Yes, but Tomaso has caused me to reconsider. Even if Byrd wasn't a party to the murders, the person who gave those pictures to him was, and Byrd and that person were connected. That man is still out there.

I know.

You don't want to end up like Tomaso, do you?

Alan, I have to go.

If Byrd was connected to someone at Leverage, maybe we'll find the connection through his record. In the meantime, stay away from Marx. You should lay low for a while, Elvis. Don't give these people an excuse to arrest you.

They could have arrested me yesterday.

They might still change their minds. Give me a chance to find out what they're doing before you get yourself in worse trouble.

We reached the door, and I watched him go to his car. It was a lovely car, and he waved as he got in.

Hey, Alan. Good to have you aboard.

He twisted around to look at me. He said, I'm sorry I doubted your instinct.

I smiled as he drove away.

Chapter 26

MEMBERS OF the Los Angeles City Council had downtown offices on Spring Street, but each member also maintained an office in his or her district. Maldenado's district office was in a two-story strip mall in an area where most of the signs were in Spanish and Korean, conveniently distant from the spying eyes that went with the downtown action. The councilman's office was located above a women's health club. The women entering the club were uniformly beautiful, but this probably had nothing to do with the councilman's location.

I parked underground, walked up to the second floor, and entered the reception area. The receptionist was speaking Spanish to an older couple while two men in business suits waited on the couch, one tapping out a text message while the other read some sort of document. Photographs hanging above the two men and behind the receptionist showed Maldenado with Little League teams, sports stars from the Dodgers, Lakers, and Clippers, and various politicians. I counted Maldenado with three different California governors and four U.S. presidents. The only person who appeared with Maldenado more than once was Frank Garcia.

The receptionist said, May I help you, sir?

The older couple had taken a seat.

Elvis Cole for Mr. Maldenado. I have a ten o'clock.

Yes, sir. They're expecting you.

She immediately led me around her desk and into Maldenado's office. She didn't bother to knock or even announce me. She opened the door, let me walk in, then closed the door behind me.