"Martin has left before," said Mendoza. "Twice, he took the bus to his sister in Texas. This time, she says he's not there."

"You think she'd cover for Martin?"

"They're close, but no, after Gisella heard how upset her mother was, she wouldn't do that."

"Let's get together, Mr. Mendoza, I'm sure we can sort things out."

"What could you do?"

"Tell me about Martin, maybe I can help find him. If a missing persons report is the way to go, I'll see that yours gets full attention."

"You want to talk about Ms. Freeman," said Mendoza. "You don't suspect Martin of anything?"

Milo nodded and mouthed Now I do. "Not at all, sir."

"I don't know," said Mendoza.

"Brief chat, sir."

"I'm working all day and then maybe I do a double shift if they need me."

"Whenever you're free," said Milo.

"I don't know," Mendoza repeated. "Okay, enough of Anna throwing up, one way or the other we need to--in an hour, okay?"

"Perfect. Where, sir?"

"Not at the club, they won't let you in. Meet me on Pacific Coast Highway, around half a mile north of the club. Malibu Mike's, you're hungry, they're okay."

"See you there, sir. Thanks."

"I don't know what I'll even say to you."

Malibu Mike's was a flimsy white-frame lean-to set on a patch of land-side asphalt. A grinning, overly fanged shark cutout teetered atop the fraying roof. Picnic tables canted on the uneven pavement, some shaded by wind-scarred umbrellas. Behind the property, a hill of iceplant-encrusted soil formed a bright green curtain.

The chalkboard menu listed burgers, hot dogs, fish tacos, and something called a Captain's Burrito. Milo said, "I'm under-ranked."

You're no rank at all.

I said, "Order half and call it a Lieutenant."

"Let's eat something, I need to fuel up for serious lying."

A young chubby brunette girl worked the counter, a young, floppy-haired Asian boy, the grill. The ocean across the highway couldn't compete with blaring hip-hop from a speaker placed perilously close to the burners. Some millionaire gangsta bragging about having no conscience.

"Help you guys?"

I ordered a chili dog.

Milo said, "Two half-pound cheeseburgers, anything extra you want to put on is fine with me."

The girl said, "All we got extra is onion and pickles--I guess we could throw on chili, too, but I'll have to charge you."

"Go for it. How's that Captain's Burrito?"

The girl grimaced. "Guys order it but I don't like it. It's messy, you end up with most of it on the paper, then it sticks to the paper 'cause a the cheese, then it hardens you can't peel it off without peeling off the paper. Then afterward, your hands smell of sauce, cheese, it's gross."

"Captains can be like that."

"Huh?"

"All show, no substance."

No comprehension in young, brown eyes.

Milo said, "But the burger's okay?"

"I like it."