Free The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais Page A

car. Maybe he got it somewhere else and he was put there. No sign of the kid. Car’s been wiped clean. Robbery’s out. He’s still got his wallet and the credit cards and forty-six bucks and his watch. Keys are in the ignition. You got all that?”
    â€œI’m watching your lips, yes, sir.”
    Baishe looked at me, then at Lou. Lou said, “Cole has a brain imbalance, Lieutenant.”
    Baishe unwrapped his arms, came out of the corner, leaned on Poitras’ desk and looked at me. He looked like a Daddy Longlegs. “Don’t fuck with me, boy.”
    I pretended to be intimidated. After a bit he said, “How do you fit into this?”
    I went through it again. Baishe said, “How long have you known the wife?”
    â€œSince yesterday.”
    â€œYou sure it hasn’t been longer?”
    I looked from Baishe to Poitras to Simms and back to Baishe. Poitras and Simms were looking at Baishe, too. I said, “Come off it, Baishe. You got nothing.”
    â€œMaybe we dig into this we see a bigger connection. Maybe you two are pretty good friends, so good you decide to get rid of her old man. Maybe you rig the whole act and you pull the trigger. Setup City.”
    â€œSetup City?” I looked at Poitras. His mouth was open. Simms was staring at a spot somewhere out around the orbit of Pluto. I looked back at Baishe with what we in the trade call “disbelief.” He was looking at me with what we in the trade call “distaste.”
    I said, “
The Postman Always Rings Twice
, right? 1938?”
    â€œKeep it up,” Baishe said.
    â€œThat’s a real good thought, Lieutenant,” Lou said, “only Cole here is known to me personally. He’s a good dick.” I expected Baishe to laugh maniacally.
Only the Shadow knooowwzz
. I was getting tired and just a little bit cranky. I said, “Is that it?”
    Baishe said, “We’ll tell you when that’s it.”
    I stood up. “Screw that. I didn’t come down here so you guys could work out. You got any other questions, book me or call my lawyer.”
    Baishe went purple and started around the desk. Lou stood up, just happening to block his way. “Lieutenant, could I talk to you a sec? Outside.”
    Baishe glared at me. “Have your ass in that chair when I get back, peep.”
    â€œPeep. You’re really up on the patois, aren’t you?”
    Baishe’s jaw knotted but they went out. I glared at Simms. He looked bored. I glared at Lou’s desk. Behind the desk on a gray metal file cabinet were pictures of a pretty brunette and three children and a three bedroom ranch-style home in Chatsworth. One shot showed a couple of comfortable lawn chairs in the backyard beneath a poplar tree, just right for drinking a beer and listening to a ball game while kids played in the backyard. There was a picture of Lou doing just that. I had taken the picture.
    Lou came back in alone. “He expects your continued cooperation.”
    Simms laughed softly.
    I said, “You notify the wife yet?”
    â€œNot home. We got a car there waiting for her.” I could see a couple of street monsters parked in her drive, scratching their balls and waiting for a fadeaway woman in a light green Subaru wagon with two little girls in the back. Sensitive guys. Guys like Baishe.
Sorry, lady, your old man caught four and he’s history
. I said, “Maybe I’d better do it.”
    Lou shrugged. “You sure you want to?”
    â€œYou bet, Lou. Nothing I want more than to sit down with this woman and give her the news her husbands dead and her nine-year-old son is missing. Maybe I’ll even break the word to the two little girls, too, for the capper.”
    â€œTake it easy.”
    â€œI’m taking it easy,” I said. Simms had stopped smiling.
    The redhead came back in with the color copies and the little picture. She put the copies on Lou’s desk and the