Watchman, The by Crais Robert

Author:Crais, Robert [Crais, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2007-02-27T08:00:00+00:00

20

PIKE WORKED his way south to the Santa Monica Freeway in the sluggish morning traffic. He didn’t hurry. If the man in his condo left, Ronnie would follow. Pike filled Cole in from the car. Cole asked if Pike wanted help, but Pike declined, saying Cole’s time would be better spent on Pitman as they had planned. Pike still wanted to talk with Bud, but everything might change in the next few hours, so Pike decided to wait. He told Cole about the girl.

Cole said, “You want me to watch her?”

“Not watch her, but I’d like you to stop by.”

“She wouldn’t know I was watching her.”

“I understand, but no. She doesn’t want that. Maybe you could stop by. I don’t know how long I’m going to be with this. Just stop by. Don’t stay.”

“I’ll swing by later. I’ll drop off some food.”

“Strawberries.”

“What?”

“She wants strawberries. Maybe bananas.”

“Sure. Whatever.”

“See she’s all right, then let me know.”

“Joe. You worried?”

“Just doing my job.”

“Right.”

“If she wants you to stay, you can stay.”

Cole laughed, so Pike hung up.

Pike hadn’t heard from Ronnie again by the time he left the freeway, so he called.

Pike said, “I’m five out. Is he still in my house?”

“Nope. He only stayed inside a few minutes. Now he’s hiding in the bushes. Bet the sonofabitch went in to take a dump.”

“Only one guy?”

“Yep.”

“Where?”

“You know the two dumpsters at the back of your parking lot? He’s under the bushes behind the dumpsters, looking out between them so he can see your front door. Been there about twenty minutes now.”

What’s he driving?”

“No idea. He approached on foot along the main drive, so he’s probably parked out by the main gate, but I’m only guessing. Somebody might’ve dropped him off.”

Pike thought it through as he turned toward his complex. Since the man had taken a position by Pike’s condo, Pike could drive through the main gate and park on the grounds. This would allow Pike easy access to his car, which could be important.

Pike said, “What’s he wearing?”

“A short-sleeved green shirt with the tail out. The shirt has these little stripes. And jeans.”

“Can you leave your position without being seen?”

“No problem.”

“Call you when I’m in.”

Pike drove through the main gate, but turned away from his condo to a parking lot behind a group of adjoining pods. He left the Lexus without bothering to hide, and made his way forward. Pike knew exactly where the man was and what the man was able to see, so Pike wasn’t concerned. When he reached the last of the adjoining pods, he stepped behind a large plumeria and once more disappeared into a world of green. Pike moved along the wall to the end of the building, then turned the corner. The parking lot where he normally parked and the dumpsters were directly in front of him. He studied the thick wall of oleander bushes behind the dumpsters. The man would have a narrow field of view between the dumpsters, but he had picked a good place to hide. Pike couldn’t see him through the heavy lace of leaves.

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