“Some Latin junkie he shot some other junkies downtown I got it pled down to manslaughter Nestor something… Almodovar that’s it Nestor Almodovar.”

Milo didn’t correct her. “Daney wrote a letter for Nestor.”

“Your basic character reference Nestor was a good kid rough childhood extenuating circumstances blah blah blah.”

“And Daney just happened to be working on another of your cases?”

“No no no,” said Weider, “Daney called me asked me to defend Troy at first I didn’t want to do it because believe me I was putting in the hours who needed the hassle but he kept working on me telling me I was the smartest D.P.D. in the office which happened to be true then I figured why not it could be interesting.”

“How so?” I said.

“Interesting- ” Weider repeated. Then she stared at me, went silent, twisted her mouth nonstop, as if compensating for the lack of sound.

Milo said, “Interesting as in high-profile. As in getting your name in the paper.”

Weider turned toward him. “Why shouldn’t I get some of the good ones you put in the hours why not get a little coverage?”

“And a movie deal,” said Milo.

Weider did the open-shut thing with her mouth again. More panting, more lip acrobatics. She snapped her head away from Milo and stared out the window. “That was after the case resolved nothing illegal about that it happens all the time.”

“Was the movie your idea or Daney’s?”

“His,” she said, too quickly. “He used to say look at Marty such a total loser but he’s driving a Mercedes and lunching at the studio commissary even though with all that opportunity he still couldn’t produce anything better than grade C made-for-TV crap.”

“Daney figured he could do bet- ”

“He figured if he had Marty’s opportunities he’d own a studio.”

“Delusions of grandeur,” said Milo.

“Doesn’t stop anyone else in Hollywood,” said Weider. “I could tell you stories besides I knew why he was talking himself up like that.”

“Why?”

Smug smile. “To get himself hard that’s what he’d do when he had problems he’d talk himself up and put Marty down that’s what it’s all about for men out-dicking the other guy.”

“Still,” I said, “you took the movie idea seriously.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you and Daney take meetings?”

“Everyone takes meetings you stop taking meetings the industry shrivels up like Daney’s you-know-what when he got nervous.”

“Everyone takes meetings but so did you.”

“Yeah I went I took it as seriously as anything else why not what was there to lose do you guys have anything to drink I’m really thirsty.”

“Sorry, no,” said Milo.

“Damn I’m parched that’s why I hate…” Her head dropped. Staring at her legs.

“What do you hate?”

“Pills dope poison I refuse to take anything to hell with stupid doctors the best thing for stress is activity work off the toxins speaking of which I’m starting to feel really confined could we walk a little take a little stroll- ”

Milo said, “Who set up the meetings?”

“I did Daney tagged along thinking he was smooth- ”

“Not Marty?”

“Marty gave us some names big deal I already knew them from my father he had a Rolodex to die for don’t listen to anything Marty tells you he’s nuts- ”

“Do you have a copy of the treatment?” I said.

“No why would I?”

“Ever register it with the Writer’s Guild?”

“No why would I?”

“Isn’t that basic procedure?”

“If you care,” she said. “I lost interest after a couple of meetings you could tell from the reaction it was going nowhere fast that’s the way it is in the industry you’re insta-hot or insta-not stupid mistake my one mistake.”

“What was that?”

“Letting Daney write it he put in the same old crap he’d wanted me to use with Troy.”

“Blaming Barnett Malley,” I said.

“Blaming Barnett Malley but kicking it up to an absurd level now Malley was some kind of serial killer obsessed with power and control and body parts.”

“Sounds a bit like Daney himself,” I said.

“Hey,” she said, merrily. “You must be some kind of shrink.”

CHAPTER 39

Milo said, “I’ll take you home, Sydney.”

“I’m still thirsty could we stop somewhere?”

“If I pass a place, I’ll get you a Coke.”

“How about Joya Juice there’s one near my house.”

As we left the park, she turned silent and fidgety.

I said, “What was your impression of Cherish Daney?”

“Drew said she was a real religious type wanted kids a whole bunch of them a brood was the term he used but she couldn’t have any she was sterile it was an issue.”

“Not having kids?”

“Adoption she finally accepted she couldn’t have her own decided she wanted to adopt was really obsessed with adopting even a kid from China Bulgaria Bolivia one of those places he didn’t want it didn’t want the commitment I said what about foster kids that way she gets to play mama then they leave and you’re off the hook and you get paid.”

“Drew like the idea of fostering?”

“He loved it said brilliant Syd you’re a genius that’s what he called me Syd extremely irritating big burr in the saddle but he kept doing it a real loser when we get to Joya I’d like something with pineapple in it okay?”

She directed him to the juice bar, just north of Sunset, in Palisades Village. He left her cuffed and went inside.

Women who looked like Weider were all around. She sank down and lay flat on the rear seat. I asked her about Barnett Malley but she claimed to know nothing about him.

“No impressions?”

“Why would I he was the other side?”

“Daney’s theories never got you curious?”

“That was bullshit.”

“What about Malley riding the rodeo?”

“What are you talking about?”

Milo returned with a giant cup and a straw. She sat up and said, “Take off the cuffs I need to hold it.” He leaned into the car and held the straw to her mouth. She said “Oh c’mon,” but drank greedily, cheeks deflating. When she stopped for a breath, a speck of froth remained on her lower lip. Milo wiped it off.

She looked up at him with fear. “Please let me hold it.”

“No more problems?”

“I promise really.”

“Gonna avoid issues with the neighbors?”

She smiled. “What do you care about that you’re a big-issue guy it’s Daney you’re after obviously he’s done something serious but I don’t even care what.”

“No curiosity?”

“I don’t live in the past the past is like a dead body just keeps rotting and stinking may I have another sip please and can you please take off the damned cuffs?”

“You and Drew don’t talk anymore?”

Hoarse laugh. “Haven’t talked to that loser in seven years what do you think I’m going to call him tell him you were here that’ll be the day if he ever tried to get near me I’d cut off his you-know-what.”

“Bet you would,” said Milo. He freed her hands and handed her the cup. She sipped, remained docile and silent during the ride back to her house.

When we got there, Milo helped her out of the car. She stood looking at her front door as if she’d never seen it before. Milo took her by the elbow and walked her up the drive. Halfway there, he hung back. She stopped, flipped hair, flashed teeth, said something that made him smile. Stood on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek.

He watched as she walked to her door, stood there as she crossed the threshold. Returned shaking his head.

I said, “What was the joke?”

“The- Oh, that. She said ‘You’re sending me off like a little birdie out of the nest chirp chirp chirp.’ ” He jammed the key in the ignition. “It caught me off guard. For a second, she seemed kinda cute.” He frowned. “That kiss. I need to wash my face.”