When The Bough Breaks

"That kids' place, up in Malibu. Morry used to spend his weekends there, volunteering with the kids. He got a certificate. C'mon, I'll show you."

Bruno's office was a quarter the size of Gersh man's, but decked out in the same eclectically elegant style. The place was neat as a pin, not surprising, since Bruno spent most of his time on the road.

Gershman pointed to a framed plaque that shared wall space with a half - dozen Number One Salesman commendations.

"You see - jawarded to Maurice Bruno in recognition of voluntary service to the homeless children of La Casa de los Nines' blah blah blah. I told you he was a gem."

The certificate was signed by the Mayor, as honorary witness, and by the director of the children's home, a Reverend Augustus J. McCaffrey. It was all calligraphy and floral intaglio. Very impressive.

"Very nice," said Milo. "Do you know what hotel Mr. Bruno was staying at?"

"He used to stay at the MGM, but after the fire, I don't know. Let's go back to the office and find out."

Back in Office Beautiful, Gershman picked up the telephone, punched the intercom and barked into the receiver.

"Denise, where's Morry staying in Vegas? Do that."

A half - minute later the intercom buzzed.

"Yeah? Good. Thanks, darling." He turned to us. "The Palace."

"Caesar's Palace?"

"Yeah. You want me to call there, you can talk to him?"

"If you don't mind, sir. We'll charge it to the Police Department."

"Nah!" Gershman waved his hand. "On me. Denise, call Caesar's Palace, get Morry on the phone. He's not there, leave him a message to call - "

"Detective Sturgis. West L.A. Division."

Gershman completed the instructions.

"You're not thinking about Morry as a suspect, are you?" he asked when he got off the phone. "This is a witness thing, right?"

"We really can't say anything about it, Mr. Gersh man." Milo paid lip service to discretion.

"I can't believe it!" Gershman slapped his head with his hand. "You think Morry's a murderer! A guy who works with kids on the weekend - a guy who never had a cross word with anybody here - go ask around, I give you permission. You find someone who has a bad word to say about Morry Bruno, I'll eat this desk!"

He was interrupted by the intercom buzzer.

"Yes, Denise. What's that? You're sure? Maybe it was a mistake. Check again. And then call the Aladdin, the Sands, maybe he changed his mind."

The old man's face was solemn when he hung up.

"He's not at the Palace." He said it with the sadness and fear of someone about to be torn from the comforting warmth of his preconceptions.

Maurice Bruno wasn't at the Aladdin or the Sands or any other major hotel in Las Vegas. Additional calls from Gershman's office revealed the fact that none of the airlines had a record of him flying from L.A. to Vegas.

"I'd like his home address and phone number, please."

"Denise will give it to you," said Gershman. We left him sitting alone in his big office, grizzled chin resting in his hands, frowning like a battered old bison who'd spent too many years at the zoo.

Bruno lived in Glendale, normally a ten - minute drive from the Presto plant, but it was 6 p.m." there had been an accident just west of the Hollywood - Golden State interchange, and the freeway was stagnant all the way from Burbank to Pasadena. By the time we exited on Brand, it was dark and both of us were in foul moods.

Milo turned north and headed toward the mountains. Bruno's house was on Armelita, a side street half a mile from where the boulevard ended. It was situated at the end of a cul - de - sac, a small, one - story mock Tudor fronted by a neat, square lawn, yew hedges and sprigs of juniper stuffed in the empty spaces. Two large arborvitae bushes guarded the entrance. It wasn't the kind of place I would have imagined for a Vegas - haunting bachelor. Then I remembered what Gershman had said about the divorce. No doubt this was the homestead left behind by the fleeing wife and children.

Milo rang the doorbell a couple of times, then he knocked hard. When no one answered he went to the car and called the Glendale police. Ten minutes later a squad car pulled up and two uniformed officers got out. Both were tall, beefy and sandy - haired and wore bushy, bristly, mustaches under their noses. They came over with that swagger unique to cops and drunks trying hard to look sober, and conferred with Milo. Then they got on their radio.

The street was quiet and devoid of visible human habitation. It stayed that way as the three additional squad cars and the unmarked Dodge drove up and parked. There was a brief conference that resembled a football huddle and then guns were drawn. Milo rang the bell again, waited a minute and then kicked the door in. The assault was on.