Street Rules by Baxter Clare

Author:Baxter Clare [Clare, Baxter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Detective and Mystery Fiction, Lesbian, Noir, Hard-Boiled
ISBN: 1931513147
Google: byQFAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1931513147
Barnesnoble: 1931513147
Goodreads: 624862
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2003-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Later that evening, it took time for a ringing telephone to penetrate Frank’s hard sleep. She rolled off the couch in the den, and jogged to the kitchen, answering, “This is Franco.”

A CRASH unit had caught Ruiz taking a leak against a building just a block away from Lydia’s apartment. They’d requested back up and taken him in. Frank had called Nook and Bobby and they’d met her at Figueroa. Ruiz had been waiting in the cramped interrogation room.

Nookey suggested, “Let’s do good cop — bad cop. I’m little like him, so you,” he nodded at Bobby, “can be the Intimidator. Besides, he might be more willing to talk to a gook than a spook.”

“Well, when you put it that way,” Bobby grimaced.

“Yeah. Try that,” Frank agreed. Meanwhile, she banged out a warrant to impound Ruiz’s T-bird. By three AM she was standing in Judge Levine’s living room watching him sign it. Back at the office her detectives worked Ruiz. Nook was nice and bought him a Coke. He offered him cigarettes. He praised the Playboys and ragged on the Kings. He told Ruiz he was their prime suspect because of the car, but that if Lydia’s alibi held up it would clear him. He wheedled, he cajoled, he joked. He made out like he was Ruiz’ best friend. Then Bobby, three times larger than Ruiz, loomed over him, believably menacing. Nook interjected. He defended Ruiz and apologized for his partner’s behavior, seeming to whisper behind Bobby’s back that he was a monkey. But it was okay. The kid could trust Nook.

Frank watched all this from the small viewing window. Her boys put in a valiant effort but Ruiz wasn’t buying the old “I’m your friend” routine. It was amazing how many idiots did buy the tired ruse, admitting sins mortal and venal that no one in their right mind would tell an interrogating police officer. But Ruiz was one of the cagier perps. He wouldn’t open his mouth even after Nook confided that Lydia had copped to the party in Eagle Rock. For a second Ruiz had looked alarmed. Bobby had hammered him, but the boy sat with his lips clenched and fists in his lap.

After a quick briefing at 6:00, Noah followed Frank back to the window in the box.

“Does Ruiz know you?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Maybe you should put on the bra. Doesn’t look like they’re gettin’ anywhere with him.”

Frank stroked her chin.

“Too early. They’re just getting started.”

“How long’s he been in there?”

Frank glanced at her watch.

“About five hours.”

Frank returned to her office and made phone calls. She organized the T-bird’s removal to the print shed and instructed Johnnie to wait at the car until the police garage truck came.

By noon Nook and Bobby still hadn’t cracked Ruiz. Ike had been hovering near Frank, watching his colleague’s lack of progress, and she had him bring Nook out.

“I’m tired,” he yawned. “This little fucker’s wearing me down. I don’t know why he won’t tell us anything. Unless Lydia’s lying about somethin’ Saturday.

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