Elvis Cole [10] The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais

Author:Robert Crais
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Los Angeles (Calif.), Private investigators, Mystery fiction, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Detective, Private investigators - California - Los Angeles, Cole, Hard-Boiled, Fiction, Birthfathers, California, Los Angeles, Thrillers, Suspense, General, Elvis (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780345451910
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2006-01-31T05:00:00+00:00

The nearest two towns were Alamorio and Westmorland.

"How about in Alamorio and Westmorland?"

"Sorry, sir."

I went to the next town.

"Calipatria?"

"Here you go, Alex Reinnike in Calipatria."

He punched me off to the computer before I could ask for more, so I copied the number, then called information again. This time I told the operator I wanted to check several towns, and asked her not to hand me off to the machine.

Three minutes later, we had covered six more outlying towns, and I had one more name, Edelle Reinnike, who was listed in Imperial.

I looked at the two names and their numbers, then went into the kitchen for a glass of water. I drank it, then went back to the phone. At least it wasn't gin. My hands were shaking.

I dialed Alex Reinnike first because Calipatria was closest to Anson. Alex Reinnike sounded as if he was in his thirties. He listened patiently while I explained about George Reinnike from Anson, and asked if he was related.

When I finished, he said, "Dude, I wish I could help, but I only moved here last April when I got out of the navy. My people are from Baltimore. I never heard of this guy."

I thanked him, then called Edelle Reinnike.

Ms. Reinnike answered on the fourth ring with a phlegmy voice. Her television was so loud in the background that I could hear it clearly. Wheel of Fortune.

She said, "What is it? Yes, who is this? Is someone there?"

I shouted so she could hear me.

"Let me turn this down. It's here somewhere. Where is it?"

She made a little grunting sound like she was reaching for something or maybe getting up, and then the volume went down.

She said, "Who is this?"

"Edelle Reinnike?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"My name is Cole. I'm calling about George Reinnike from Anson."

"I don't live in Anson. That's up by the lake."

"Yes, ma'am, I know. I was wondering if you know George Reinnike."

"No."

"Are there other Reinnikes in the area?"

"They're dead. We had some Reinnikes, but they're dead. I got two sons and five grandchildren, but they might as well be dead for all I see them. They live in Egypt. I never knew an American who lived in Egypt, but that's where they live."

You hear amazing things when you talk with people.

"The dead Reinnikes, did any of them live in Anson?"

She didn't answer, so I figured she was thinking.

"This goes back a while, Ms. Reinnike. George lived in Anson about sixty years ago. He was a child then, probably younger than ten. He had surgery on his legs."

She didn't say anything for a while.

"Ms. Reinnike?"

"I had a cousin who had something with his legs. When we all got together, he had to sit with his parents and couldn't come play with the rest of us. That was my Aunt Lita's boy, George. I was older, but he had to sit."

"So you did know a George Reinnike?"

"Yes, the one with the legs. That was them up in Anson. I didn't remember before, but that was them."

"Does George still live there?"

"Lord, I haven't seen him since we were children.

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