This Storm

by James Ellroy

this?” Huey shrugged. “Fifth Column’s Fifth Column. We all drink at the same trough and pick at the same fleas.” “On that note, then. Where’s Tommy Glennon?” “I ain’t seen him since he left Quentin. That was back in November.” “Do any Japs habituate the Deutsches Haus? I’m thinking of a man named Kyoho Hanamaka.” Huey scratched his balls. “Japs on the loose, since the Day of Infamy? Japs who ain’t already in stir for the war’s duration?” “Can you connect Tommy G. to the Deutsches Haus, or Rice and Kapek?” “Nein—’cause the Deutsches Haus didn’t open up until sometime in ’37, and Tommy was in Quentin then. As far as Rice and Kapek go, you’ve got Rice bragging that he ran wets, and Tommy used to run wets for Carlos Madrano.

grabbed his crotch and went Consider this. “Moving along, then. Monsignor Joe Hayes, a woman named Jean Staley, the hot-box phone by the L.A. Herald building, and fourteen pay phones in Baja, rumored to receive coded calls of a suspicious nature.”

“No, nix, nein, and nyet, Uncle Dud. All us fascist types use phone drops, but I

don’t know nothing about pay phones in Baja.” “Your

The address book had been altered and planted at the klubhaus. That seemed evident

seems theoretically evident now. Hideo called him at Lyman’s. He found a burn-scar print in the book. It matched Kyoho Hanamaka’s print card. Tommy was privy to Baja-based Fifth Column operations. That seems evident now. The print links Tommy to Hanamaka and his faked-death act. Parker

Dudley said, “Names from the Watanabe job are crossing over to the klubhaus job. Specifically, Lin Chung, Saul Lesnick, and the Deutsches Haus. We need to address this and limit the extent of Jim Davis’ exposure, along with the risk of discrediting our arrest of Fujio Shudo, soon to be sentenced to death and executed.”

Dudley said, “Now, I’m listening.” “No frame on this job. No killing convenient suspects. Put Breuning and Carlisle on a tight leash.” “Agreed.” “Immunity for case-to-case witnesses

who provide leads that clear the klubhaus job. We’ve got a rubber-stamp grand jury installed now. We may as well put it to good use.” Dudley said, “Agreed—but within that, I must insert a codicil. Rice and Kapek were rogue cops of a most pernicious ilk. We must make every effort to suppress evidence of their malfeasance at trial, to limit general testimony, and to urge the presiding judge to issue a directed guilty verdict.” Parker

appeared. Parker drained it double quick. Dudley smiled. “Full disclosure, Captain. Rice and Kapek were spotted at the border, three nights before their deaths. They may h...

there. Nor do I care if you judiciously abrogate the rule of law ...

Dudley bowed. “I consider that a grand declaration and nod to informed latitude. It would please me to grant you a concession.” Parker lit a cigarette. His leaky Zippo whooshed. “Put Jim Davis under pentothal. Take him to Terry Lux’s farm and forcibly sequester him. Have at him there. We need to determine what he might know about the klubhaus job.” Dudley said, “Agreed.” Parker said, “I cannot abide executing Shudo. Have Horrall brace the DA and hint at our impasse. We need a true bill from the grand jury, along with a decline-to-file DA’s writ, buttressed by an insa...

The charred box. The gold chip within. The dead man worked the gold heist. Wayne Frank Jackson died a short distance away. The elements have conspired in our favor. We owe this moment in the dark to The Rain. The

(LOS ANGELES, 9:30 A.M., 2/4/42) She hated him now. She conceded his brilliance and despised his effeminacy. She told him that Dudley was in and cut it off there. Ashida went smarmy and smirked. Dr.

Dr. Nort said, “I matched the male pubic hairs to our victims. That leaves the female samples unknown. We’ve got one Latin, and one Caucasian.” Ashida said, “The semen stains. Were you able

groups. Our boys plus two unknown males.” Joan lit a cigarette. “I examined the

Joan locked the door. She pointed to the corkboard and Jean Staley’s green sheet. “She’s on Elmer Jackson and Buzz Meeks’ interview list. We already know a few things that they don’t. They may learn that she was in Meyer Gelb’s cell, and that the members were questioned about the fire that killed Elmer’s brother.” Ashida studied the green sheet. He scanned