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“Oh, yeah Me and Pepe go way back to er at UPS, and I actually pulled soot out of jail a few years ago”

“Is he MS-Thirteen?” I said

“No, Pepe’s Eighteenth Street, MS-Thirteen’s rival But don’t let the uniforauys sit tight I’ll be right back”

Diaz went out and hopped into the truck, and atched as it pulled out The sandwiches had just hit the table when the truck hit the curb again Diaz ca He clapped his hands and rubbed them as he sat back down

“OK, the suspense is killing me,” I said “What can Brown do for us?”

Diaz spread a napkin on his lap

“We need to speak to a guy named Tomás Neves He’s an MS-Thirteen shot caller who’s done quite well for hiht, he’s a partner in one of those custom car shops down in Manhattan Beach where the rich people live Pepe said soh Neves He usually rolls into his fancy car joint late in the afternoon”

“Excellent,” I said, lifting my massive sandwich “First lunch, then it’s time for an episode of Pimp My G-Car”

CHAPTER 75

BEACH CITY CUSTOMS WAS south of LAX on the Pacific Coast Highway, in a commercial section of Manhattan Beach known as the Sepulveda Strip

Diaz quickly tappedlot

“What’s up, John?” I said

“Wait a sec Drive around the block, would you?”

“OK,” I said, continuing on and taking the corner past the body shop

“How much do you want t