ve¡£¡¡Trying¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡below¡¡the¡¡windows¡£
¡¡The¡¡knock¡¡came¡¡again¡£
¡¡I¡¡said¡¡into¡¡the¡¡phone£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡have¡¡the¡¡tape¡£¡¡But¡¡first¡¡call¡¡off¡¡your¡¡boys¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Say¡¡again£»¡¡please£¿¡¨
¡¡Christ£»¡¡a¡¡fucking¡¡language¡¡problem£¡
¡¡¡¨Call¡¡your¡¡men¡¡away¡£¡¡Get¡¡them¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Lieutenant£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡have¡¡tape£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡While¡¡I¡¡talked£»¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡knob¡¡turning¡£¡¡Someone¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡open¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡£¡¡Slowly£»¡¡quietly¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡knob¡¡was¡¡released¡£¡¡Something¡¡white¡¡slid¡¡under¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡A¡¡business¡¡card¡£
¡¡¡¨Lieutenant£»¡¡please¡¡cooperate¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡crawled¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡card¡£¡¡It¡¡said£º¡¡Jonathan¡¡Connor£»¡¡Captain£»¡¡Los¡¡Angeles¡¡Police¡¡Department¡£
¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡whisper¡¡from¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡£
¡¡¡¨K¨hai¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡trick¡£¡¡Connor¡¡said¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡airport£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡trick¡¡¡
¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡I¡¡can¡¡be¡¡of¡¡assistance£»¡¡k¨hai¡£¡¨
¡¡Those¡¡were¡¡the¡¡words¡¡he¡¡had¡¡used¡¡before£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡start¡¡of¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡confused¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¨Open¡¡the¡¡fucking¡¡door£»¡¡k¨hai¡£¡¨
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Connor¡£¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡up¡¡and¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡slipped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡bent¡¡over¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡dragging¡¡something¡¡blue£º¡¡a¡¡Kevlar¡¡vest¡£¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡were¡¡¡¡¨
¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡¨Knew¡¡they¡¡must¡¡be¡¡here¡£¡¡Had¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡car¡¡in¡¡the¡¡alley¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡How¡¡many¡¡are¡¡there¡¡in¡¡front£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡think£»¡¡five¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡more¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡£
¡¡The¡¡accented¡¡voice¡¡on¡¡the¡¡phone¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Lieutenant£¿¡¡You¡¡are¡¡there£¿¡¡Lieutenant£¿¡¨
¡¡I¡¡held¡¡the¡¡receiver¡¡away¡¡from¡¡my¡¡ear¡¡so¡¡Connor¡¡could¡¡listen¡¡while¡¡I¡¡talked¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡On¡¡the¡¡TV£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡witch's¡¡cackle¡£
¡¡¡¨Lieutenant£»¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡something¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡just¡¡Sleeping¡¡Beauty£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¡Sreeping¡¡Booty£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡said£»¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡this£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Television£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡television¡£¡¨
¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡whispers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡£¡¡The¡¡rush¡¡of¡¡a¡¡car¡¡going¡¡by¡¡on¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡It¡¡reminded¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡men¡¡were¡¡in¡¡an¡¡exposed¡¡position¡¡outside¡£¡¡Standing¡¡there¡¡on¡¡a¡¡residential¡¡street¡¡lined¡¡with¡¡apartment¡¡buildings¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡£¡¡Lots¡¡of¡¡windows¡£¡¡People¡¡that¡¡might¡¡look¡¡out¡¡at¡¡any¡¡time¡£¡¡Or¡¡people¡¡walking¡¡by¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡move¡¡quickly¡£
¡¡Perhaps¡¡they¡¡already¡¡were¡£
¡¡Connor¡¡was¡¡tugging¡¡at¡¡my¡¡jacket¡£¡¡Signaling¡¡me¡¡to¡¡undress¡£¡¡I¡¡slid¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡coat¡¡as¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡into¡¡the¡¡phone¡£
¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡bring¡¡tape¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Connor¡£¡¡He¡¡nodded¡£¡¡Yes¡£
¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡first¡¡get¡¡your¡¡people¡¡back¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡sorry£¿¡¨
¡¡Connor¡¡made¡¡a¡¡fist¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡a¡¡snarl¡£¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡angry¡£¡¡He¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡phone¡¡and¡¡whispered¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ear¡£¡¡A¡¡Japanese¡¡phrase¡£
¡¡¡¨Pay¡¡attention£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Yoku¡¡kike£¡¡¨
¡¡At¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grunt¡£¡¡Surprise¡£
¡¡¡¨Wakatta¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡e¡¡away¡£¡¡And¡¡now£»¡¡you¡¡e£»¡¡Lieutenant¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡ing¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡hung¡¡up¡¡the¡¡phone¡£
¡¡
¡¡Connor¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡¨Thirty¡¡seconds£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡¡out¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡still¡¡buttoning¡¡up¡¡my¡¡shirt¡¡around¡¡the¡¡vest¡£¡¡Kevlar¡¡is¡¡bulky¡¡and¡¡hot¡£¡¡Immediately¡¡I¡¡started¡¡to¡¡sweat¡£
¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡thirty¡¡seconds£»¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡my¡¡watch¡£¡¡Watching¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡go¡¡around¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡I¡¡went¡¡outside¡£
¡¡
¡¡Someone¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hallway¡£¡¡I¡¡tripped¡¡over¡¡a¡¡body¡£¡¡I¡¡got¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡a¡¡slender¡¡Asian¡¡face¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡just¡¡a¡¡kid£»¡¡surprisingly¡¡young¡£¡¡A¡¡teenager¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡unconscious£»¡¡breathing¡¡shallowly¡£
¡¡I¡¡moved¡¡slowly¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairs¡£
¡¡There¡¡wasn't¡¡anybody¡¡on¡¡the¡¡second¡floor¡¡landing¡£¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡going¡¡down¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡canned¡¡laughter¡¡from¡¡a¡¡television£»¡¡behind¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡on¡¡the¡¡second¡¡floor¡£¡¡A¡¡voice¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨So¡¡tell¡¡us£»¡¡where¡¡did¡¡you¡¡go¡¡on¡¡this¡¡first¡¡date£¿¡¨
¡¡I¡¡continued¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡front¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡building¡¡was¡¡glass¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡parked¡¡cars£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hedge¡£¡¡A¡¡short¡¡section¡¡of¡¡lawn¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cars¡¡were¡¡somewhere¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡£
¡¡I¡¡waited¡£¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡breath¡£¡¡My¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡pounding¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡them¡¡away¡¡from¡¡my¡¡daughter¡£¡¡To¡¡move¡¡the¡¡action¡¡away¡¡from¡¡my¡¡¡
¡¡I¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡on¡¡my¡¡sweating¡¡face¡¡and¡¡neck¡£
¡¡I¡¡took¡¡two¡¡steps¡¡forward¡£
¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡men¡£¡¡They¡¡stood¡¡about¡¡ten¡¡meters¡¡away£»¡¡beside¡¡their¡¡cars¡£¡¡I¡¡counted¡¡four¡¡men¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡waved¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡beckoning¡¡me¡¡over¡£¡¡I¡¡hesitated¡£
¡¡Where¡¡were¡¡the¡¡others£¿
¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡see¡¡anybody¡¡except¡¡the¡¡men¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cars¡£¡¡They¡¡waved¡¡again£»¡¡beckoning¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡started¡¡toward¡¡them¡¡when¡¡suddenly¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡thumping¡¡blow¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡knocked¡¡me¡¡flat¡¡onto¡¡my¡¡face¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wet¡¡grass¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡before¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£
¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡£
¡¡And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡gunfire¡¡erupted¡¡all¡¡around¡¡me¡£¡¡Automatic¡¡weapons¡£¡¡The¡¡street¡¡was¡¡lit¡¡up¡¡like¡¡lightning¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gunfire¡£¡¡The¡¡sound¡¡echoed¡¡off¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡buildings¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡Glass¡¡was¡¡shattering¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡people¡¡shouting¡¡all¡¡around¡¡me¡£¡¡More¡¡gunfire¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡ignitions£»¡¡cars¡¡roaring¡¡down¡¡the¡¡street¡¡past¡¡me¡£¡¡Almost¡¡immediately¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡police¡¡sirens¡¡and¡¡tires¡¡squealing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡searchlights¡£¡¡I¡¡stayed¡¡where¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡face¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡grass¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡I¡¡was¡¡there¡¡for¡¡about¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡shouts¡¡now¡¡were¡¡all¡¡in¡¡English¡£
¡¡Finally¡¡someone¡¡came¡¡and¡¡crouched¡¡over¡¡me¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡move£»¡¡Lieutenant¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡look¡¡first¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡recognized¡¡Connor's¡¡voice¡£¡¡His¡¡hand¡¡touched¡¡my¡¡back£»¡¡probing¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Can¡¡you¡¡turn¡¡over£»¡¡Lieutenant£¿¡¨
¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡over¡£
¡¡Standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harsh¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡searchlights£»¡¡Connor¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡didn't¡¡penetrate£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡you're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡hell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sore¡¡back¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡helped¡¡me¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feet¡£
¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡shot¡¡me¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nobody¡¡there£º¡¡just¡¡a¡¡few¡¡shell¡¡casings£»¡¡glinting¡¡dull¡¡yellow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡green¡¡grass£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡THIRD¡¡DAY
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡£¿
¡¡The¡¡headline¡¡read¡¡VIETNAMESE¡¡GANG¡¡VIOLENCE¡¡ERUPTS¡¡ON¡¡WESTSIDE¡£¡¡The¡¡story¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡Peter¡¡Smith£»¡¡an¡¡L¡£A¡£P¡£D¡£¡¡Special¡¡Services¡¡officer£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡target¡¡of¡¡a¡¡vicious¡¡grudge¡¡attack¡¡by¡¡an¡¡Orange¡¡County¡¡gang¡¡known¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Bitch¡¡Killers¡£¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Smith¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shot¡¡twice¡¡before¡¡backup¡¡police¡¡units¡¡arrived¡¡on¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡to¡¡disperse¡¡the¡¡attacking¡¡youths¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suspects¡¡had¡¡been¡¡apprehended¡¡alive¡£¡¡But¡¡two¡¡had¡¡been¡¡killed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shooting¡£
¡¡I¡¡read¡¡the¡¡papers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bathtub£»¡¡soaking¡¡my¡¡aching¡¡back¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡two¡¡large£»¡¡ugly¡¡bruises¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡my¡¡spine¡£¡¡It¡¡hurt¡¡to¡¡breathe¡£
¡¡I¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡Michelle¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡with¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡in¡¡San¡¡Diego¡¡for¡¡the¡¡weekend£»¡¡until¡¡things¡¡were¡¡sorted¡¡out¡£¡¡Elaine¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡her¡¡down£»¡¡late¡¡last¡¡night¡£
¡¡I¡¡continued¡¡reading¡£
¡¡According¡¡to¡¡the¡¡story£»¡¡the¡¡Bitch¡¡Killers¡¡was¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡same¡¡gang¡¡that¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡a¡¡black¡¡two¡year¡old¡¡boy£»¡¡Rodney¡¡Howard£»¡¡and¡¡shot¡¡the¡¡child¡¡in¡¡the¡¡head¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡playing¡¡on¡¡his¡¡tricycle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡front¡¡yard¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Inglewood¡¡home¡¡a¡¡week¡¡earlier¡£¡¡That¡¡incident¡¡was¡¡rumored¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡initiation¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gang£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡viciousness¡¡of¡¡it¡¡had¡¡touched¡¡off¡¡a¡¡furor¡¡about¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡L¡£A¡£P¡£D¡£¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡gang¡¡violence¡¡in¡¡southern¡¡California¡£
¡¡There¡¡were¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡reporters¡¡outside¡¡my¡¡door¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡any¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡phone¡¡rang¡¡constantly£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡let¡¡the¡¡answering¡¡machine¡¡take¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡just¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tub£»¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡called¡¡Ken¡¡Shubik¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Times¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡wondered¡¡when¡¡you'd¡¡check¡¡in£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡be¡¡pleased¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨About¡¡what£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨About¡¡being¡¡alive£»¡¨¡¡Ken¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨These¡¡kids¡¡are¡¡murder¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡mean¡¡the¡¡Vietnamese¡¡kids¡¡last¡¡night£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡spoke¡¡Japanese¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡Ken¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡didn't¡¡get¡¡that¡¡story¡¡right£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Not¡¡really¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨That¡¡explains¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨Explains¡¡what£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨That¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Weasel's¡¡story¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Weasel¡¡is¡¡in¡¡bad¡¡odor¡¡today¡£¡¡There's¡¡even¡¡talk¡¡of¡¡firing¡¡him¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡can¡¡figure¡¡it¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡something's¡¡happening¡¡around¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Somebody¡¡high¡¡in¡¡editorial¡¡all¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡has¡¡a¡¡bug¡¡up¡¡his¡¡ass¡¡about¡¡Japan¡£¡¡Anyway£»¡¡we're¡¡starting¡¡a¡¡series¡¡investigating¡¡Japanese¡¡corporations¡¡in¡¡America¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yeah£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡you'd¡¡never¡¡know¡¡it¡¡from¡¡today's¡¡paper¡£¡¡You¡¡see¡¡the¡¡business¡¡section£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡why£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Darley¡Higgins¡¡announced¡¡the¡¡sale¡¡of¡¡MicroCon¡¡to¡¡Akai¡£¡¡It's¡¡on¡¡page¡¡fo