When the Dead Speak

Chapter 65

Chapter 65

"How are we going to get Parker Smith's daughter to let us have a peek at that letter he wrote?" Frank asked, sliding into a wide booth in the back of Izzy's, a restaurant/bar known for its jumbo-sized burgers, fried chicken, and bottomless pitchers of beer.

"She'll give it up once Carl exercises his authority."

Gloria Estefan was warning that The Rhythm is Gonna Get You over the jukebox, while a bar filled with men in baseball jerseys tried to talk over the game on the television set. The eating area and bar were separated by a plaque-filled wall.

The bar should be safe enough for Lincoln Thomas, they figured. Everyone in it was a cop, including Rover, the hog-jowled owner/bartender, who had retired from the force three years before.

Two minutes later, a well-dressed Asian man of average height, walked through the front door. Jake slid out of the booth and stood up so Lincoln would see him in the back room.

He saw Jake immediately, walked over and slid into the booth across from the two men. Jake introduced himself and Frank. A waitress came over to take their orders.

"Have you eaten?" Frank asked Lincoln.

"I'm fine. Just hot tea for me."

The two detectives ordered beer.

"You have a good memory," Jake said, referring to Lincoln's ability to pick Jake out of a crowd after seeing his picture.

"Yes, I believe I do."

The back door opened and a young couple walked down the short aisle into the restaurant. Lincoln gave them a quick glance.

"Is it true what the papers say? Have you closed the Hap Wilson case?"

Karen, their waitress, set the tray on the table and distributed the drinks. "Anything to eat?"

Jake and Frank ordered burgers with the works. Clamping the empty tray under her arm, Karen hustled off to the kitchen.

"That's the department's official stand," Jake replied, "but not ours."

"And Sergeant Casey? I thought she would be here."

"We tried reaching her but she wasn't home and she hasn't responded to her beeper," Jake explained.

Reaching into his pocket, Frank said, "Let me try again." After a few minutes, Frank reported, "Still no answer at home and her beeper isn't on."

Lincoln quickly checked the faces of the patrons at the tables and booths around them.

"You're safe here," Jake assured him. "All cops."

Emptying a packet of sugar into his cup, Lincoln said, "Even your precinct wasn't safe today." Jake and Frank peered inquisitively at him over the rim of their beer glasses. "Allow me to introduce myself. Lincoln Thomas is my American name. My Korean name is Ling Toy."