“When I finish with Button, I’ll call you, then I’ll sit on the girlfriend’s house. I put her and Azzara in play to stress Mendoza. When Button comes in he’ll jack the pressure even more, and Mendoza might break for home.”

Stressing the enemy was a tactic Pike had used in the field. Put enough stress on the target, he would panic and run. They almost always broke for home.

Cole said, “Sounds good. I’ll see what I can find out about Mendoza and Gomer, and relieve you later tonight.”

They were finished, and Pike knew he should roll out, but he stared at the house. He imagined Dru and Wilson inside after they returned from their shop. He saw Mendoza and the second man moving toward the gate, then put what he saw next out of his head.

Pike realized Cole had said something, but hadn’t heard what. Cole was watching him with a curious expression, and when he spoke again, his voice was gentle.

“You okay?”

“I told her I took care of it. That they wouldn’t be bothered again.”

The sudden sympathy in Cole’s eyes left Pike feeling embarrassed. He looked away.

Cole said, “Hey.”

Pike looked back.

“Am I not the World’s Greatest Detective?”

Pike nodded.

“I’m on it, Joseph. We’ll find her.”

Cole walked away before Pike could respond.

Pike watched his friend for a moment, then headed back to his Jeep. Time was passing, and time was the enemy.

Pike drove hard for the Pacific Community Police Station.

Chapter 16

16

The PCPS was a low, modern brick building surrounded by a block wall and wispy pine trees on Culver Boulevard less than a mile from Pike’s home. A flagpole bearing the American flag stood proudly out front, across from a billboard advertising a bail bondsman. The middle-class homes across the boulevard were neat and attractive. These neighborhoods—like the police station—made it difficult to believe that wars between rival gangs often filled the streets with blood only a few minutes away.

Pike pulled to the curb by the flagpole at seven minutes after three. The watch would change at four, so any detectives not in court or in the field would be inside finishing up for the day. Pike needed to find out if Button was one of them.

He phoned Information for the PCPS detective desk number, then called.

“Pacific. This is Detective Harrison.”

“This is Dale King at the PAB. Is Button still there?”

The Police Administration Building was the new administrative building that had replaced Parker Center.

Harrison said, “Yeah, hang on. I’ll get him.”