The Final Detail - By Harlan Coben Page 0,6

smiled. "Yeah. Like that."

"Then slice off the limb and leave it behind."

Myron looked at his friend.

Win shrugged. "I've been watching Sally Jessy on the side."

"It shows," Myron said.

" 'The episode entitled 'Mommy Took Away My Nipple Ring,'" Win said. "I'm not afraid to say it made me cry."

"Good to see you getting in touch with your sensitive side." As if Win had one. "So what next?"

Win checked his watch. "I have a contact at the Bergen County house of detention. He should be in by now." He hit the speakerphone and pressed in some numbers. They listened to the phone ring. After two rings a voice said, "Schwartz."

"Brian, this is Win Lockwood."

The usual reverent hush when you first hear that name. Then: "Hey, Win."

"I need a favor."

"Shoot."

"Esperanza Diaz. Is she there?"

Brief pause. "You didn't hear it from me," Schwartz said.

"Hear what?"

"Good, okay, long as we understand each other," he said. "Yeah, she's here. They dragged her through here in cuffs a coupla hours ago. Very hush-hush."

"Why hush-hush?"

"Don't know."

"When is she being arraigned?"

"Tomorrow morning, I guess."

Win looked at Myron. Myron nodded. Esperanza would be held overnight. This was not a good thing.

"Why did they arrest her so late?"

"Don't know."

"And you saw them drag her in cuffs?"

"Yep."

"Didn't they let her surrender on her own?"

"Nope."

Again the two friends looked at each other. The late arrest. The handcuffs. The overnight. Someone in the DA's office was pissed off and trying to make a point. Very not a good thing.

"What else can you tell me?" Win asked.

"Not much. Like I said, they're being quiet on this one. The DA hasn't even released it to the media yet. But he will. Probably before the eleven o'clock news. Quick statement, no time for questions, that kind of thing. Hell, I wouldn't know about it if I wasn't a big fan."

"A big fan?"

"Of professional wrestling. See, I recognized her from her old wrestling days. Did you know Esperanza Diaz used to be Little Pocahontas, the Indian Princess?"

Win glanced at Myron. "Yes, Brian, I know."

"Really?" Brian was big-time excited now. "Little Pocahontas was my absolute fave, bar none. An awesome wrestler. Top drawer. I mean, she used to enter the ring in this skimpy suede bikini, right, and then she'd start grappling with other chicks, bigger chicks really, writhing around on the floor and stuff-swear to God, she was so hot my fingernails would melt."

"Thank you for the visual," Win said. "Anything else, Brian?"

"No."

"Do you know who her attorney of record is?"

"No." Then: "Oh, one other thing. She's got someone, well, sort of with her."

"Sort of with her, Brian?"

"Outside. On the front steps of the courthouse."

"I'm not sure I'm following you," Win said.

"Out in the rain. Just sitting there. If I didn't know better, I'd swear it was Little Pocahontas's old tag team partner, Big Chief Mama. Did you know Big Chief Mama and Little Pocahontas were Intercontinental tag team champions three years running?"

Win sighed. "You don't say."

"Whatever Intercontinental means. I mean, what is that, Intercontinental? And I'm not talking about recently. Five, eight years ago, at least. But, man, they were awesome. Great wrestlers. Today, well, the league has no class anymore."

"Grappling bikini-clad women," Win said. "They just don't make them like they used to."

"Right, exactly. Too many fake, inflated breasts nowadays, at least that's how I see it. One of them is going to land on her stomach and bam, her boob is going to blow out like a worn tire. So I don't follow it much anymore. Oh, maybe if I'm flipping the channels and something catches my eye, I might watch a little-"

"You were talking about a woman out in the rain?"

"Right, Win, right, sorry. Anyway, she's out there, whoever she is. Just sitting there. The cops went by before and asked her what she was doing. She said she was going to wait for her friend."

"So she's there right now?"

"Yep."

"What does she look like, Brian?"

"Like the Incredible Hulk. Only scarier. And maybe greener."

Win and Myron exchanged glances. No doubt. Big Chief Mama aka Big Cyndi.

"Anything else, Brian?"

"No, not really." Then: "So you know Esperanza Diaz?"

"Yes."

"Personally?"

"Yes."

Silent awe. "Jesus, you lead some life, Win."

"Oh, indeed."

"Think you can get me her autograph?"

"I'll do my best, Brian."

"A picture autograph maybe? Of Little Pocahontas in costume? I'm a really big fan."

"So I gather, Brian. Good-bye."

Win hung up and sat back. He looked over at Myron. Myron nodded. Win picked up the intercom and gave the driver directions to the courthouse.
Chapter 4
By the time they arrived at the courthouse in