Tek Kill Read Online Free PDF Page B

“going to have to change your notions.”
    Rex lumbered over to collect the report on the late Leroy Salten that had just come clicking out of the printer next to the ID stage. “Now, what about the other lug the little lady saw? Shall we try to get a make on him, kids?”
    Molly said, “Yes, of course. Let’s give him a try.”
    This time, however, they had no luck. The hairless man couldn’t be identified at all.
    JAKE ASKED his partner, “What meal is this you’re indulging in?”
    Looking up from his plate of soycakes and prosub, Gomez answered, “Late breakfast.”
    Tapping his finger against the side of his mug of nearcaf, Jake said, “At two in the afternoon?”
    â€œIt’s too early for high tea and I’m skipping lunch all week as part of my new diet regimen.” He patted his midsection a few times before turning to gaze out the plastiglass window of the diner toward the nearby afternoon Pacific. “How’s our esteemed comandante? ”
    â€œPissed off but otherwise in fine fettle. Hopes to be out and about no later than—”
    â€œOnce again,” came a loud matronly voice from out of the half dozen voxboxes hanging up under the low neowood ceiling of the small seaside diner, “let us welcome you to Mom’s, one of 864 friendly, homelike eating establishments in Greater Los Angeles. Remember, when it comes to home cooking and low, low prices, nobody beats Mom. Today’s special is soycakes and prosub with sudaspuds on the side. Enjoy.”
    â€œNice to know I’m in the culinary mainstream.” Gomez forked up another bite of prosub.
    Jake said, “I called the asshole and informed him that—”
    â€œMeaning Roy Anselmo?”
    â€œThat asshole, yeah. I told him I want to do some digging into the life and times of Dwight Grossman,” continued Jake. “Grossman worked for an outfit that researches companies for investors. His specialty was apparently pharmaceutical outfits.”
    â€œDoesn’t sound like an especially hazardous profession.”
    â€œDepends on what you dig up,” said Jake. “I’m also interested in Grossman’s romantic life.”
    â€œMeaning he may have been annoying and bedeviling other ladies besides Kay Norwood?”
    â€œRight, and perhaps somebody decided to curtail his harassing in a drastic way.”
    After wiping his mustache with a checkered plyonapkin, Gomez said, “Keep in mind, amigo , that we’re dealing with folks who can do some pretty fancy technical fudging. Two separate”—he held up his forefinger and middle finger side by side—“security tapes show Bascom doing stuff we know he never did.”
    â€œI assume you’re going to locate any experts hereabouts who are capable of that degree of electronic fakery?”
    â€œ Sí , of course,” answered his partner. “I calculate there aren’t more than four, maybe five pendejos who do work good enough to fool the SoCal constabulary and our own Doc Olan.”
    â€œWe better split, then, Sid. I’ll follow the Grossman angle, you concentrate on who rigged the frame.”
    Gomez drank most of his citrisub juice. “You are looking, even for the dour sourpuss you are, exceptionally downhearted this afternoon, compañero ,” he observed. “You holding back some bad news?”
    Jake looked out toward the hazy ocean. “Turns out I have an honorary partner to contend with, Sid.”
    Gomez blinked. “ Ai , surely nobody can replace me?”
    â€œKacey Bascom has volunteered her services to help save her pop.”
    After exhaling a long, rueful sigh, Gomez said, “She’s a very pretty mujer . A few pounds too skinny for my tastes, yet I can appreciate her general attractiveness.” He sighed further. “Pity she’s politically only about two steps removed from the sort of cabrones who’d