The Watchman by Robert Crais Page A

since they were built in the thirties, which gave the street a sleepy, small-town feel. A brace of jacaranda trees colored the car and the driveway with purple snow.
    Larkin swiveled her head as they drove past the house, alert and excited.
    “What are we going to do?”
    “You’re going to stay in the car. I’m going to talk to him.”
    “But what if he’s not here? What if he left?”
    “See the jacaranda flowers on the driveway? They haven’t been disturbed.”
    “What if he wasn’t here? What if he lied?”
    “Please be quiet.”
    Pike parked across the mouth of Bud’s drive so Larkin would be clearly visible in the car, then got out and went to the front door. Pike stood to one side of the door, positioning himself so he could not be seen from the windows. He called Bud’s cell.
    Bud said, “Gotta be you, Joe. The incoming call says restricted.”
    “Look in your driveway.”
    “Joe?”
    “Look outside.”
    Pike heard movement over the phone, then inside the house. The front door opened. Bud stepped out. He stared at the girl, but didn’t yet see Pike. Bud had already dressed for the day, but Pike thought the years had caught up with him in the past thirty-six hours. He looked tired.
    Pike said, “Bud.”
    Bud showed no surprise. He scowled the way he had scowled when Pike was a boot, like he was wondering what he had done to be cursed with this person who was ruining his life.
    He said, “What did you think I would do, have Universal surrounded? Have spotter planes up in the sky?”
    Pike made a rolling gesture so Larkin would roll down her window.
    Pike called out to her.
    “Say hi to Bud.”
    Larkin waved and called back from the car.
    “Hi, Bud!”
    Pike called out again.
    “You want to stay here with him?”
    Larkin made a two-thumbs-down gesture and shook her head. Pike turned back to Bud, but Bud was still scowling.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “This is a nice house. You’ve done all right.”
    “What in the fuck do you think you’re doing? Do you know how much shit I’m in?”
    “I’m showing you she’s alive and well. You can tell her father and Special Agent Pitman she’s fine. You can say she doesn’t want to come back because she likes staying alive.”
    Bud grew irritated.
    “Now waitaminute, goddamnit—this isn’t only about the girl. You dropped five bodies in two days. You think, what, Pitman can tell LAPD, hey, it’s all right, our civilian killed those dudes to protect our witness, and Northeast Homicide will let it go? You have to help straighten this out.”
    Pike didn’t care if they let it go or not. He wondered why Bud hadn’t mentioned that Pitman had returned his gun. Then he wondered whether or not Bud knew, and, if not, why Pitman hadn’t told him.
    “What does Pitman want?”
    “You, the feds, a couple of assistant chiefs from Parker and the Sheriff’s, that’s what we’re talking about. You and Larkin answer their questions, Pitman says the locals will go away.”
    “Won’t happen.”
    “Pitman says if you don’t come in he’ll issue a warrant for kidnapping.”
    The corner of Pike’s mouth twitched, and Bud reddened.
    “I know it’s bullshit, but you’re out here running around and nobody knows what’s happening. The feds believe they can protect her. They think the problem is me, and that’s what they’re telling her father. He’s this close to firing me.”
    “So tell me, Bud—is she safer with you now or me?”
    “I turned over my personal records to the DOJ. I gave them my guys—their cell records, hotels and expenses, everything. Her father, he gave Pitman an open door on his lawyer, his staff, their e-mails and phones—all of it. We’ll plug the leak.”
    “Who’s checking Pitman?”
    Bud blinked as if he was facing a dry wind, and finally shook his head.
    “I can’t keep her safe. I can’t even cover for you. I know that was part of the deal, but now I don’t know.”
    “My way, the leak doesn’t