Earth Angels (37 page)

Black shoved his empty beer can into a brown paper sack on the bed of the truck. He shook hands with Stepanovich. "You're as solid a cop as I've ever met," he said. "You take care, now."

Black and Brenda climbed in the Mazda. Black started the engine. As they drove off, they were sitting close together and her arm was around him.

Arredondo threw his arms around Stepanovich in an abrazo.

"Good luck with those teachers, Raul."

"I don't need any luck, homes."

"Of course not."

Arredondo swaggered across the street to his Chevrolet. He tooted the horn as he drove off.

On the way out of town, Stepanovich stopped by the Fordyce residence to say good-bye. The couple seemed to be adjusting to their loss as well as could be expected and at one point even discussed taking a train to Kansas City for a family reunion.

Stepanovich followed Interstate Highway 5 through Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley and finally out of Los Angeles and into the Tehachapi Mountains. The sun was setting as he steered the curving Tejon Pass past the lonely truck stops of Castaic, Gorman, and Lebec.

Adjusting the radio volume to drown out thoughts of Gloria, he changed gears and steered down a long grade leading to Kern County. At the base of the mountains, the highway straightened to a band stretching due north all the way to San Francisco. With the ridge route behind him, Stepanovich stepped heavily on the gas pedal and accelerated into the darkness.

Late that night he was still on the road.

****

About the Author

GERALD PETIEVICH is a former U.S. Secret Service Agent. His brother was awarded a Los Angeles Police Department Star of Valor for his actions in a shootout with gang members. Mr. Petievich numbers among his novels
To Live and Die in L.A.
,
Boiling
Point
(published as
Money
Men
) and
The Sentinel
, all of which were made into major motion pictures His other novels include
Shakedown
,
To Die in Beverly Hills
,
One-Shot Deal
,
Paramour
and
The Quality of the Informant.

****