When The Bough Breaks

"That's it. They tried to put the squeeze on Gus. He paid them once or twice - big amounts 'cause I saw large rolls of bills - but it was just to give them false confidence. They never had a chance from the start. We never got the money back, but I don't think it mattered. It was a drop in the bucket. Besides, money doesn't seem to turn Gus on. He lives simply, eats cheap. There's big bucks rolling in every day. From the government - state and federal. Private donations. Not to mention the thousands the per vs pay him for their jollies. He stashes some away but I've never seen him do anything extravagant. It's power he's after, not bread."

"Where are the tapes?"

"I gave them to Gus."

"Come on."

"I gave them to him. He sent me on an errand and I delivered."

"That's a strong - looking knee. Pity to pulverize it to bone meal." I stepped on the back of his leg and bore down. It forced his head up, had to hurt.

"Stop! Okay. I made a copy. I had to. For leverage. What if Gus wanted me out of the way one day? I mean I was his golden boy now but you could never know, right?"

"Where are they?"

"In my bedroom. Taped to the bottom of the mattress."

"Don't go away." I released my foot.

He gnashed his teeth like a netted shark.

I found three unmarked cassettes where he said they'd be, pocketed them and returned.

"Tell me some names. Of the molesters in the Brigade."

He recited like a kid delivering his confirmation speech. Automatic. Nervous. Overly rehearsed.

"Any more?"

"Isn't that enough?"

He had a point. He'd mentioned a well - known film director, a deputy D.A." a political biggie - a behind - the - scenes man who managed to stay in front - corporate attorneys. Doctors. Bankers. Real estate honchos. Men whose names usually got in print when they donated something or won an award for humanitarian service. Men whose names on a campaign endorsement roster brought in votes. Ned Biondi would have enough to turn L.A. society on its ear for quite some time.

"You're not going to forget all of this when the police ask you about it, are you, Tim?"

"No! Why should I? Maybe cooperating can buy me out?"

"You're not getting out. Accept it. But at least," I added, "you won't end up fertilizing McCaffrey's vegetable patch."

He considered that. It must have been hard to count his blessings with the ropes biting into his wrists and ankles.

"Listen," he said, "I've helped you. Help me make a deal. I'll cooperate - I didn't kill anyone."

The power he attributed to me was fictitious. I used it anyway.

"I'll do what I can," I said magnanimously, "but a lot of it's up to you. If the Quinn kid gets out of this healthy, I'll go to bat for you. If not, you're down the toilet."

"Then get going, for God's sake! Get her out of there! I don't give her more than a day. Will put Gus off but it won't be for long. She'll have an accident. They'll never find the body. It's just a matter of time. Gus is sure she saw too much."

"Tell me what I need to get her out of there safely."

He looked away.

"I lied about where she is. It's not the furthest building, it's the one just before it. With the blue door. Metal door. There's a key in the pocket of my tan pants. Hanging in the closet in my room."

I left him, fished it out and came back dangling the key.

"You're batting a thousand, Tim."

"I'm being straight with you. Just help me."

"Is anyone with her?"

"No. There's no need. Will has her on sedatives. Mostly she's out of it or sleeping. They send in someone to feed her, clean her up. She's strapped to the bed. The room's solid, concrete block. Only one way in - through the door. There's a single skylight window they keep open. Close it, anyone inside suffocates in forty - eight hours."

"Could Will Towle get into La Casa without arousing suspicion?"

"Sure. Like I told you, he's on twenty - four - hour call for when the Gentlemen get too rough on the kids. Most of the time it's nothing serious - scrapes, lacerations. Sometimes the kids freak out, he gives them Valium or Mellaril, or a quick dose of Thorazine. Yeah, he could show up any time."

"Good. You're going to call him, Tim. You're going to tell him he needs to make just such an emergency call. I want him entering La Casa a half - hour after dark - let's say seven - thirty. Make sure he's on time. And alone. Make it sound convincing."

"I could be more convincing if I could move around a little bit."

"Work with what you've got. I have faith in you. Use your dramatic training. You were pretty good as Bill Roberts."

"How'd you kn - "

"I didn't. Now I do. It was an educated guess. You're a trained actor, you were a natural for the part. Did your role include killing Hickle, too?"