Jonathan Kellerman - Alex Delaware 25 by Deception

Author:Deception [Deception]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

L.A. County hosts scores of golf courses but exclusive enclaves for the big-rich number less than a dozen.

Milo began with the Westside, used his suddenly defunct rank to get through to human resource directors. Success on the third try: Emilio Mendoza was a waiter at Mountain Crest Country Club.

I'd been there a few years ago, as the lunch guest of a psychiatric entrepreneur wooing me to direct a nonprofit home for wayward children. Amiable meal, but the devil had messed up the details and I'd declined, despite a great steak. Soon after, the home closed down in a corruption scandal.

The club occupied lovely, rolling bluffs where Pacific Palisades abuts Malibu. By the sixth hole, ocean views distract. Stout fees and extensive vetting limit the membership to people of a certain type. That day at lunch the only dark faces had been those of the staff; I wondered if Emilio Mendoza had been the one to place a platter-sized rib eye before me as if it were a sacrament.

The HR woman on the phone said, "He's at work, I'll have him call you."

Milo said, "It would be better if I talk to him now, ma'am."

"May I ask what this is concerning?"

"A family matter," said Milo.

"Emilio's family?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"The police--oh, dear. You're not saying something terrible has happened?"

"Terrible things happen all the time, but Mr. Mendoza's family is fine."

"Then why--"

"If you'd prefer, I can drop by, talk to him in person. Maybe shoot a few holes."

"Hold on, I'll try to find him."

A few minutes later, a soft, lightly accented male voice said, "This is Emilio."

Milo misrepresented himself again as still active, but made no mention of homicide. "Sorry for bothering you, Mr. Mendoza, but I need to talk to Martin."

"Martin?" Marteen, emphasis on the second syllable. "Why, sir?"

"It's concerning his tutor, Elise Freeman."

"Her," said Mendoza. "She's no longer his tutor."

"She's no longer anyone's tutor, sir. She's deceased."

"You're kidding--my God, that's terrible. The police? She was hurt by someone? Why do you need to talk to Martin?"

"We're talking to all her former students, Mr. Mendoza. Trying to learn everything we can about her."

Long silence. "That's the only reason?"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"You don't suspect Martin of something?"

"No, sir, we'd just like to talk to him. You can be there, or his mother can, I'm happy to come to your home, keep everything low-key."

"Martin didn't spend much time with her, sir. He took a few lessons, that's all."

"I know, sir, but we've got a list to go through. Routine, nothing to be worried about. Is Martin ill today?"

"Ill?"

"He wasn't at school."

"You went to the school?" Mendoza's voice cracked on the last word.

"We did."

"They told you he was ill?"

"No," said Milo. "Just that he wasn't there. Is he home?"

Silence.

"Sir?"

"No," said Emilio Mendoza. "He is not at home."

"Where is he, then?"

Silence.

"Mr. Mendoza."

"I don't know."

"Martin ran away?"

"His mother and I came home from work, he was gone. He left his cell phone. He didn't take anything that we can see. My wife is sick, she is throwing up.

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