“Back then we were a downright racist town. Most of the people are Mexican now, so no one opens a mouth except some of the older cowboys when they come into town and have a few too many. My second husband was half Mexican and you should’ve seen the looks I got. Jose was a nice young fellow.”

“Younger than Leonora.”

“In his twenties. Handsome, too.”

“You never thought he was responsible?”

“Nicest young man you’d ever meet, Doctor. Muscles out to here. After they broke up, Leonora said she still liked him as a friend, it just didn’t work out as a marriage. You want to know my opinion? They were never more than friends, the whole marriage was a put-up so he could get immigration status.”

“Leonora would do that for a friend?”

“That’s the kind of person she was. And Jose did get his papers, Leonora told me, she was all thrilled about it. Shortly after that, they broke up and Jose moved down south, somewhere, and it didn’t seem to trouble her. Besides, what motive would Jose have to hurt her? Neither of them had any money to speak of. Unlike Leonora’s family. Who had plenty. I’m telling you the brother’s where to look. Bragen probably said I was a meddling old nut but anytime he wants to have an IQ contest, I’m ready.”

I laughed.

She said, “You think I’m kidding?”

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER
16

At noon the following day, I met Milo up in the hills above the Sepulveda Pass.

Vacant lot, a mile or so above the spot where Kat Shonsky’s car had been found. Two K-9 handlers worked the brush between a pair of sleek, contemporary stilt-houses, running a chocolate Lab and a border collie.

Sharp-eyed dogs, beautifully groomed. Both with a thing for dead flesh.

Milo said, “In answer to your unasked question, this is one of the few open, unfenced spots around here. Which means nothing, she could be in Alhambra. But early this morning we gave a pack of tracking dogs a whiff of her clothing and ran them all over the neighborhood. Zilch for the first hour, then one of them raced up here and got somewhat excited.”

“Somewhat?”

“He changed his mind and got distracted. Happens more than you think. Still, better to be careful. So now it’s the cadaver mutts.”

“Who owns the property?”

“It’s shared by the two neighboring houses. Couple of sisters married to lawyers, they’ve got plans to build a joint swimming pool. Currently cruising together in South America for the last two weeks.”

“There’s your happy family,” I said.

“Not so happy if Lassie and Rin Tin Tin find something with maggots in it.” His skin sagged and his clothes were distorted beyond wrinkles, as if he’d wrestled with an intruder.

I said, “All-nighter?”