The Patrolman (Detective Lacey, #1)
Los Angeles. June 1943: The City of Angels is at war.
The Zoot Suit Riots and a serial killer terrorize the Latino community. A murdered young woman summons three Angelenos to dance with history.
Jake Lacey is a Hollywood Homicide officer. He's gifted, autistic, and maybe corrupt. He needs to make detective to save his home. Mr. Slate’s a hired gun who uncovers a secret at the heart of high society. June Hartsfield is the right-hand of the city’s most infamous madam, sitting on a powder keg can bring the entire LAPD down. Their search for justice will expose the city’s secrets and force them to confront their own. Can they stop L.A. from tearing itself apart?
This work reflects the language and societal norms of the period. Some terms and attitudes may offend by today’s standards, but were included to preserve historical authenticity.
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The Patrolman - 1
The Super Chief came into the station like it was out of breath.
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The Patrolman - 2
The cabbie kept glancing at him in the rear-view mirror.
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The Patrolman - 3
She took the stairs from the private room, her evening dress bunched up in one hand.
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The Patrolman - 4 (1/2)
It had been a spell since Jake Lacey darkened the doorstep of Hollywood Police Station.
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The Patrolman - 4 (2/2)
The Lincoln threaded up the slopes, navigating the hairpin curves of Canyon Drive.
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The Patrolman - 5
After the looks he got from the cab driver, Mr. Slate made up his mind - tomorrow, he'd buy a car.
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The Patrolman - 6
It was late, almost noon. June Hartsfield was pulling on her stockings, getting ready for work when the phone rang.
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The Patrolman - 7 (1/2)
Madre Jalisco’s stood on the corner of Hollywood and Schrader at 6536.
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The Patrolman - 7 (2/2)
The streets were hot and sticky, pungent with marihuana.
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The Patrolman - 8
He came to on the concrete floor with a rag pressed to his head and someone yelling.
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The Patrolman - 9
Marlon Bishop stepped over the unpaid bills.
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The Patrolman - 10
‘I wish I could’ve been there to see it,’ she told her son. ‘Is your father there? I need a word.’
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The Patrolman - 11
In Inglewood, Jake Lacey hunched over his kitchen sink.
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The Patrolman - 12
Nobody else was on the 6 th Street Bridge that night – that’s why he chose it.
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The Patrolman - 13
The club wasn’t as crowded tonight.
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The Patrolman - 14
Brenda's third house was a sleek white ship of a thing considered 'in' for Wilshire.
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The Patrolman - 15
Three in the morning - the witching hour.
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The Patrolman - 16
'Officer Lacey?' The simple yes he had whispered into the telephone was full of hope. But the voice on the other end offered none.
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The Patrolman - 17
Agnes Underwood was older than he figured she'd be – around Mr. Slate's age.
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The Patrolman - 18
She used Brenda's phone to get a ride to Good Samaritan.
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The Patrolman - 19
Two blocks from Carmelita Sabella's apartment, the radio crackled.
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The Patrolman - 20
What the hell had he done?
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The Patrolman - 21
Jake Lacey stood outside, smoking a Lucky down to the filter.
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The Patrolman - 22
Lacey entered Hollywood Police Station through the parking lot.
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The Patrolman - 23
Taxi drivers who ‘do nights’ don’t need things spelled out to them.
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The Patrolman - 24
Mr. Slate dropped to the floor for his evening workout.
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The Patrolman - 25
Jake Lacey crouched in the bushes and waited.
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The Patrolman - 26
Carruthers was sweet, but he still packed her off to jail.
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The Patrolman - 27
The killer drove Downtown to watch the riots.
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The Patrolman - 28
June Hartsfield forced herself to stay awake.
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The Patrolman - 29
It was six o'clock when he got back to his apartment.
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The Patrolman - 30
They had watching and waiting eyes, patient and careful, disdainful eyes.
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- 119 reads
The Patrolman - 31
‘Calling Car Three King, Car Three King.’
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The Patrolman - 32
Mr. Slate hung up the payphone and headed back to his apartment building.
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The Patrolman - 33
Carruthers continued up Weidlake Drive toward the Reservoir.
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The Patrolman - 34
Mr. Slate stood outside the pawnshop on Hill Street.
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