Chapter 4

'So what do you think? Maria asked, looking at her watch. Arvo shrugged. 'Give him fifteen, twenty minutes, then we're out of here. It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon. Detective Arvo Hughes and Maria Hernandez, from the Threat Management Unit of LAPD, had been sitting in a diner near Sunset and Vine for almost two hours waiting for Sandi Gaines's self styled boyfriend, Chuck, turn up. Last week, Sandi, who worked as a waitress in the diner, had been referred to the TMU by Hollywood Division.

A guy called Chuck, whom she had dated casually once or twice and then ditched, had been pestering her, phoning and making threats and racists insults. He had also walked into the diner the last two Tuesdays, just after the lunchtime rush, and acted weirdly, threatening to kill her and himself if she didn't give him another chance.

On both occasion, Sandi had been able to persuade him to leave without much trouble, but she was shaken and worried. So Arvo and Maria were here to talk to him. The detectives on the TMU usually worked alone, except on interventions like this. Arvo didn't expect any trouble, a d rarely got any, but you had to be careful. The simple obsessionals the ones you had known and been emotionally involved with were by far the most dangerous kind of stalkers.

The diner was an old style bar and grill, with a lot of brass around the bar and booths separated by dark wood panels. The tablecloths were starched white linen, the benches plush red leather and paintings of coastal scenes hung on the burgundy walls. The owners had made a couple of seasonal concessions, including a fold out Santa Claus on the wall, a few streamers on the ceiling, fluttering in the draught from the air conditioner, and red and green napkin on the tables.

A shabby Christmas tree, about three feet high, stood in the corner near the entrance to the men's room. One or two giftwrapped packages had been placed underneath it, presents from staff members to one another, most likely. Or empty boxes. It wouldn't do to leave your Christmas presents lying around open view in a place like this. 'So tell me about Nyreen while we're waiting,'. Maria said. 'You never did tell me how you met.' Arvo laughed. 'On a stake out. Can you believe it?. 'Like this one?' 'No. No, this was Hollywood job.' He looked around. 'I mean celebrity Hollywood, not like this place. This soap star, he'd been getting weird letters from a female fan for about a year.

She'd send him locks of her hair, toenail clipping, you know the routine. Once she even sent him a used tampon'. Maria wrinkled her nose. 'Anyway, she approached him a few times at public events and eventually he found her lurking around his neighbourhood, going through his trash, that sort of thing. We're not talking Beverly Hills security here, you understand. The guy wasn't that big. I think he lived in West LA, if I remember correctly. Anyway, when he got temporary restraining order against her, she sent him a death threat, said she'd carry it out where all his friends could see. So what does he do? He holds this big birthday bash at The Bistro, and we're there running interference in case she turns up.'

'Did she?. Arvo shocked his head. 'Nope. While we were soaking up the Parisian ambience and stuffing ourselves with gravlax and swordfish, she was hanging her self in Orange County with the cord from her bathrobe. A neighbour found her two days later.' Maria shook her head. Her mass of shiny black curls bounced around her shoulders. She had a dark complexion, with hazel eyes where humor and sadness mingled, a small, straight nose and full lips that looked as if they were shaped for long, lingering kisses.

Arvo could make out the outline of her white bra under the cotton blouse, cupping her full breasts, and though he couldn't see at the moment, he knew that her small waist swelled gently into hips that looked sensational in tight jeans. So sensational, in fact, that he thought she should be doing ads. Maybe she should audition, get an agent. Lots of cops moonlighted. Arvo pulled himself up short. Only in LA from Detroit three years himself and already staring to think like a native. Scary.

Some of the guys said Maria was gay, but Arvo suspected that was because they had made their pitches and struck out. She was funny and smart as well as being a great looking woman, and a lot of of men felt threatened by that. Born into a large, poor immigrant family her father was a cab driver in San Diego she had worked her way through school as a waitress and got a degree in psycology. Now, at the age of twenty nine, she was a valuable member of the TMU. Nobody talked down to Maria Hernandez and got away with it.

Sandi came by and topped up their coffees. From where Arvo sat, he could see the door. He always like to sit with his back to the wall and eyes on the door. Sandi said she'd give him the nod when Chuck walked in. It was ten after three now, and the crowd had thinned out since lunch. Apart from one group of five celebrating someone's birthday at the table near the window, the place was empty. Arvo looked at his watch. 'Is he likely to come this late?' he asked. Sandi nodded. 'Says where he works they sometimes have late lunches.' 'But be didn't say where he worked?' Sandi shocked her head. 'Nope. Just said he worked in movies, that's all, the lying creep.'

Jesus, Arvo thought, looking at the statuesque Sandi in her micro skirt and white silk blouse, with her model school posture and chocolate coloured, beauty clinic skin, does everyone around here want to get in the movies? 'I just hope you catch the bastard trying something that'll land his ass in jail and out of my face, that's all,' Sandi said, turning away. It was an unfortunate turn of phrase, Arvo thought. He looked at Maria, who raised her eyes and smiled. 'What about when you met Nyreen?' she asked. 'You didn't get to that.' Arvo sighed. 'Ah, Nyreen. Well, she was at that party I was telling you about. She worked in public relations for the studio.'

He held his hands out, palms up. 'What can I say? I feel for her right there and then. Love at first sight. She was blonde and beautiful. She seemed bright and she had a great body. She was also full of life and vitality, and she laughed a lot. Two weeks later we were married, and nine months later it was over.' 'Two weeks?' 'Well...yeah.' 'I didn't know that. So you really waited till you'd got to know each other first, right?' 'Okay. No need to rub it in.' 'What I don't understand is how an intelligent guy like you could fall for a bimbo like Nyreen. I'm sorry, Arvo but I mean it.' Arvo shocked his head. 'Whatever Nyreen might be, she's not bimbo. But how did it happened?'

He shrugged. 'Hormones, I guess. Lapse of judgement I don't know. If we could explain things like that, I suppose life would be a hell of a lot easier.' Maria laughed and touched him lightly on the arm. 'And maybe a lot more boring, too,' she added. Arvo looked out past to neon Coors sign in the window, where the sun flashed on the windshields of the passing cars. The air conditioner hummed and the atmosphere in the diner felt cool and clammy. He didn't want to think or talk about Nyreen any more. Talking about her j7st made his guts knot up and his chest constrict. Made him feel stupid, too.

'Anyways', Maria went on, maybe sensing Arvo's mood shift, 'it just goes to show you, doesn't it?' Goes to show what?' 'You never never can tell me what might happen on a stake out.' Her eyes flashed with humor as she spoke, but she held Arvo's gaze long enough to make him a little hot under the collar. Maybe the three months hormonal freeze was coming to an end. Before he could respond, the door opened and a young man in his mid twenties walked in. Good looking, in an Iowa farm boy sort of way, he was about six two, slim build, with his hair colour of wheatfields in August, he was wearing a navy blue suit that had seen better days. He also looked as if he had been drinking. His fate was flushed, his eyes a little wild, and his brow was oily with sweat.

Sandi, in the middle of the floor with a tray full of mixed drinks for the birthday party, looked at Arvo and nodded vigorously. Arvo started to edge his way out of the booth. Because they hadn't been able to pinpoint where Chuck lived or worked, the idea was to get him out of the bar with a minimum of fuss and have a good talk, point out the error of his ways. Sometimes it worked with the simple obsessionals. But the best laid plans of mice and men... Chuck glanced around nervously, saw Sandi and walked right over to her. While Arvo was still stuck between the table and the bench, Chuck pulled a gun from the inside pocket of his suit and pointed it at her head. It looked like a 38. revolver.

Sandi screamed and the dropped the tray. Glass shattered and booze splashed everywhere. The mingled smells of grin and bourbon filled the air. Everything became very quiet for maybe a couple of seconds while everyone in place took in what was happening. Then the bar staff ducked down behind the counter, and the people in the birthday group screamed and dived under the tables. Shit, thought Arvo. Whatever the rule book or the training courses said about situation like this didn't seem to count when they really happened. All you could do was keep talking, keep calm and try not to get yourself killed.

Arvo slid out of the booth and walked very slowly to Sandi. He knew that Maria was behind him p, still sitting, covering him. If anything went wrong, he hoped she was good shot. He prayed he wouldn't have him find out. Chuck flicked his eyes sideways at Arvo and licked his lips. 'Stay there,' he said. 'You stay right here or I'll blow her brians out. I mean it.' He had the gun pointing at the side of Sandi's head. Sandi whimpered and shook. Arvo stood still and held his hands up. 'Okay,' he said. 'I'll stay here. I'm not moving. But we've got to talk p, Chuck.

'What about? Who the fuck are you anyway? You her new boyfriend? ' 'No Chuck I'm not her boyfriend?' Arvo told him who he was. As he spoke, he felt himself shift into What he called no time. He'd been there twice before: once during a hostage taking in Detroit, and again during a domestic intervention, similar to this one, in Vans Guys. The first time, he had successfully talked the hostage taker down; the second time, the ex-husband's gun had jammed. It was no time because you had no time to do anything but talk. It was no time because time seemed suspended. And it was no time because time that might have all the love you had left.

'A cop?' Chuck scowled at Sandi. 'Bitch. I might have known'. Arvo had to keep his attention, get his focus away from Sandi and calm him down. 'Look, Chuck, he said, hands spreads in the open, 'why don't you put the gun down away and we can talk?' 'What about?' 'Your problems. Whatever you want. Just out the gun down.' Chuck laughed harshly. The gun wavered in his hands but remained point in the general direction of Sandi Gaines's head.

'You want to talk about my problems. Man, that's a laugh. The minute I put this gun away you'll have me on the floor and be bearing the shit out of me I was Rodney King.' 'That's not true,' Arvo said softly, 'and I think you know it. You're smarter than that. Put the gun down, Chuck.' Chuck licked his lips again. Again, his gun hand wavered, but he didn't put the weapon down. He didn't want to fire it, Arvo could tell, but that didn't mean he wouldn't.

'Ask her what my problem are,' Chuck said, glaring at Sandi.' Ask her why I'm here in this state, all to pieces. I can't sleep because of her. I lie awake thinking about her all night. How much I want her. How much I love her. The black bitch. Black witch. She's put a spell, on me. What's wrong, Sandi? White man's meat not good enough for you, huh? He pushed the gun closer until the barrel was touching Sandi's temple. She flinched.

Sweat prickled on Arvo's brow. 'Chuck,' he said as calmly as he could, 'this isn't helping matters at all. You don't want to hurt anyone. I know that. You know that. But accidents happen. Give me the gun and we'll sit down and talk like rational human beings, okay?' He held out his hand. Chuck looked at the hand, then ignored it. 'Rational?' he echoed. 'She didn't behave like a rational human being, being, did she?' She never even gave me a chance. What is it, Sandi? They really do have bigger cocks, your own kind? That it? This not big enough for you?'

He fumbled at his fly with his free hand. 'There's no need for this, Chuck,' said Arvo. Come on, give me the gun. You're making everyone nervous. 'Let 'em sweat. I get no sleep because of this bitch. I get. I get headaches. Here. This not good enough for you?' His dick, hung , limply out the front of his pants. 'Why don't you kiss it, bitch! Why don't you go on your knees and kiss it.' 'Oh god. Don't kill me. Please! 'Sandi wailed. Chuck was crying now, passing his peak like a roller coaster on its way back home.

Arvo figured if he could get through the next few seconds there might be a chance that they would all get out of the place alive. 'Come on, Chuck, 'he said p, holding out his hand. 'We can talk about this. I know we can. You're an intelligent man. You don't want to hurt anyone. Give me the gun Chuck. ' Chuck looked directly at Arvo for the first time, his face slick with sweat, tears flowing down his cheeks. Arvo held eye contact for what seemed like hours p, aware only of sound of the streamers fluttering in the draught, but at the end of that time, he knew he had. The man was a habitual loser, just desperate, trying a little harder than usual to succeed at something, at anything.

'Ah, what the fuck,' he said finally, shoulders slumping. It's only a replica anyway.' He handed the gun to Arvo, put his dick away and zipped up his fly. Arvo felt like smashing his stupid face in. Instead, he gritted his teeth and patted Chick down. Though he was sure the man would hardly use a replica when he had a real gun in his pocket, it was best to be safe and follow routine procedure. He didn't bother with cuffs. That could wait until a patrol car arrived. Chuck wasn't go ping anywhere right now. He looked like a man who wanted to talk.

Sandi dashed off to the washroom, hand over her mouth. Slowly, the members of the birthday party started peeking from under the table and getting to their feet, am, a little a sheepish now it was all over. Pretty soon, Arvo thought p they'd be ments for the drinks that got spilled, maybe even threaten a lawsuit. He'd seen it happen before. Then they'd embellish what had happened for their friends, be the centre of attention at parties.

The bar staff stood up and dusted themselves off. One of them poured himself a stiff shot of Sctoch. Arvo nodded to Maria, who went to call Hollywood Division, then led Chuck by the elbow to one of the booths and jammed him in the corner. Chuck wiped his face with a napkin. The tissue was so thin that it shredded and pieces stuck in little clumps on his cheeks and chin, like the bits of paper you put over shaving nicks.

I'm glad it's over,' he said. 'You know that? I'm glad it's about her. You know that? You know what that does to your mind? I loved that woman. Do you believe it? Loved her. She treated me like dirt. I couldn't kill no one, man.' 'Calm down, Chuck,' Arvo said. You only dated her a couple of times, isn't that right. 'So? What does it matter how many times I dated her? Don't you believe in love at first sight?' Arvo sighed and wondered if he should give an honest answer. If truth be told, he'd lost a fair but of sleep over Nyreen, too.

Before he could say anything, though , Sandi stormed over to the booth and stood over them, hands on her hips. 'Now look what you've done, you piece of white trash. A whole tray. 'You're gonna have to pay for them drinks.' Chuck fell silent for a moment, mouth open, then he started laughing through his tears. Arvo almost felt like laughing with him. Sandi just stood there, eyes flashing, and Chuck looked at Arvo. 'Isn't she unbelievable? Isn't she magnificent?' Then he turned back to Sandi, adoration clear in his eyes.

'How about bringing me drink? Make it a Martini. Very dry. With a twist.' He glanced at Arvo again. 'And maybe one for my friend here, too. Arvo shook his head. One of those days. Then he heard the welocme sound of a police siren.