We returned to the car. Milo put the box in the trunk, along with the attaché case, and started up the engine. A white coroner’s van pulled around from the back of the building and cruised through the lot before turning toward Mission.

He said, “Wonder what police work was like in the rubber hose days.”

“You and Daney alone in a room?”

“Me and anyone I damn well want alone in a room.” He bared his teeth. “Think Daney was telling the truth about knowing Weider before the murder?”

“Why would he lie?”

“Puffing up his chest, more hero-of-the-story crap,” he said. “Making like he’s got big-time contacts at the P.D., masterminded the whole defense.”

“Easy enough to check out,” I said. “And if he was telling the truth about working with inner-city teens, I’d be interested in one particular delinquent other than Troy.”

“Nestor Almedeira.”

“And the dedicated lawyer who stood up for his rights.”

* * *

Not that easy to check out.

We sat in the coroner’s lot and Milo phoned the Public Defender’s Office. Several transfers later, he ended up with a supervisor. I watched as amiability morphed to wheedling, then deteriorated to veiled threats. He hung up growling.

“All I want is what would be in a normal court record if Nestor wasn’t a juvenile and the file wasn’t sealed. I can get it eventually if I fool around long enough at the Hall of Records, but it’s gonna take time. Stonewalling bastards. They hate cops and everything else that’s good and true.”

“Try Lauritz Montez,” I said.

“He likes cops?”

“He’s vulnerable and weak-willed.”

The call to Montez’s Beverly Hills office was answered by a tape.

I took the phone, punched 411, and asked for the number of Dr. Chang’s dental office on Alvarado. There’s nothing more effective with a doctor’s staff than having a doctorate. I had Anita Moss on the line within seconds.

“How may I help you, Doctor?”

“Ms. Moss, I was with Detective Sturgis the other day— ”

“With him? You’re not a cop?”

“I’m a psychologist. I consult to the police— ”

“I’m sorry, I’m busy— ”

“Just one question and I’ll be out of your way: Which attorney represented Nestor on the manslaughter charge?”

“Why?”

“It could be important. We’ll find out anyway, but you could make things easier.”

“Okay, okay. A blond lady,” she said. “With a funny name— Sydney something.”

“Sydney Weider.”