As soon as she was gone, Abel placed the hammer down and felt hot tears well up inside his eyes. Though he knew it was a waste of time, he wondered what it might be like to be loved by someone like that—caressed by such perfect fingers, kissed by luscious lips. Her curves were edible, her face divine. But it was the hair—black and thick, as shiny as an oil slick. Man, he wanted her.

And she belonged to Doc. Pete had the badge and two whole legs as well. A part of Abel hated Decker with a consuming intensity. But another part loved him too much to let him go. And now it was Doc to the rescue, his only chance for getting out of the mess he was in. He wiped his eyes and slammed another nail into the floor.

Seeing Doc was painful, too painful. The prime reason why he’d never answered his letters after they’d moved to separate cities, why he’d never called him after he’d settled in L.A. Had he remained whole, Doc and he would have probably gone through Police Academy together. He was from Kentucky, Doc was from Florida. A century ago, they both had decided that the City of Angels held all the promises. Like the cowboys of old, they had made plans to head west. Abel would marry his Song, his Asian doll, Decker would be the best man. Together they’d off all the bad guys and make the streets safe again. But the dream disintegrated—his girl murdered, his leg gone.

And now this one shows up—with the same thick black hair. Doing things to his mind.

Gotta stop thinkin’ about it.

Gotta stop.

Gotta stop.

He took a deep breath and tried to free his mind of pollution.

This time he was lucky, succeeded in letting go. He buried his mind in the minutiae of his work and didn’t stop until he heard footsteps approaching the barn. He felt his face go hot.

“I brought you out some orange juice,” Rina said. Ginger was at her side. She was carrying a tray on which she’d placed a carton of orange juice and a glass full of ice cubes. She stopped at the entrance to the barn and lowered the tray onto the ground. The gun was no longer in her hand.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Abel said quietly.

“Are you almost done?” Rina said.

“Another five minutes maybe.”

“Okay.”

“I can leave now, if you want,” Abel said. “I don’t want to upset you.”

“No,” Rina said, backing away slowly. “It’s okay.”

“Well, I’ll say good-bye then,” Abel said. “It was nice to meet you. Pete told me that you and him have big plans. I wish you two lots of good fortune. He’s a lucky man.”

“Thank you.”

“And thanks for the juice.”