Part 65 (1/2)

”Up ahead.”

A creva.s.se had opened up at the intersection they were approaching. It was across both street and sidewalk. There was no way past it up the Hill.

”We'll have to try another way,” Grillo said. He put the car into reverse, backed up, and took a cross-street for three blocks. There was evidence of the Grove's growing instability on every side. Lampposts and trees felled, sidewalks buckled, water running from fractured pipes.

”It's all going to blow,” Tesla said.

”Ain't that the truth.”

The next street he tried gave them clear access to the Hill, and they headed up. As they began the ascent Tesla caught sight of a second car, coming off the feed road from the freeway. It wasn't a police car, unless the local cops had taken up driving Volkswagens and painting them fluorescent yellow.

”Foolhardy,” she said.

”What is?”

”Somebody coming back into town.”

”Probably a salvage operation,” Grillo said. ”People taking what they can, while they can.”

”Yep.”

The color of the car, so garishly inappropriate, lingered with her for a little while. She wasn't sure why; perhaps because it was so very West Hollywood, and she doubted she'd ever see her apartment in North Huntley Drive again.

”Looks like we've got a welcome committee,” Grillo said.

”Perfect movie moment,” Tesla said. ”Step on it, driver.”

”Lousy dialogue.”

”Just drive.”

Grillo swerved to avoid collision with the patrol car, put his foot on the accelerator, and was past the vehicle before its driver had a chance to block him.

”There'll be more at the top,” he said.

Tesla looked back at the car they'd left behind. There was no attempt to give chase. Its driver would simply be alerting the rest of the unit.

”Do whatever you've got to do,” Tesla told Grillo.

”Meaning what?”

”Meaning trash 'em if they get in our way. We've got no time to make nice.”

”The house is going to be crawling with cops,” he warned.

”I doubt it,” she said. ”I think they'll be keeping their distance.”

She was right. As they came in sight of Coney Eye it was apparent that the patrolmen had decided this whole mess was beyond them. The cars were parked well down from the gate, the men themselves standing a good way behind their vehicles. Most were just staring up at the house, but there was a contingent of four officers waiting at a barricade that had been set up, blocking the Hill.

”You want me to drive straight through?” Grillo said.

”d.a.m.n right!”

He put his foot down. Two of the quartet ahead went for their guns; the other two threw themselves aside. Grillo rammed the barricade at speed. The wood splintered and broke, a piece shattering the winds.h.i.+eld. He thought he heard a shot in the confusion but as he was still driving, a.s.sumed it hadn't killed him. The car struck one of the patrol vehicles a glancing blow, its back end slewing around and striking another, before Grillo regained control and headed it for the open gates of Buddy Vance's house. Engine revved, they roared up the driveway.

”n.o.body's following,” Tesla said.

”I don't f.u.c.king blame them,” Grillo replied. As they reached the bend in the driveway he put on the brakes. ”This is near enough,” he said. ”Jesus. Will you look at that?”

”I'm looking.”

The facade of the house resembled a cake that had been left out all night in a heavy rain, the whole thing softened and thrown out of whack. There were no straight lines in the door frames, no right angles in the windows-even those at the very top of the house. The power Jaffe had unleashed here had sucked everything towards its maw, distorting the bricks, the tiles, the panes of gla.s.s; the whole house tending towards the schism. When Tesla and Grillo had staggered out through the doorway the place had been a maelstrom, but the hole, once opened, seemed to be pacified. There was no sign of further violence. There was no doubting the proximity of the schism, however. When they stepped from the car they felt its energies in the air. It made the hair on the back of their necks stand up straight, and their guts shudder. It was as quiet as the eye of a hurricane. A tremulous calm just begging to be broken.

Tesla glanced through the car window at their pa.s.senger. Jaffe, sensing her scrutiny, opened his eyes. The fear in him was perfectly plain. However much skill he'd had at concealing his feelings in the past-and she suspected he'd had much-he was beyond such pretenses now.

”Do you want to come see?” she said.

He didn't leap at the offer, so she left him where he was. She had a duty to perform before they actually ventured inside, and she could give him time to work up his courage while she performed it. She headed back the way they'd come, until she emerged from behind the line of palms that bordered the driveway. The cops had followed as far as the gate, but no further. It occurred to her that it wasn't simply fear that kept them from following, but orders from their superiors. She didn't dare hope the cavalry would be rolling up the Hill in the next few minutes, but perhaps they were mustering, and these footsoldiers had been instructed to keep their distance until the full force arrived. They were certainly nervous. She emerged with her hands up, to face a row of levelled muzzles.

”This property's off-limits,” somebody shouted from below. ”Come back down with your hands in the air. All of you.”

”I'm afraid I can't do that,” Tesla replied. ”Just keep it off-limits, will you? We've got business here. Who's in charge?” she asked, feeling like a visitor from s.p.a.ce, asking to be taken to their leader.

A man in a well-cut suit stepped into view from behind one of the vehicles. He was not, she guessed, a policeman. More likely FBI.

”I'm in charge,” he said.

”Are you getting back-up?” she asked.

”Who are you?” he demanded to know.

”Are you getting back-up?” she said again. ”You're going to need more than a few patrol cars, believe me. There's going to be a major invasion starting from this house.”

”What are you talking about?”

”Just get the Hill surrounded. And seal the Grove. We're not going to get a second chance.”

”I'm only going to ask one more time-” the leader began, but she cut him off short, slipping out of sight before he could finish his demands.

”You're good at that,” Grillo said.

”You know what practice makes,” she said.

”They could have shot you,” Grillo observed.

”But they didn't,” she said, returning to the car and opening the door. ”Shall we?” she said to Jaffe. He ignored her invitation at first. ”The sooner we start the sooner we finish,” she said. Sighing, he got out. ”I want you to stay here,” she told Grillo. ”If any of them make a move, holler.”

”You just don't want me inside,” he said.

”That too.”