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I stared at the otten to a warehouse on the East Side when his BMW was sitting inthe whole thing fro suspicion the old bastard was trulyfor Stirrabbed e played

This one had been left at 7:43 PM, a few hter this time "Where the hel are you? Stirman just cal ed I didn’tum, I tried to write it al down but I don’t have ood So the ht? Shit, did we talk aboutat this Carrizo Ice place, but I stil think she’s in there I et over to the rendezvous point and stal hi I think I can take hiht be hurt I hate da machines"

The line went dead

"Je?"

"Chaainst my panes A police car had pul ed into the driveway, blocking my truck and Barrera’s BMW Ana DeLeon and her friend froot out of the back Two unifor like Death’s Prize Patrol

"On second thought," I told Jem, "how about you play with Robert Johnson in the backyard for a little while?"

My hand tre machine I passed up erase, punched rewind

A knock at the door Ana DeLeon o steps insideroom before she asked, "May we come in?"

Behind her, thethe better than to tear lad to see friends," I said

DeLeon foruy Up close, I saas right about the linebacker thing He had the cross-eyed squint of a forh a face plate He wore a brown blazer with jeans and a yel ow and blue tie that looked like Van Gogh had thrown up on it

DeLeon said, "We have a probleht He’s a fashion disaster But I don’t think ed to contain her o, Wil Stirman robbed a mom-and-pop on South Presa The store owner stabbed hiuy dead We blocked off the entire area, but Stiritive roaht down Broadway," I advised "When you hit don, keep going"

"This is bul shit," Cooper said "Cuff him"

DeLeon held up her hand The unifora with the story Every cop in Bexar County who’s not already on flood duty has been cal ed up We need to knohat you know"

In the backyard, Je to dislodge Robert Johnson, as playing goalie The score was zero–zero

"You said it yourself," DeLeon remindeda hostage alive We lanced at Cooper His face betrayed no surprise He’d been ful y briefed on Erainya

I tried not to be angry I tried not to feel like DeLeon had betrayedup unannounced with a bunch of bruisers It wasn’t her fault She was doing her job, trying to help Ralph had told me I should trust her, let her handle it Maybe that’s what decided ht," I said "He thinks Barrow and Barrera stole fourteen mil ion dol ars from him

He demanded we return it"

No one looked surprised about the aht He’s supposed to cal after ht and specify a drop"

"You found the money?"

"No"

DeLeon arched an eyebrow

"Search the house," I offered

DeLeon lanced at the uniforusto

"While they’re at it," she said, "mind if I search you for a weapon?"

Motherhood hadn’t entler when it ca, and the cops found nothingthan my tai chi sword above the toilet and a cup ful of HEB Buddy Buck coupons, DeLeon and Cooper exchanged looks

"We’l tap the line," Cooper said "Wait for the cal "

"No," DeLeon and I chorused

I’ree to the news, he knoe’re on to hi to keep a schedule He’l cut his losses and run"

"We’ve got every highway under surveil ance," Cooper said "We’l shut down the fucking city He’s not going anywhere"

"Right," I said "You’re just toying with him now"

Cooper took a step toward me

DeLeon interposed "Major"

"You vouched for this son-of-a-bitch," Cooper reminded her "He knew Stiroddamned details--"

"Major," DeLeon cut in, "as I explained at the hospital yesterday, Tres’ boss er--"