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NICK FOUND CASEY VONN at Foothill Rents. Sundays were busy, men bringing back Rototillers and lawn seed broadcasters and backhoes. Casey was in the yard wrestling a trencher back into place. Dirty T-shirt, cutoff sleeves. Oily jeans with a knife on his belt, muscles and tattoos.
Nick had seen him around, mostly on a black Harley hog ripping up and down the Tustin streets like he’d just held up a bank. Big ears and a thatch of black hair.
The warrant check had Casey with drunk in public and an assault that got him ninety days in County. The assault was a while back, just after Nick made patrol. But he remembered it had to do with Casey’s motorcycle gang, the Hessians, and Casey had put the guy in the hospital. It figured.
“Hey, Casey Vo
Casey didn’t look at him. Just rammed the heavy trencher forward. Then yanked it backward, lining it up straight.
“Still a little crooked,” said Nick.
Casey picked a big crescent wrench off the table, flinched, and Nick saw the wrench flying at his face. Turned and took it high on his shoulder. In a flash Casey was over the back fence, ru
Nick took him low, ramming his shoulder into the small of Casey Vo
“You’re slow as shit, Casey.”
“You’re the goddamned football star.”
“Get your hands behind your back.”
Casey was breathing hard and fast. His cigarette box had come out of his pocket and gotten torn up in the fall. There was a trail of broken up smokes and shredded tobacco.
Nick watched Casey’s ski
“You could have hurt me with that wrench, Casey.”
“It got your attention.”
“Janelle is what got my attention.”
“What about her?”
“She told us everything you and Le
“I never did nothing to her and I’m never changing that story. You do what you want, pig.”
“I hate that word for cops.”
“What charges?”
“I know guys who’d kick your teeth out right now,” said Nick. He looked down at Casey. Too easy.
Casey didn’t say anything right away. Just lay with his face in the dirt getting his breath back now. “What charges, Becker?”
“That’s what I need to talk to you about.”
“I never did nothing to her. Whatever she said she’s lying. Fuckin’ girl drinks, you know? I’ve seen her put away half a bottle of schnapps, no problem. Lies all the time. Do anything for money.”
Nick put both hands on one of Vo
“Maybe we can work a deal,” said Nick.
“I’m listening.”
“You tell me everything you and Le
Sirens wailed and Nick thought the timing was great. Stupid confusion crossed Casey’s face. Nick could tell he was guilty just by the set of his lips.
“Most of it’s probably not a crime anyhow,” Nick said. He surprised himself with the idea. Then went with it. “It’s never been a crime to touch your brother or sister. It’s just everyday brother and sister stuff. I know. I got little sisters, too.”
Vo
“It’s just touching, is what I’m talking about. Tell me about the Foot Tickle, Casey. And the Leg Tickle and the Bun Bu
“Those are all lies.”
“I told you it’s no big deal. It’s not even a crime.”
“Then why’d you chase me down?”
“And after that, I want to know about the black eye and the dope.”
“What dope?”
Sirens louder now. More good timing, Nick thought.
“The reds, Casey. Don’t tell me you didn’t give her the reds.”
“Wasn’t me,” he said quietly, looking down at the dirt.
“Le
Casey spit. “Ask Le
“I already did and he said you gave Janelle the reds. And Janelle said you gave her the reds. Lots of fingers pointed at you, my friend.”
“They’re fuckin’ liars, man.”
“That’s why I chased you down, Casey. That’s how bad I wanted somebody to tell the truth. So just start off with that kid stuff, the Bun Bu
“What if I don’t? What if I just get my lawyer?”
“That’s fine, but I’ve got to arrest you before they’ll appoint one. And lawyers are for creeps like Le
Two uniforms came jangling down the flood canal road but Nick told them to wait back by the rental yard.
For the next half hour Nick listened and asked questions. He almost brought out his notepad and pen but he figured that would be enough to spook Casey Vo
When Nick was sure he had enough he got the knife from the tumbleweed and put it in his pocket. Walked Casey back toward the rental yard. Nick switched the cuffs to the front and the deputies helped him get Casey over the fence.
Nick told Casey to sit in the back of his unmarked and he’d get him a cigarette. He told the rental yard customers gathered around the car to beat it and they did.
When he’d finished lighting one of his smokes for Vo
“You behave yourself, I’ll forget about the wrench,” he said.
“You said the tickle and bu
“Let’s ask a jury.”
“You never said nothing about a jury.”
AN HOUR LATER Nick and two deputies arrested Le
ON HIS WAY home that evening Nick stopped off at Millie’s for a couple of drinks. He liked the quiet before returning to the happy, deafening chaos of the Becker family. Willie was almost three. Katherine one and a half. Stevie two months. Katy was big and beautiful and often exhausted.
He opened the door to find Willie screaming and chasing Katherine around the living room. Katherine wailed happily. Katy right behind them hollering for them to be quiet while the baby in her arms screamed in sheer excitement.