Rick stopped talking, slumped a bit, Milo patted his back and eyed the Seville. Rick got in back and Milo returned to the front passenger seat.

“Hey, Alex,” said Rick.

“Sorry about the car.”

He grimaced. “An alarm and a steering lock, and it’s gone.”

Milo glanced back at him. His eyes were cold, his neck cords were taut, and his mandible jutted like that of a fighting cur, straining to enter the pit.

I said, “When did it happen?”

Rick said, “I got to work at 5 A.M., didn’t come out until 2 P.M., so sometime in between.”

“He thinks he might’ve been followed,” said Milo, “driving to work.”

“It was probably nothing,” said Rick. “But that early, you don’t expect too many cars on the street and there was a set of headlights behind me when I pulled out to San Vincente and it stayed with me until I got to Third Street.”

“And you have no idea exactly when that started?” said Milo.

Rick sighed. “I told you, no. I had an emergency splenectomy at six. My focus was on getting psyched up.” Rick’s voice was steady. His fingers kept flexing. “I really don’t think it was anything, Milo. Probably some other early bird.”

“How many other cars do you usually see when you hit the early shift, Rick?”

“Usually none. But sometimes one or two—as I said, I don’t pay attention. If the Porsche hadn’t been ripped off—if you hadn’t asked me about being tailed, I’d never have given it a thought.”

“Give it a thought,” said Milo. “We’ve both got to think.”

“About what?”

“Watching our backs. Maybe even a temporary change of address.”

“Oh, come on,” said Rick.

“I’m serious.”

Silence. Rick said, “Well, first things first. I need a rental car. Alex, would you be so kind as to drive me over to—”

“I’ll take you,” said Milo. “Drop us off a block from our house, Alex.” To Rick: “You wait while I check out the premises. I’ll pick you up in the Taurus and drive you to Budget. No, let’s use another company, just to play it safe. I want to minimize any links between us.”

“You can’t be serious,” said Rick.

“Drive, Alex.”

“Minimize links?” said Rick.

“Sorry,” said Milo. “Right now putting a layer of separation between you and me is the nicest thing I can do for you.”

CHAPTER

28