Chapter 22

Chapter XXII

Lucky Mace had an apartment south of Heg Park. Inspectors, Kurtis and Spacer talked to him late in the afternoon.  He was, as Penz described, a quiet, nice young man, eating his heart out.

He didn’t know any reason Hope Styles would be murdered, but he told them exactly where the shortcut was the day she spotted the pot field.

“I hear you’ve been neglecting your career since Ms Styles died,” Kurtis said.

Spacer was surprised by his partner’s diversion, but listened.

“You know she would hate that,” Kurtis went on.  “Women hook-up with guys in the ring are special.  They have a need to be a part of helping it happen.  … I used to be a wrestler – amateur.  I noticed this gal hangin’-out when I was in a match.  We got close.  She was the kind of pretty a mug like mine does not attract,” Kurtis said, “but the ring made me something she liked.  She was there all the time.  Never stopped encouraging me.”

Lucky nodded.  “You were fortunate.”

Kurtis shook his head and looked away as though the memory was too painful.  His voice lowered and distant in tone, he went on, “She got, what they call, one of those rare forms of cancer.  Within a month she wasn’t coming out of the hospital.  I went to see her every day.  She finally said, ‘you’re not working-out while you’re here.  How you gonna win?’ I told her it wasn’t important without her there.  She said, ‘You think you’re winnin’ for you.  I need you to win.  I need to know my being here made you better.’”

“My being here makes you better,” Lucky said. “Hope used to say that.”

“Then you better go win for her,” Kurtis said. “She needs that.  She deserves it.”

They left Lucky with something to think about. 

Back in the car Spacer said, “I didn’t know you were a wrestler.”

Kurtis looked at him with a smile, “Wrestler?  Whatever gave you that idea?”

“You had me crying over a phony story?” Spacer said.

“Think it worked?”

“I hope so, I hate to waste tears.”

Spacer and Kurtis went back to the station.  They arranged a fly over to see if the pot field could be spotted.  Luck was with them there was a plane in the air not far from the location and to save an extra flight the pilot would fly over.  They would have a report within the hour.

While they waited, they received a phone call from Rocco Penz.  The jest of which was “What did you do to my boy?  And thanks!”  Seems Lucky Mace suddenly needed to get into shape for the best fight Rocco could arrange.

Spacer looked to Kurtis with a pursed lip and a nod.  The expression that Kurtis knew meant, good -show.

“I’ve seen the kid fight,” Kurtis said, then mimicking Marlon Brando, “He coulda been a contender.”

“Maybe he will be, because I have a partner, who handles more than paper work.”  Spacer appreciated anyone who cared for the human-side and could show it, though he tried to remain detached.

Christina looked into the office, “Ah, you’re together.  Got a minute.”

“Sure you’re early today,” Spacer said, as he and Kurtis adjusted their chairs and seated Christina.

“I’m checking on something for Ralph.  He didn’t come out and say it, but he wanted it run by you,” Christina said.  “It’s hard to know where it’s all right to go when a case is open.”

“What’s he onto?” Kurtis asked.

“He wants me to see, if, Lake Ferris filed a missing gun report.”

“Lake Ferris?” Spacer asked.

“The was a boy, friend.” Kurtis supplied.

“Why the hell didn’t we think of that?” Spacer shouted.

“You been busy.  Heard you were chasing all day and now on a drug bust,” She shook her head, “Can’t do everything at once.”

“You should call Bakersfield,” Kurtis said. “They’ll have all the gun info.”

“But report to us first, okay,” Spacer said.

“Gotcha!  Thanks!”  Christina went off to handle the assignment, and start her regular job as a policewoman.

Spacer answered another phone call.  After a second he shouted, “What?  … You make it damn clear this is a murder investigation and I want any vehicles sent straight to the crime lab.  If there is a spot of blood in any they become mine; you got that?” He threw the phone into its cradle.

Kurtis asked, “What?”

“The narcs are making our bust.”

Kurtis thought on that a minute then said, “They’re better equipped for that kind of action.  They can come in from all sides.  And it’s out of our jurisdiction.”

“They better not fuck up our evidence.  You think Styles was stupid enough to go back there.”

“Reports say she left work early Tuesday.  She might have thought she’d get there just at dark and no one would see her,” Kurtis said.  “Long way to take a body – Heg Park, but far enough not to attract attention to the area.”

A young uniformed officer timidly poked his head into the office.  “You Guys got time to check a shots fired on Terrace Blvd.?”

“I shout too loud?” Spacer asked.

“No, you were requested,” The officer said. “Guy said you talked to him in the park, but hung up before I got his name.”

“Got an address?” Spacer asked.

The officer approached the desk and handed him a slip of paper.  He left.

Spacer and Kurtis were on their way again.

Ruby and Pete were showing Al and Jeanne around the house.  Al was particularly impressed with the changes that had been made.

“Here the half bath under the stairs.” Pete said, opening the door.

“I always hated that dinky little r…”Al stopped staring in disbelief.  “What?  Did you find a way to expand it?”

“Lit it up,” Ruby said.  “They ran track lighting around the ceiling. “And the mirror on the back wall.  With the half mirror framing the free-standing sink.”

“I like that shell shaped basin,” Jeanne said.

“It goes so nice with the wall covering,” Al said, taking in the sea mist wall accented by fish, shells, and mermaids.  “You have really done a lot.”

“Wait ‘til the master bathroom is finished.  It’s going to have a spa,” Pete said.

“His Dad’s giving us an early wedding present,” Ruby blurted.

Jeanne raised her eyebrows, “Wedding?”

Ruby blushed.

They went into the living room where Pete and Ruby had set a Varity of snacks.

“We have a rule no more than one glass of wine before the treadmill.  We can get drunk after,” Ruby said.

“You may need to,” Pete agreed.

“I’ll take that one glass to fortify, but while we’re gone don’t you boys eat up all this beautiful food.”  Jeanne was ready for her ride.

Spacer and Kurtis were rushing back to the station; the car twisting down Terrace Blvd.  It was a wide two-lane road with little traffic. 

“Damn waste of time,” Spacer grumbled.

“Not one neighbor heard shots,” Kurtis was agreeing.

Spacer was an aggressive driver, but very aware of everything on the road.  No one would expect the black van stopped at the sign on Lexis Lane to take direct aim and gun the engine to ram the police car as it passed.

Pete set the treadmills, when the women were ready.  He and Ruby had restated the rules.

“Okay, Rumble, you’re set for trail one.  Jeanne, don’t lose my Rumble,” Pete said in farewell.

Ruby and Jeanne mounted the treadmills and they disappeared.

“I never get used to that part,” Pete said.

“That is weird.”  Al shook his head in amazement.  “They come back the same way?”

“Oh, you haven’t seen it.  It doesn’t seem the same when you’re doing it.”

“Yeah,” Al said, “Don’t lose my Jeanne.”

Pete laughed.

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