It was another sweltering August night in L.A., the police scanner crackling like the heat, relentless. The canyons were all on fire, and a heavy pall of smoke hung in the air like fog, rolling into the cul-de-sacs, wreathing the streetlights.
Lenny Nero was out on patrol; it was only 8:30 on a Wednesday and he had already responded to three domestic abuse calls, a bodega robbery and an attempted rape. He was hauling the would-be rapist back to the precinct when a hooker named Milan darted out into the crosswalk at a red light and began pummeling the hood of his patrol car, screaming for him to pull over. "Take it easy, Milan," Lenny yelled back. "Get out of the street." He made a left and pulled into a Denny's on the corner. Every parking spot was full.
Milan was a regular on Sepulveda, she was a long way from her home turf tonight. Maybe she was staking a new claim in this part of town, or her pimp was trying to mix it up to boost revenue. Lenny got out of the car, waiting for her to catch up. The emaciated, heavily inked offender in the back of his car slammed his head against the cage in impotent protest at the delay. "Easy, ese," jeered Lenny. "You don't wanna scar that pretty face."
"Jesus, Lenny!" cried Milan, panting for air as she she dragged up to his car. "Where the fuck have you been? I been looking all over town for you!"
"You coulda just called."
"I did, like fifty times!"
He pulled his phone from his pocket. Dead. "What's up, Milan?"
"I got something for you. Dude gave me a K to deliver it." She passed him a SQUID disc, the tracks on her arm visible even under the fake tan. A good part of that K was probably already racing through her veins.
"Who gave you this?"
"He wouldn't tell me his name. He looked rich. He said to tell you Steckler says hello."
"Oh, fuck, Lenny breathed, his face ashen, sweat trickling under his collar like insects crawling over his skin.
"You okay, Lenny? You don't look so good."
Lenny turned the disc over in his hands, shaking his head. "Yeah. Thanks, Milan. You be careful out here."
"How's Mace?"
"She's good. She's really good."
"Tell her I said hey."
"I will. You need a ride somewhere?"
"In a cop car? Hell, no. I'll give you a ride, though, sweetness."
"Maybe next time." Lenny gave her a thin-lipped smile and let her go, his heart slamming against his ribs. Steckler. He had to jack in ASAP, but first he had to rid himself of the dirtbag in the back of his car.
A call went out over the radio for all units in his current sector to respond to a jewelry store break-in, shots had been fired. Lenny ignored it, heading south, hauling ass through every green light until he reached Ventura Boulevard and he could disappear into traffic.
