Part 5 (1/2)
She rolled her eyes and snorted. ”That'll be the day.”
CHAPTER 9.
I dropped my friends off and headed home. When I got to my street, I hoped to find Ed back at his house. The street was empty; but since he usually garaged his vehicles, I couldn't tell for sure. I parked my car and headed toward his place. n.o.body answered my knock. Ed must still be in custody. Was he only being detained for questioning or had he actually been charged with murder?
I needed to find Crusher fast. As soon as I walked in my door, I went straight for the computer. I searched and found two motorcycle parts and repair shops on Reseda Boulevard: one in Reseda itself, the other farther north in Granada Hills. I chose the closest shop and dialed the phone number.
”Bikes,” a female voice answered the phone.
”I'd like to speak to Yossi Levy.”
”Sorry. No one here by that name.”
”Are you sure?”
”Well, I don't actually work here-my boyfriend does, but he's busy with a customer right now.”
”Uh, is Crusher there?”
”Yeah. He's the owner. You wanna speak to him instead?”
I waited a tick. ”Yes, please.”
I heard her yell, ”Hey, Crusher! There's a woman on the phone looking for a dude named Levy.”
A deep, familiar voice said, ”Yeah?”
”Hi, Yossi. It's Martha Rose.”
The edge went out of his voice. ”Babe, what do you need?”
”Protection. Tonight at ten. Can we talk?”
”Beavers know?”
”No, and I don't want him to. He'll freak.”
”Meet me in the Home Depot parking lot on Balboa and Roscoe in a half hour.”
”Why there?”
”It's crowded at this time of day, so n.o.body will notice us.”
I couldn't imagine Crusher becoming invisible, no matter how busy the crowd. ”I'll be there.”
I opened a cup of plain Greek yogurt and poured in a teaspoon of agave syrup-a quick, healthy pick-me-up for late afternoon and one Charlissa would approve of. She didn't need to know about the applesauce cake.
Once I parked in the Home Depot lot, I didn't have to wait long. Crusher opened the pa.s.senger door and slid the seat all the way back before squeezing his huge body into the Corolla. His head sc.r.a.ped the roof and he winced. ”One reason I like a big Harley is because of little cars like this.”
”What do you do during the rain?”
”I've got a truck.” He s.h.i.+fted his shoulders around to face me. ”So talk.”
”My friend Hilda set up a meeting for me tonight at ten with that Switch guy we talked about. He insists I come alone.”
”Yeah, I found out more today about this guy. He and a few thugs went in and took over the area where a bunch of homeless people were camping. He deals from there-even pimps out some of those women. Switch is a real lowlife. You wouldn't be safe alone.”
”That's what Hilda said, so she arranged for us to meet at the parking s.p.a.ce just west of the Burbank Boulevard off-ramp of the 405. It's well lit and right on the road. Do you know where I'm talking about?”
”Yeah, and I don't like it. There's dense shrubbery at the edge of the parking s.p.a.ce. Switch could drag you in there-and at night, n.o.body would see it happen.”
”That's where you come in, Yossi. Except I can't figure out how you and your guys can protect me without being seen. The meeting place is out in the open, and his people will be watching from inside the reserve.”
He was silent for a moment. ”I think I know a way. Before you get there, me and my guys will ride south on the 405. When we get close to Burbank Boulevard, we'll cut our lights and engines and coast quietly onto the off-ramp. We can hide behind some of the bushes and trees up there. We'll only be a few feet away from the parking area.”
”Won't Switch be able to see you?”
”Not a chance. We'll be able to see him come up from the reserve, but he won't be able to see us because we'll be hidden fifteen feet above him on the off-ramp.”
”What about me? Will you be able to see me?”
”If you stand under the streetlight, we'll see you. Your job will be to stay in sight at all times. If we lose sight of you, we're coming in. If he makes one suspicious move, we're coming in. So you better get your information fast and get out of there fast. Once you're safely in your car, we'll book it on out and escort you home.”
”Okay. Sounds like a plan. I have to tell you, I'm pretty scared.”
”You'd better be scared. This dude is n.o.body to mess with.” He pulled out a cell phone from inside his black leather vest. ”We'd better exchange cell phone numbers.”
Two minutes later, he opened the pa.s.senger door to leave.
”I'll see you tonight, Yossi.”
”Don't leave your house until I call your cell phone. Don't wear any jewelry and don't take a purse. Don't worry. We'll be in place by the time you get there. I won't forget what you're doing for Ed. None of us will. And, Martha?” He cupped my chin in his hand. ”Beavers is a lucky man.”
I stopped at the bank on my way home. If Switch demanded two hundred dollars for a name, how much would he demand for a location? I pulled four hundred dollars from my savings account. Ed would pay me back.
I returned home to the phone ringing.
”Hey, honey. How was your day?”
Every time Beavers called me ”honey,” my skin rippled with excitement. ”Oh, you know. Lucy and Birdie and I spent our usual quilty day together. Birdie made my favorite applesauce cake. How was your day?”
”Same-o.”
”Can you tell me what's happening with Ed?”