The Watchman Read Online Free PDF Page A

ready to go. He started the engine for the air, then picked up the new phone. Ronnie had left the phone, two extra prepaid phone cards, and a note on the driver’s-side floorboard. Along with the phone was a charger Pike could plug into the car, a second charger for use in a house, and an earbud for hands-free driving. Ronnie had already activated the phone and registered two thousand minutes of calling time, so the phone was good to go. He had written Pike’s new cell phone number on the note.
    Larkin said, “I am
so
starving. Could we
please
get something to eat?”
    Pike studied the phone to figure it out, then fired up the Lexus and backed out, already thumbing in the number of a real estate agent he knew.
    Larkin said, “Thank God.
Finally.
I’m so hungry my stomach is eating itself.”
    “Not yet.”
    Larkin colored with irritation.
    “Oh,
fuck
this! This is
absurd
! I’m
hungry
. I want
food
.”
    Pike had to get them a place to hide. He had considered a motel, but a motel would increase their contact with people and contact was bad. They needed privacy in a neighborhood where no one was likely to recognize the girl. They needed immediate occupancy with no questions asked, which meant Pike could not do business with strangers. He had once helped the real estate agent deal with an abusive ex-husband, and had since bought and sold several properties through her.
    When Pike had her on the line he described what he needed. Larkin was slumped against the door on her side of the car, arms crossed and sullen.
    She said, “Help! Help! He’s raping me! Help!”
    Loud.
    The real estate agent said, “Who’s that?”
    “I’m babysitting.”
    Larkin glared harder—
    “You’ve never sat a baby like me.”
    —then leaned closer to the phone.
    “I gave him a blow job!”
    Pike’s friend said, “Sounds nice.”
    Larkin shouted, “I blew him and now he won’t feed me!
I’m starving to death!
”
    Pike cupped the phone so he could continue.
    “Can you find a house for me?”
    “I think I have something that will work. I’ll have to get back to you.”
    Pike gave his friend his new number, ended the call, then glanced at the girl. She was slumped back against her door again, glaring at him through her dark glasses as if she was waiting to see what he would do. Testing him, maybe. Everything Pike knew about this girl had been told to him by Bud Flynn and the girl’s father less than seventeen hours ago, and now he knew that Bud’s information could not be trusted.
    Pike glanced over at her again.
    “What’s your name?”
    She took off her glasses and frowned at him as if he were retarded.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “What’s your name?”
    “I don’t get it. Is this some kind of game we’re playing, truth or dare, what?”
    “Your name.”
    “I don’t get why you’re asking my name.”
    “What is it?”
    Her face flattened in frustration and she pulled at her shirt.
    “I’m hungry. When are you getting me something to eat?”
    “Name.”
    “LARKIN CONNER BARKLEY! Jesus Christ, what’s
YOUR
FUCKING NAME?”
    “Your father?”
    “CONNER BARKLEY! MY MOTHER IS DEAD! HER NAME WAS JANICE! I’M AN ONLY FUCKING CHILD! FUCK
YOU
!”
    Pike checked the rearview, then pointed at her purse on the floor under her feet.
    “License and credit cards.”
    She snatched up her purse, dug out her wallet, and threw it at him.
    “Use the cards to buy me some lunch.”
    Pike fingered open the wallet and thumbed out her driver’s license. It showed a color picture of her along with the name Larkin Conner Barkley issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Her address showed as a high-rise in Century City, but both Bud and her father had described a home in Beverly Hills.
    Pike said, “You live in Century City?”
    “That’s our corporate office. Everything goes to that address.”
    “Where do you live?”
    “You want to go to my loft? I got a great loft. We own the