“Multitasking is the hallmark of brains in my generation.” She kissed him again. “I love you, Abba. Close the door on the way out.”

CHAPTER 35

BY THE TIME Decker made it over to County Jail and went through procedure to gain entrance, Rip Garrett and Tito Diaz were already in the interview cell, sitting on metal chairs, drinking coffee from paper cups. Both of them had on typical detective dress: dark suits, white shirts and dark ties, rubber-sole oxfords. With a single swoop of the eyes, Decker did a quick overview of Diaz. His most prominent feature was a thick neck, followed by a strong chin, broad forehead, black hair, dark eyes. More muscular than Garrett but he sat shorter. Decker introduced himself with a handshake, and by the time Martel was led in by the guards, Decker had a coffee cup in his hand.

Travis appeared to have beefed up since his mug shot taken on the day of his arrest. His chest seemed wider under jail blues, and his arms were thicker. His hair had grown even longer, wavy tresses hanging down his back. In person, Decker could discern Asian influence in Martel, demonstrated not only by the black hair but also by the slight tilt of his brown eyes. His skin was coffee and cream, his cheekbones were prominent, his lips were thick, and his teeth were big and white.

His arms were shackled for transport, but the jail guard took off the cuffs when they seated him inside the interview cell. Martel regarded Decker. “You my lawyer?”

“No, Mr. Martel. I’m Lieutenant Decker from LAPD.”

“So you the boss?”

“I’m a boss but not the boss over Detective Garrett or Detective Diaz.”

Diaz said, “Are you comfortable, Travis? We have our coffee. You want something to drink?”

The jailbird thought. “How ’bout a Red Zing.”

“No alcohol, Travis. You know that.”

“Then how ’bout a Pepsi?”

“That we could probably do—”

“And a smoke would be good.”

Decker took a cigarette out of his pocket and gave it to him. He lit the smoke with a lighter, then regarded the thug as he puffed. Furtive eyes. So what else was new? A paper cup with Pepsi came a few minutes later. He finished it in a single gulp. “I’m a little hungry.”

“Lunch is in an hour,” Garrett said.

“I’m just be sayin’ I’m a little hungry.”

Decker said, “You want to know why we’re here?”

“I ain’t have to be curious ’cause you’re gonna tell me.”

Decker’s face was flat. “We’re here, Mr. Martel, because we all have something interesting to relate to you.”

Martel’s eyes narrowed as he finished up his first cigarette. He dropped it in the paper cup. “Like what?”