey, he might return to the house for the same reasons as Pike.
Pike found Lily Palmer’s card in his wallet, and called.
Jared answered, his voice low and dull.
“Hullo.”
“It’s Pike. Remember?”
Jared perked up.
“Oh, man, you should see this place. The cops are everywhere.”
“I know. I’m across the canal.”
“No shit? Man, did you know? Wilson and Dru are criminals. Did you know that?”
Jared came out to the edge of their pool and waved when he saw Pike.
“Hey, dude, there you are! I see you!”
Pike said, “Has anyone been next door?”
“At Steve’s place?”
“Yes.”
“Dude, look at it. The place looks like a cop convention.”
“Not now. Before the police.”
“Right, yeah, the cops asked that, too. No, uh-uh, I didn’t see anyone.”
“Not just today. What about yesterday and last night?”
“Nada, man.”
“Did you hear anything?”
“No, dude. And you know me—all eyes all the time. No evil shall escape my sight.”
“Get something to write with. I’m going to give you my number.”
“Sure, dude. Hang on.”
Jared jogged into his house, and reappeared a few moments later.
“Okey-doke, we are ready to copy, Houston.”
Pike recited his cell.
“If you see anyone next door after the police leave, I want you to call me. Will you do that?”
“Sure, dude. We’re supposed to call the cops, too.”
“That’s fine. Call them, but call me, too.”
“You got it, bro. No problemo.”
“And Jared—do you have alarms on your house?”
“Yeah.”
“Lock up tonight. Don’t leave any windows or doors open. Lock it and arm up.”
“Dude, you are freakin’ me out. Wilson’s cool with me. We joke around.”
Pike wasn’t thinking about Rainey.
“Lock up, Jared. If you see someone or hear something, call 911, then me. Tell your mother. Give her my number.”
The excitement left Jared’s voice.
“Yes, sir. I’ll tell her.”
Pike closed his phone.
Jared stared at him for a moment, then waved again and walked slowly back into his house.
Pike studied the near bridges and surrounding houses. If Rainey showed up because he wanted to enter the house, he would leave, but return later when the police were gone. Pike had nothing else, so he settled in to wait.
Forty minutes later, Pike’s attention was drawn when two men stepped from the crowd at the head of the pedestrian bridge. Special Agents Straw and Kenny showed their badges to the officer blocking the bridge, who immediately let them pass. They disappeared when they reached the end of the bridge, but Kenny reappeared a few minutes later in Rainey’s backyard. Pike wondered why he was here with Straw instead of checking the video.
Kenny walked to the fence, then turned