Hondo said, “Nobody’s picked up the Marine Corp insignia pin from the gym you found the other day, and now this. What do you think?”
“Beats me. If it’s a message, I have no clue what it is. I’ll put this one with the other and see if anyone claims it. At this point, that’ll have to do.”
We went inside. Archie spun his chair around to face us. “Vick’s on his way, should be here any time.”
“What did he say?”
“He said, ‘I’ll be there in a few minutes’.”
“Nothing about the identity of the body?”
“He’s waiting to tell you two.”
“Okay.”
Archie said, “The waiting is the hard part.”
Vick’s car parked outside and he came in without knocking.
I said, “Have you ID’d the body?”
“Yes. Bodhi wasn’t in the car.”
I felt a great, invisible weight lift off me. I was almost giddy with relief.
Vick continued, “It was a young woman named Rachel Powter. About the same age and build as Bodhi. She was one of the group that hung out on the beach and around town panhandling and rummaging through garbage cans.”
Hondo said, “What aren’t you telling us?”
“She was shot in the head with a .22. That’s the cause of death. Someone put her in the car after they killed her. We’re scouring that area for any people who might be witnesses.”
I said, “Two of your prime suspects are big black men. The others are mostly women, with a few men.”
Vick said, “How do you know that?”
“I’m psychic.”
Vick’s eyes bulged, “I swear, Ronny, I’m–“
“I’m kidding, Vick. We ran into an undocumented guy while we looked around the area. He told us of visiting the people there and what they looked like.”
“What’s his name and where does he live?”
“Juan Luna. He’s staying in a day labor camp in that area.”
“Did he see Bodhi?”
“Earlier, yes. But not when we met him. He’s looking for her because of the big reward.”
Vick clicked his front teeth together a few times, “Yeah, half the people in L.A. are looking for her.”
Archie said, “You two call Sylvia, tell her.”
Hondo walked away as he dialed.
Vick turned on me and put his face about an inch from mine and said in a low voice, “My chips and salsa, Mr. Smartass Psychic.”
“Got them right here,” I said, and went into the storage room, coming back with the unopened box. “Here you go Officer Best. Kudos and congrats on your work.”