Milo took the yearbook from him, held it at his side, like a bludgeon poised to bash. "Get more awake right now, Gilberto, and tell me exactly what they looked like."

"Nice."

"Pretty?"

"Yeh."

"Who was driving?"

"The Mexicana."

"You're walking, they pull up?"

"Yeh."

"Then what?"

"The white one she 'Hey, can you help us?'"

"Pretty girl."

Chavez grinned and outlined the jut of enormous breasts.

"Big girl."

"Big titties," said Chavez. "I say 'What?' She get out." Shaping bulbous hips. "Nice."

"What about the Mexicana?"

"Flaca but nice face."

"Skinny," said Milo. "So she got out of the car, too."

"Yeh. Laughing."

"Something funny was going on."

"I figure a joke."

"What were their names?"

"No say names."

"They didn't talk to each other and use names?"

"Never," said Chavez with surprising clarity. "First they say money for you help, then the Mexicana come out of the car with you know."

"I know what?"

"You kn--okay, okay, a bag. Say 'This better than money.' I say for what do, they say 'Go buy something.' Lots of laugh."

"They were having a good time."

"I think a party, ice is a party, no? I dint do nothin' bad."

"What were they wearing?"

"The white one, black on top, tight jeans." Shaping lush hips again, he blew out air. "Long hair." Reaching behind, he touched a spot below his waist.

"What color?"

"Black."

"What about the Mexicana?"

"Also black, but the blond here." Fingering the fringes of his own dense coiffure.

"Streaked," said Milo.

"Yeh."

"The Mexicana also had long hair?"

"Yeh. Red top--the tank. Tight jeans." Whistling appreciatively. "Sandals, also heels. White, yeh, white."

"You're doing good, Gilberto. What else?"

"I bring the ice to the Honda, they gimme the bag."

"Same bag I found in your pocket?"

"Yeh."

"Who else was in the Honda?"

"Nobody."

"You're sure?"

"I put the ice in the backseat, nobody else."

"Where'd they wait while you bought the ice?"

"A block, I had to carry."

"That didn't make you curious?"

"Whuh?"

"Them paying you to buy something they could buy themselves. Waiting a block away."

"No," said Chavez.

"No, what?"

"Two weeks I got no work. I don wonder about nothin'."

We left the station and walked up Butler Avenue.

Milo said, "Girls and not Prep students. Lord, hand me the Prozac."

I said, "Teenage girls like to please teenage boys."

"Getting ice for a young stud. One of them being Latin could mean she knows Martin from his former life in El Monte." Smiling. "God forbid I should racially profile."